Portable Scratch Disk

[zioxide]

So I'm going to be working on some projects for my film classes using my new MBP. We're going to be doing a lot of EFP so I'll be using my MBP to edit in different locations. So I need a scratch disk to use to capture all of my footage. It's mostly going to be DV, but there's a possibility I could have some HDV too.

So basically I need a small portable scratch disk. I've looked at OWC and they have the bus powered Mercury Elite drives (FW800 and FW400) and I could throw a 100GB 7200rpm seagate drive in them for fairly cheap. The only thing I don't like about them is they're ugly as hell (see through plastic).

Does anyone know of any other drives/companies that would be good for this?

[marioman38]

Check Out LaCie. They've got some great ones, including a RAID of 2.5" drives. (The Little Big disk i believe) I read somewhere that it's a bad idea to use a Bus powered drive for Video. I could be wrong though.

Edit: This should work. LaCie FW HD (http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=10558) Look into the bus powered thing though, I can't remember exactly what it was about it.

[mkrishnan]

Are you looking for a 2.5" enclosure or 3.5"? And you want a bus powered one, right? So I'm guessing 2.5?

MacAlly (http://www.macally.com/EN/Product/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=100) is fairly tolerable looking, although I don't think they're as pretty as my Icys.

[xsedrinam]

Another option you might consider is the SmartDisk Firelite 120 gb (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=11E7A930&nplm=TH886ZM/A). I like them, anyway.

[Mechcozmo]

I have the LaCie Rugged 7200rpm 100GB drive. Awesome drive... FW800/400 and USB 2.0, all bus-powered.

[zioxide]

Nice, all of these seem good now I have to decide.

Also, is 7200rpm necessary or would 5400rpm be fast enough?

[skimaxpower]

is 7200rpm necessary or would 5400rpm be fast enough?Yes, for video editing 7200rpm is necessary. HDD speed and processor speed will be your weakest links.

The price gap between 5400 and 7200 is small. Go for the fastest (and biggest) HDD you can afford.

Seriously, go big. 100gb is like... nothing. Especially if you're talking HDV. Go for as big as your can afford.

[Mechcozmo]

Nice, all of these seem good now I have to decide.

Also, is 7200rpm necessary or would 5400rpm be fast enough?

7200rpm is necessary. You don't want to drop frames. You can get by on 5400... but I would not recommend it.

[ppc_michael]

So I'm going to be working on some projects for my film classes using my new MBP. [...] It's mostly going to be DV, but there's a possibility I could have some HDV too.

DV for a film class? Oh, educational systems.

[zioxide]

DV for a film class? Oh, educational systems.

What do you expect, real film? I go to a poor state school, we can't afford that. :o