Final Cut Producer recently posted suggestions for using Final Cut Pro on a laptop using external hard drives for storing media. I thought it was worth saving and throwing back a comment or two.

USB hard drives (version 1.x and 2.x) cannot be powered by the USB bus - there isn’t enough power pushed down the cable. You must use the device’s A/C adapter.

In contrast, many FireWire hard drives can be used without an A/C adapter because the FireWire specification includes sending power down the cable. This is handy for making backups, storing your iTunes library, etc. but I’d stick with A/C powered drives for video editing or any other serious work.

Related posts:

• Keep your drives awake with Disksomnia
• Final Cut Pro 6: importing Hi8 analog video using FireWire
• Survive a power outage and save your edit
• Guardian MAXimus reviewed
• Single FireWire bus on MacBook Pro and Mac Pro

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