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Forum Discussion
Disaster: Dropbox removing external disk support for Mac users :(
In case anyone's unaware... if you're a Mac user storing your Dropbox on an external drive, you'll shortly lose that ability. https://talk.tidbits.com/t/dropbox-drops-support-for-storing-files-on...
shinbeth that 'backup a drive' function is great, but it's not as flexible as the main tool. From what I understand, it doesn't allow control over folders and files the same way. Maybe I'm mistaken, but to restore the data locally, I think you would have to download the full drive? That's what the DB rep told me during our testing phase.
You can backup a drive, make changes to that drive, and sync for safety, but if you need to clear local drive space up, I don't believe that tool is a viable workflow solution. Also, there was some limits on size of drive and number of files in some documentation I read.
I see it as a smart way to backup camera cards, but I'd use the main DB tool for the actual post-production process between multiple users (clients, editors, director, sound-designer, VFX, etc).
Happy you see the value of External Drive workflow. It really is powerful.
KyleKoch thanks for the extra info that's really useful.
Yes indeed it's not exactly the same and as flexible as main local 'Dropbox' indeed so I keep it more for extra 'lighter' data (videos, archives...) I wish to backup on my hard drive until Apple releases a local 16TB drive option which will allow me to transfer everything on the main local Dropbox. The same way I intended to do it with Google Drive or another cloud, but since I was never convinced by Dropbox alternatives, this way I can keep everything under Dropbox roof, even though for now it's not perfect, I feel safer not to lose any data if something happened to my extra hard drive.
For the main data for sure I keep everything on main local SSD because like you guys in the field of music/video production I know what you mean, those files are too big and when editing in heavy softwares my experience with external hard drives is that it's never as fast as and reliable as Apple's local SSD. And yes especially for clients you want to keep everything safe and without hurdle indeed.
So yeah nice to have this feature and at least I don't have to pay extra with another cloud service, and use a multi cloud mounter too, for the time being.
shinbeth the architecture of the machines I build tend to have a fast SSD for OS, fast SSD for cache, fast Media Raid or SSD (sometimes a dedicated Read and a dedicated Write). Having the multiple data channels via the mainboard can make a difference in stability and speed for Editing Software. More crashes occur when everything is driving from a single SSD (especially if it is the OS and Programs drive). When it gets even more intense is with multi-cam work where you have several streams of video simultaneously. To be honest, I can't imagine paying the apple tax on a 16TB SSD internally; not when equivalent nvmeSSD raids can deliver the same speeds or higher for a fraction of the cost.
- shinbeth
That’s big question and not one that’s easily answered. The workflow, assets (2K, 4K, 8K, and codecs), effects used, camera asset management, turnaround, delivery specs etc., would dictate anything I would build. The studios now are tsing Teradici remote access where the assets are not local, but streamed from a secure server.
For local media builds, the variables change as new tech is released. That's a very good point indeed, what setup would you recommend for me to have like say more or less 16TB SSD nvmeSSD Raid equivalent (rack + drives - which models and brands)? Is there pre-built solutions on the market or do I need to mount everything myself? And how to operate the sync with Dropbox, is it through a software located on the main computer? Can it be controlled at distance too btw?
