Best External SSD for Sample Libraries

best external ssd for sample libraries - decibel peak
best external ssd for sample libraries - decibel peak
best external ssd for sample libraries - decibel peak

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The best external SSD for sample libraries uses Thunderbolt technology.

If you purchase an external SSD and it doesn’t use the Thunderbolt protocol, you are WASTING your money. The USB protocol (even USB-C) will cap your external SSD’s performance.

In other words, the only way to achieve maximum performance with an external SSD is by using Thunderbolt technology. It’s the only way to achieve similar (or even faster) speeds than your computer’s internal SSD.

That’s why we’ll only be looking at the best external THUNDERBOLT SSDs for sample libraries and nothing else. I don’t want you to waste your money.

If you have something against Thunderbolt, you can consult another article I wrote entitled “Best External HDDs for Music Production”.

Thunderbolt 3 vs USB-C External SSD

Most consumers don’t understand the difference between Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C.

It’s understandable because they both use the SAME connector.

However, it’s the actual cable that makes the difference and whether or not you’re using Thunderbolt 3 ports (which ARE compatible with USB-C) or USB-C ports (which AREN’T compatible with Thunderbolt 3).

Manufacturers also make it VERY difficult for consumers to make the distinction.

Some external SSDs (like this one) mention Thunderbolt compatibility but are actually USB-C. Remember, USB-C devices are compatible with Thunderbolt 3 (not the other way around).

So, how can we tell the difference?

The read/write speeds of the drive isn’t always clearly stated, but this is the best indicator.

For example, this LaCie Portable SSD has the keyword “Thunderbolt 3” in its title, but the read speed is only 540 Mbps. That’s only as fast as your best performing HDD…

SSDs can perform at read speed of up to 3,200 Mbps (although most average 2,400 Mbps).

That’s a HUGE difference. Isn’t it?

The thing is… Most consumers wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference. That’s mostly because they haven’t compared the two (Thunderbolt 3 vs USB-C) and because most people don’t even have computers with Thunderbolt 3 ports.

That’s one of the reasons you’ll have difficulty finding Thunderbolt 3 drives in stores.

There isn’t enough demand, but that’s going to change VERY soon.

The best place to find good deals on external Thunderbolt 3 SSDs is going to be on Amazon for the time being. So, I hope that you now understand WHAT you’re looking for and WHY.

If you want your sample libraries to load almost instantly, you’ll definitely want to pick up one of the drives I’ll be recommending.

We’re starting with my weapon of choice, the Plugable Thunderbolt 3 External SSD…

Plugable Thunderbolt 3 External SSD NVMe Drive

I personally use the Plugable Thunderbolt 3 External SSD, so you have my personal guarantee that IT ROCKS!!

best external ssd for sample libraries - Plugable 1TB Thunderbolt 3 External SSD NVMe Drive (Up to 2400MBs/1800MBs R/W)

Here are the specs:

  • Size Options: 512GB/1TB/2TB
  • Read Speed: 2,400 Mbps
  • Write Speed: 1,800 Mbps
  • Removable Cable: No
  • Bus-Powered: Yes
  • Warranty: 3 Years

Once I purchased this thing, my sample libraries went from taking an average of 30 seconds to load to a few seconds! It’s one of the best investments I ever made.

It was also one of the most affordable Thunderbolt 3 SSDs on the market.

The only thing others have complained about is the length of the Thunderbolt 3 cable.

It’s also non-detachable (which is my main concern), but you can easily make it work with your setup if you make some small adjustments.

I also use a Thunderbolt 3 dock, so it really isn’t an issue for me.

The 3-year warranty reassures me, but if you ever damage that cable… You’re done for.

Would it be possible to open up the chassis and make modifications?

It seems doable (which is probably why there’s a warranty seal), but I wouldn’t go ahead and do this unless you want to void your warranty (unless it’s already expired).

I’m not sure which SSD is in there, but the quality is VERY high.

