On 22 Nov 2002 06:14:55 -0800, strauss3@swbell.net (MusiPete) wrote:

>I'm looking for some advice on the best way to set up Premiere with my
>system, so that my hard drives are used most efficiently. Here is
>what I currently have:
>
>P4 2.0GHz Dell Latitude C840 LAPTOP
>512 MB RAM
>Windows XP Pro
>Premiere 6.02
>
>HD 1 - 40GB 5400RPM internal - this drive has OS, Premiere program
>files, Premiere data files (NOT video files), and some audio (.mp3)
>files used in my projects
>
>HD 2 - 40GB 4200RPM internal - this drive has Windows pagefile, and
>Premiere preview files
>
>HD 3 - 100GB 7200RPM firewire external - this drive has all video
>files
>
>
>My question is, would it benefit me to use my drives differently (like
>putting the pagefile back on drive 1, or putting audio files on drive
>2, etc), or am I fully optimized for the system I have?
>
>Do I understand Premiere correctly in that the preview files are ONLY
>the transitions? And the video files are all still read from the
>originals (on drive 3 in my case)?
>
>Though I have 10+ years experience with audio workstations, video on a
>PC is new to me & is a whole different deal! So any advice is
>appreciated...
>
>Thanks in advance!

With a single, fast, non-fragmented HD, it is possible
to capture, edit, and export with one drive (of even
fairly so-so performance by today's standards), BUT, for
most reliable service, I prefer to split functions among
several drives, with programs on one, preview-renders
on another, and original video files on others. Remember
that anything that has been rendered (which may be most
of a video for me, with color corrections, sharpening,
tonal-changes, titling, etc. - and all of the sound)
is played back from the rendered material and not the
original files, so this drive also needs to be good
enough for video playback. Good drives are cheap
these days, fortunately...