Is using USB Flash Drive for source files ok? at DVinfo.net

Ken Olson · May 7th, 2010, 11:49 PM

Is there any reason why it wouldn't be a good idea to use a 32 or 64GB flash drive for the source files of a project?

I travel a lot and a flash drive is lighter then a 2.5" external drive.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,

Ken

Adam Stanislav · May 8th, 2010, 01:04 AM

I've done it in the past and had no problems. Just remember that Vegas will write its .sfk files in the flash drive, so make sure to leave some room for them.

Ken Olson · May 9th, 2010, 12:05 AM

Thanks for responding.

Matteo Manson · May 10th, 2010, 12:56 AM

Not that it should stop you... but the 100,000 or so write cycles flash memory can go through before degradation is something you should know about. Also as they wear out they do get slower.

Ken Olson · May 10th, 2010, 05:24 PM

Thanks Matteo, I think I remember reading something about that a while ago.

I don't suppose reformatting them once in a while will keep them fresh, because it is based on the number of writes.

Considering the number of hours a project eats, I'll probably avoid using, even though each days edit is a newly named veg project file.

Jim Andrada · May 12th, 2010, 04:05 AM

I don't think reformating will do anythng for you. What you're up against is a fundamental issue with the technology. The cards have wear leveling logic, such as making sure that data is written in sequence until every cell has been written once before starting to write back to a previously written block.

So in fact, reformatting will most likely decrease the life of the device by increasing the number of writes to any given cell/block.

May 7th, 2010, 11:49 PM	#1
Ken Olson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 92	Is using USB Flash Drive for source files ok? Is there any reason why it wouldn't be a good idea to use a 32 or 64GB flash drive for the source files of a project? I travel a lot and a flash drive is lighter then a 2.5" external drive. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks, Ken __________________ www.YouTube.com/keningilbert www.CaptainKen.us

May 9th, 2010, 12:05 AM	#3
Ken Olson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 92	Thanks for responding. __________________ www.YouTube.com/keningilbert www.CaptainKen.us

May 10th, 2010, 05:24 PM	#5
Ken Olson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 92	Thanks Matteo, I think I remember reading something about that a while ago. I don't suppose reformatting them once in a while will keep them fresh, because it is based on the number of writes. Considering the number of hours a project eats, I'll probably avoid using, even though each days edit is a newly named veg project file. __________________ www.YouTube.com/keningilbert www.CaptainKen.us

May 8th, 2010, 01:04 AM	#2
Adam Stanislav Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 1,258	I've done it in the past and had no problems. Just remember that Vegas will write its .sfk files in the flash drive, so make sure to leave some room for them.

May 10th, 2010, 12:56 AM	#4
Matteo Manson Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 37	Not that it should stop you... but the 100,000 or so write cycles flash memory can go through before degradation is something you should know about. Also as they wear out they do get slower.

May 12th, 2010, 04:05 AM	#6
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	I don't think reformating will do anythng for you. What you're up against is a fundamental issue with the technology. The cards have wear leveling logic, such as making sure that data is written in sequence until every cell has been written once before starting to write back to a previously written block. So in fact, reformatting will most likely decrease the life of the device by increasing the number of writes to any given cell/block.