I personally trust the Plugable brand. They have great customer support and are really making some headway in this new Thunderbolt market. I highly recommend this drive!

OWC Envoy Pro EX Rugged Portable SSD with Thunderbolt 3

OWC makes some great stuff and has also become quite the serious contender in the growing Thunderbolt marketplace.

best external ssd for sample libraries - OWC 2.0 TB Envoy Pro EX Rugged High-Performance Bus-Powered SSD with Thunderbolt 3 (OWCTB3ENVP20)

Here’s what you’ll get out of this drive:

  • Size Options: 240GB/480GB/1TB/2TB/4TB
  • Read Speed: 2,300 Mbps
  • Write Speed: 1,300 Mbps
  • Detachable Cable: No
  • Bus-Powered: Yes
  • Warranty: 3 Years

The only thing I found funny about this drive is that OWC claims that the read speed is 2,800 Mbps when an actual user got 2,300 Mbps out of it.

I don’t own this one so I can’t confirm anything, but it’s something to keep in mind.

As far as I’m concerned, this drive is very similar to the Plugable Thunderbolt 3 External SSD except that it has some additional layers of protection.

I’d feel much more comfortable dropping the OWC Envoy Pro EX, but I’m not going to try.

The cable situation is also the same as the Plugable brand so that’s why I didn’t end up choosing the OWC drive. It’s also more expensive, so there you go.

If you need less storage though, their smaller sizing options can be appealing!

*NOTE: Apparently, this drive doesn’t work with the 2018 Mac Mini (another reason why I didn’t purchase).

Samsung X5 Portable SSD – Thunderbolt 3 External SSD

Next up, we have the Samsung X5 Portable SSD.

best external ssd for sample libraries - SAMSUNG X5 Portable SSD 1TB - Up to 2800MB/s -Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External Solid State Drive, Gray/Red (MU-PB1T0B/AM)

I don’t personally own this drive, but it was one of the options I was considering.

  • Size Options: 500GB/1TB/2TB
  • Read Speed: 2,800 Mbps
  • Write Speed: 2,300 Mbps
  • Removable Cable: Yes
  • Bus-Powered: Yes
  • Warranty: 3 Years

It’s slightly more expensive, but the Samsung X5 looks LUXURIOUS.

It even has shock-resistant components, so it’s also quite durable.

The performance on this drive is slightly better than the Plugable Thunderbolt 3 External SSD and it also has a detachable cable.

When looking back, I kind of feel like I should’ve gone with this drive.

It goes on sale every now and then on Amazon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Summary: Best External SSDs for Sample Libraries

When searching for my own external Thunderbolt SSD, I had to filter MANY options. It can be tempting to purchase something that’s less expensive, but I don’t recommend it.

If it’s significantly less expensive, there could be TWO reasons:

  • The drive isn’t actually Thunderbolt 3
  • The drive isn’t reliable for professional use

I’ll try to keep this article up to date, but the drives I’ve recommended so far are the only ones I would personally trust. However, it’s your choice at the end of the day!

I also recommend using these external SSDs for sample libraries ONLY.

I still use an external HDD to backup and store my data.

When working on projects, I also suggest leaving them on your internal storage. It’s much safer to work with your Thunderbolt 3 SSD than with an external USB HDD, but I still wouldn’t risk it.

It’s always better to use your internal drive when working in realtime.

It’s even better if that internal drive is an SSD!

So, I hope that this article cleared up LOTS of misconceptions about external SSDs and especially Thunderbolt technology.

If you ever have any doubts about any particular drive… Leave me a comment with the model you’re thinking of purchasing and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Now, let’s give your sample libraries the best external SSD money can buy. Thanks!

Picture of Stefan Chamberland

Stefan Chamberland

Stefan is a highly proficient sound professional who specializes in sound for picture. His journey into sound production began at the young age of 16, where he initially produced music that went on to feature on local television. Today, Stefan utilizes his extensive expertise to record production sound and lead the audio post-production process for a variety of projects in the TV, Film, and New Media industry. Driven by his passion for sound for picture, Stefan founded Decibel Peak, a platform designed to empower and support emerging sound professionals while contributing to the growth of the industry.

