Creating an audio playback volume

Question

Level 1

0 points

Creating an audio playback volume

Can anyone tell me how (step by step) to create, partition, or format my G5 hard drive so it can be used as an "audio volume"? I purchased my iMac specifically for the use of digital recording software and am using Protools with an M-Box but I can't even create a new session because the hard drive doesn't appear to be compatible. My computer has been a glorified, very expensive internet machine ever since. Please help!!! Thanks so much...

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Mar 28, 2006 4:14 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 29, 2006 3:07 AM in response to gospeladdict

gospeladdict-

If your computer is working and protools is running then I do not believe that you have any problem with your disk.

The problem may be in how you have configured protools. I do not use protools, but there must be a selection under configuration that allows you to specify a drive. Does the manufacturer have a support section on their web site?

Is it possible that your hard drive is full?

I use my Mac for recording music. I use external firewire hard drives to capture the recordings too. No partition worries and plenty fast for the job. But I must go into whatever software I am using and tell it what drive to use.

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

Reply

Answer 2

gospeladdict Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 3, 2006 9:05 PM in response to DaddyPaycheck

Actually, my computer is hardly touched from the memory standpoint (a few photos and songs on iTunes, basically) and there is more than 130Gb free.

I've re-installed Protools more than once hoping to get different results, but I can only do that so many times before deserving to get committed if you know what I mean.

Protools acknowledges the drive but when I attempt to change its status to "record" so it can be used, the program insists that it is "not an audio playback volume".

I've been to the support segment of Digidesign (the company that manufactures Protools) and a tech article told me how to configure/assign the usable drive, but when I attempted to do it, that's where I hit a brick wall. The suggestion was to format the drive as "extended, unjournaled". The drive is currently "extended, journaled".

So my questions at this point are: Does journaling really make a difference? If it does how do I change it (I just can't navigate the software -->too much of a Mac newbie)? If it doesn't, then what tree should I be barking up to make this work? Do I really need to buy a whole external hard drive when I have all this free memory on my iMac???

It's a little unbelievable to me that it's this difficult. I figure there's got to be a simple answer, I'm just not sure who to ask. So ANYONE: Please help!!!

Thanks for your answer DaddyPaycheck... still need a solution, though.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 4, 2006 5:07 AM in response to gospeladdict

We should probably all be committed, but I digress.

"not an audio playback volume" may be your key. Is there something in the software that allows you to declare what drive does what?

I use Digital Performer and there is a setup to assign drives to a bunch of different functions. My guess is that PT does the same thing.

I am not sure how to turn journaling off on an already formatted drive. I would try posting that question in another forum. Yes, journaling could be a problem when trying to record audio. Perhaps because it is formatted as journaled you are getting the error about playback.

There is a simple answer-it is just a matter of finding it. Does DigiDesign have any support or discussion boards? Musicians are always willing to help out.

I can tell you from experience that an external drive is the absolute best way to record audio. Your main drive has got to occassionaly access other files and that can cause glitches when recording.

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

Reply

Answer 4

gospeladdict Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 4, 2006 5:50 AM in response to DaddyPaycheck

Perhaps the external drive is the way I have to go then. Your help is MUCH appreciated.

Incidentally, it was exactly when I attempted to assign the hard drive to the function of "record" or even "playback" as opposed to "read-only" that I got my error message and was sent into a spiral of what could be referred to in tennis terms as "endless love."

Since the problem seems to be with how to format the drive rather than how to assign it (I figured out HOW, but the drive wouldn't follow instructions!) I figured Mac support was more the way to go than DigiDesign (although that is honestly where I went first).

Should we all be committed? Sounds like a challenge to "what is normal"! [;-) Anyhow, thanks for the very quick answers. Blessings to you in all you do...

ga [:-)

Reply

Answer 5

Apr 4, 2006 7:24 AM in response to gospeladdict

External hard drive is the only way to go and it should be formatted non-journaled. I just switched to Mac from PC (and having a host of other problems with my Mac)however, when trying to use a PC-formatted HD as a playback volume for Pro Tools -- not suitable for playback. I formatted another external drive (non-journaled) and brought the Pro Tools sessions as well as audio folder over to that drive -- no problem. There might be other forum info on Digidesign's site, but so far (when I can get the iMac to actually work), this set up seems to work fine. Good luck.

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Reply