Using External Drive as Default for Media?

obesechess wrote:

My initial plan was to install my applications on the internal 256GB SSD, but all my other files (photos, videos, etc) on the 1TB NVMe SSD and then use the SATA SSD as a backup/"just in case" type of drive. I am currently a Windows user (this is my first Mac) and I currently have my PC set up similarly. I plan to move all of the aforementioned file types (photos, videos, music, documents) from my PC's HDD to said NVMe SSD.

FWIW, I do the same thing. I keep very little beyond macOS and my apps on my local drive.

However, I have run into some stuff that suggests that the default MacOS Photos, Movies, Documents, etc applications will only1. look to the internal 256GB storage to find these types of files, and as such I won't be able to easily browse these files. Is this correct? If so, this is a huge problem for me.

no, that is wrong. accessing your files on an external drive(s) is as easy as it would be if they are on the internal drive. you just need to use a finder window open to the external drive. and there's more that one way to skin that cat. files on an external are only a click away no matter where you keep them.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

I will be installing Logic Pro. I understand that Logic Pro takes up 6GB, and that the included sample libraries, plugins, etc, take up another 70GB. Will it cause any issues if I install Logic on the internal SSD and those libraries on the NVMe SSD?

you will need an opinion or two on that from someone that uses Logic Pro.

If I've got a ton1. of photos in my iCloud, will everything mix together in one "Photos" app, or will I get separate "folders" for like, "iCloud," "SSD," "Internal Storage," etc? This might be intuitive once the computer arrives.

IDK, I only use iCloud to sync my calendar. :)