Apple Final Cut Express HD - Manual (Page 156)

156 Part III Setting Up Your Editing System
Choosing a Hard Disk
The disk that contains your computer’s operating system is called the startup disk or
boot disk. In addition to the operating system, the startup disk also stores your
applications (such as Final Cut Express HD), your application preferences, system
settings, and other documents. Since the files on the startup disk are your most critical
data, maintaining the startup disk is vital.
Since digital media (especially high data rate video) makes your disks work harder, you
should use dedicated disks for capturing and playing back your digital video and other
media files. Consider your media disks as storage units that work long, hard hours,
while your startup disk keeps your system properly organized. If a disk is going to
malfunction, it’s better if your critical data is separate from your replaceable media files.
Depending on what kind of computer you are using, you may be able to use internal
and external hard disks to store your media files. Each has benefits and drawbacks:
Internal Disks
 May be less expensive because they don’t have external cases or require their own
power supplies.
 Are inside your computer, causing less noise.
 Are limited by the expansion capabilities of your computer and the heat buildup
they cause.
External Disks
 Let you easily switch between projects by switching disks connected to the computer.
 Let you move a project quickly from one computer system to another in a
different location.
 May be more expensive because of external cases and power supplies.
 May be noisy.
Warning: Heat buildup in your computer can result in dropped frames during capture
and playback, and can ultimately cause the failure of one or more disk drives. Consult
the documentation that came with your computer for information about the
maximum number of internal drives that can be installed.