Specifications

Appendix C: Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance
59
appendix c
Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance
It is recommended that you start with a newly format-
ted external or secondary internal audio drive. You
should also periodically defragment your audio drive to
ensure continued system performance.
Avoid Recording to the System
Drive
Recording to your system drive is not recommended.
Recording and playback on a system drive may result in
lower track counts or fewer plug-ins.
Supported Drive Formats and
Drive Types
Drive Formats
Windows Windows XP systems should use drives for-
matted as NTFS only.
Mac Mac systems should use drives formatted with HFS
or HFS+ file system only.
Hard drive performance depends on factors including
system configuration, number of tracks, session sample
rate, density of edits, and the use of crossfades and other
processes such as Beat Detective in a session.
For complete hard drive requirements, see the Digi-
design website (www.digidesign.com).
Always back up any important data on your
drive before formatting it, as it will erase all
data on the drive.
Windows systems can also support Mac drives
formatted with HFS+ system (also commonly
referred to as Mac OS Extended). Refer to the
Pro Tools Reference Guide for more information.
HFS drives are supported as Transfer drives only.