I wouldn't in mysetup because I use so many MIDI controllers and I want that bandwidth and power for them.

It depends if you have more that one USB host controller I would bet. Some laptops have 3 or more USB ports but they are all internally hub'ed. You want to make sure your serato gets it's own, the you can load up other things on the other one.

I have used a USB 3 drive for Visuals in the past when i was VJ'ing (like with resolume no audio for a bid concert) and I did get some slow downs, but that could have been because of HD speed and not bus speed.

well, at the way fw800 is being phased out, the only other choice would be a thunderbolt drive? but even that seems to be going out with usb-c in the long run.

how are mbp usb ports? 2 separate controllers with one hub'ed and the other solo?

Real world experience I would only go Firewire 800 or Thunderbolt ... I have seen way too many issues and drop outs and crashes with people using USB externals with both Macs and PCs ... I personally have been using firewire 800 for many years now with zero issues and that's with video I have recently been using Thunderbolt for audio only gigs with no issues as well ... The firewire drives have been desktop drives using an external power source (www.amazon.com) this drive specifically for video and this drive (www.amazon.com) for audio ... As Code-E has mentioned you will notice dropped speeds with USB even 3.0 ... Just my .02

Interesting I have a brand new Mid 2014 Macbook Pro and need a solution for storing my vids as well as playback. Why not a Lacie ext drive?
www.amazon.com

I've had 4 Lacie drives fail on me as backups and main drives and therefore I will never trust one again (in the near future 2-4 years) the G-Drives and G-Raids I've had have stood the test of time and have been great even through all the travel I've put them through ... I'm still testing the 4TB MyPassportPro but thus far have had a great response with it .... HGST & WD drives have been the most reliable for me ... With you being on a 2014 Retina I would suggest a G-Drive Pro, G-Raid Thunderbolt or MyPassportPro (testing still pending) if going the Thunderbolt route or G-Drive firewire via Thunderbolt to firewire connector but no matter what I would not go USB

Wow I have heard of lacie drives failing but didn't know how accurate that was. I'll look into those drives you mentioned though. Is firewire better? I only have 2 thunderbolt ports on this 2014 model no firewire port like the older models.

I've only had extensive testing and results with firewire 800 so I can only speak for that ... You can use a thunderbolt to firewire adapter which I have seen with good results ... If you have two thunderbolt ports in addition to the HDMI port you should (in theory) have great results using thunderbolt connections but it's the decision on you to use firewire (via thunderbolt to firewire adapter) or thunderbolt but as I mentioned earlier I would not use USB at any costs

would it be easier to get a ext drive that supports thunderbolt this way i wouldn't need an adapter? Thanks for all the help

I have actually used the Seagate Backup Plus Fast USB 3.0 external drive for over a year now with NO dropouts/hiccups/etc. So good actually, that I've been thinking about grabbing two more.

Thunderbolt is such a waste of $$$ right now (IMO) since your (spinning) drive won't even use it to it's full potential unless you go solid state (and we know how those prices go), besides the more $$$ spent on less capacity just to have "thunderbolt"

Money saved + Space earned + No issues = Total win (for me). I'll definitely be on thunderbolt when ever prices become more reasonable for solid state externals. So for now, I run this drive all the time and use the El Gato thunderbolt dock for everything else.

Oh yeah - PS: My USB 3.0 has faster transfer speeds (220 MB/s) than 90% of the thunderbolt drives (175-190 MB/s) that have been out in the last year. I did my research hard when I went buying cause I really wanted a thunderbolt drive. lol

Sell the ports are separate but they are shared with things like the WIFI chip, track pad, keyboard, bluetooth, ect. But thats pretty standard across all laptops, thats why serato suggest you shut those things off if you are getting usb drop outs.


I'm still hoping thunderbolt doesn't die. But the prices need to come down ASAP for the pc world to get on board. My Thunderbolt drives are sooooo fast.