8 thoughts on “Best External SSD for Sample Libraries”

  1. Hi Stefan
    Thanks for a great read, it’s very informative.

    Curious to know, how about external SSDs to keep sample libraries e.g. Samsung EVO or Pro in an enclosure like the Thunderbay Mini 4 connected to a Mac Studio via Thunderbolt? Would that be worthwhile? I’m torn between that or external NVMe.

    Reply
    • Hey Matt,

      Definitely, the Thunderbay Mini 4 along with an SSD of your choice is a great option!

      It’s probably better for the long run since you can have up to 4 SSDs in there and swap them, so that’s great for scalability.

      Most SSDs are NVMe, so just make sure to check that before making a purchase.

      The only thing to keep in mind is that going this route will be more costly at first, but save you money in the long run.

      I hope that helps, let me know if you need anything else. Thanks!

      – Stefan

      Reply
      • Thanks for the info Stefan!

        I didn’t realise that there were SSDs which are in the 2.5 form factor that are NVMe as well.

        What do you think about the Samsung EVO 870, this is slower obviously and isn’t NVMe – but it would be in the Thunder Bay mini 4 which is connected via thunderbolt 3, would that be a good option also?

        Or would you just go for NVMe every time?
        Thanks

        Reply
        • Hey Matt,

          The EVO 870 in the Thunder Bay would still perform very well!

          However, the EVO 970 (only being slightly more expensive) would get you into the NVMe space. NVMe would perform better, but I’m sure it won’t be much of a noticeable difference.

          If you’re used to working with HDDs though, you’ll notice a HUGE improvement regardless as long as you’re using an SSD connected via Thunderbolt.

          I hope that helps, let me know if you have more questions. Thanks!

          – Stefan

          Reply
  2. Thankyou, a useful article! – However the link you give to the “OWC Envoy Pro EX Rugged Portable SSD with Thunderbolt 3”, doesn’t actually show the 4 terrabyte option you mention as being available (2 TBs wouldn’t be enough for me).
    Do you know for sure that there definitely is a 4 TB version (or preferably even larger) as I can’t see it by clicking on that link?

    Thankyou.

    Reply
    • Hey Nick,

      It’s definitely available in 4TB! Here, check it out on OWC’s website… (link).

      It’s not available in all options on Amazon US. So, you might have to order directly from OWC.

      Let me know how it goes, thanks!

      – Stefan

      Reply
  3. Thanks for this article. I recently purchased a mb pro 16 with what I thought were 4 usb c ports. I know now they are thunderbolt ports and thusly I need to upgrade my external drive to thunderbolt. This might explain why my fans are constantly turning on at high rpms? The current drive is bogging down as it is a 2tb crucial ssd that I took out of my Mac pro and stuck in a 15 dollar usb c enclosure. Any thoughts on my theory?

    Reply
    • Hey Chris,

      Thunderbolt 3 ports are compatible with USB-C devices. However, I get the feeling your MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 2 ports.

      If I’m not mistaken though, the MacBook Pro also has typical USB-B ports. Do you know which version yours has (USB2.0 or 3.0)?

      I’m also assuming that your external drive is USB3.0 since it uses USB-C. That being said, it’d be possible to get a USB-C to USB-B adapter, but that’s only if the USB ports on your MacBook Pro are USB3.0.

      Other than that, you only have two other options… Use a Thunderbolt 2 drive or use a USB2.0 drive.

      Let me know if that makes sense. I’m not sure why the fans are acting the way they are, it could be a cheap enclosure as well.

      I’m having a bit of difficulty understanding your situation. If can clarify, it’d help me get a better idea.

      For now, my reply should give you some insight into solving your problem. Let me know if you need more assistance.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      – Stefan

      Reply

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