I have the 1st gen version of that drive. I LOVE it!!!!! best drive I have ever known. I would get the 2TB though. I have the 2TB and it's almost full with music video's and Visuals. I'm hoping for a 4TB solution soon.



This has been gone over in many threads as poppycock. You don't get a thunderbolt drive for speed alone. it's well known it may (though I find it to be) faster than a USB 3.0 but not guaranteed but it will be better for a DJ since you have a limited USB bandwidth to work with and wasting tons on your HD when your MIDI controllers and sound card could benefit for the bandwidth.


That must be a raid.

So after reading that I felt like I needed to test my Laice's speed just for shits and giggles. Using black magic speed test. And my results..... Well I hate to say it, the lacie (which is 3/4 full 2TB drive) doesn't go as fast as I though it did. Only about 110 Mb/s write and 115 Mb/s read. It is a single drive not raid.

I still stand by my point that I wouldn't use a USB drive, I would use anything but a USB. I used to use Firewire and eSata, I would still use those over USB3.0

On another note, my macs internal SSD speeds

Nope not raid. Single 4TB drive. Although I took this drive and ended up partitioning it into 2 drives in one (3TB vs 1TB). Not partitioned = the 220 speeds. Partitioned = 190-200 speeds.

3TB partition for my video/gig drive and ended up being able to use the 1TB partition for my studio drive. So now my studio drive is as portable as my video/gig drive in one super small unit.

I also end up getting MORE USB bandwidth through the El Gato thunderbolt dock vs one USB port, using the thunderbolt 2.0 to it's full potential (3 more USB 3.0's, extra HDMI, Ethernet, extra thunderbolt port, audio in & out ports) with still another thunderbolt port to go as well.

Like I said, I would LOVE to have a thunderbolt drive. It's what I wanted in the first place. But the $$$, transfer speeds, size and functionality have to come together for my best decision. Everyone has their own opinion and decision to have and make. Just trying to help others out with information vs money that needs/wants to be spent :)

Very interesting. I was wondering if that would happen. How do you like that dock> I have been debating on picking up one of those docks.

Poproxxx you should know by now I always love a good debate. your info is always solid.

Thanks man! I appreciate the debates as well. Always good picking great minds of more/new info :)

Love the dock! Took the Belkin back to get the El Gato (not sure if it's this way anymore, but Apple store only or used to only carry the El Gato over the Belkin by recommendation). Belkin's only 1UP on the El Gato was that it had a firewire 800 port. But since upgrading, I've never needed that port of old tech (for me that is). El Gato was the winner mainly because it can fully charge the iPad while transferring data (iPhone as well).

The only thing stopping me from getting one if the dock is there are not enough USB ports. I dont want to run a dock and a USB hub. I need 4 minimum for my basic setup and 6-8 in a perfect world. I use a 10 port USB hub currently.

3 (maybe 4 depending on which dock) is probably the best you're going to get for now. That still leaves the two USB ports on the MBP. So 5-6 ports depending. All USB 3.0

I need one on the computer for SL box, Mixer and 2 cdj's for 3 more, 1 Akai MPD is all a must, a second akai and 2 more CDj's is always nice.

You know I totally made an idiot move there, Ya i would get to use both on my computer since I dont need the one for the hub..... I might have to dig into these again.

I've been looking into this dock but still haven't pulled the trigger on it yet eshop.macsales.com

Those extra ports though! Damn son. That could very well be my next dock, since it charges iPads. Love my El Gato though

Let me know how it charges and transfers data for the iPad if you get it Baby Boy. Would love to know

+1 Im in on this...all of those usb ports plus the line in/out for audio would make one less thing to carry when I want to record a live set

Ya So i looked at every other Thunderbolt dock out there and this one offers the most USB ports, Just enough for me to get by. Only downside is I have to order it from the US, which means I pay exchange, tax and duty on it. It's going to cost me close to $450 to get one here..... I could get a DDJ-sp1 for $380.... Decisions on what toys to get.

Thanks for the link!! This thing is a beast!