Not backing up your music is a mistake you'll only make once, so if you're a musician, then you need to invest in one of the best external hard drives for music production. As well as backing up your precious data, an external hard drive can help free up space on your computer, ensuring it runs at its optimum.
It's generally advised that musicians follow the 3-2-1 rule, which means you have three copies of your data at any one time. This means one copy that you're working from, a hard backup of that on another drive, and then another 'off-site' backup, like a cloud-based solution or a hard drive that exists entirely offline. By following this rule you'll ensure you never have to face the ignominy of losing your data.
Whether it's sample packs, dense VSTs, or an ever-expanding tranche of audio files in an ever-growing list of DAW sessions, the best external hard drive around right now is the Samsung T7 for me. No hard drive is cheap right now, thanks to the rise of AI data centers, but one of the lowest-cost solutions around right now is the Toshiba Canvio Ready. It's an HDD rather than an SSD, so it runs significantly slower, but that doesn't matter if you're just using it as a backup.
If you're buying for the first time, I've created a how to choose section that breaks down all the key factors to look at when making a purchase. I've also curated a comprehensive FAQs section to answer any questions you might have, and put together a glossary of key terms so you can understand all the acronyms and technical lingo used in this guide.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you want a reliable, speedy HD: The Samsung T7 is a solid HD that's perfectly portable.
❌ Avoid if you want to keep your HD pristine : The Samsung T7 comes in a variety of covers, but the metal chassis can scratch easily
Transfer speed: ★★★★★
Build quality: ★★★★½
Portability: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
For me, the best external hard drive for musicians you can buy right now is the Samsung T7. I actually used a trusty Samsung T5, this version’s predecessor, for around 4 years without a single problem, so recommending this new version and putting it into the top spot was an easy decision.
I love the rapid transfer speeds you get here and the fact it’s so small you can easily cart it around with you in your back pocket - but perhaps in a backpack might be a safer option!
The Samsung T7 also comes in various colours for a nice bit of customisation which also helps it to stand out if you have several storage units on the go.
With it being an SSD, and therefore able to be bus powered - meaning it doesn’t require an additional power source - it is ideal for a variety of use cases, including iPads, laptops and cameras.
A versatile option, then, and the Samsung T7 should be at the top of your shopping list.
Best budget
✅ Buy if you want an external HD without the big cost: This is an excellent storage option if money is tight, with up to 4TB available.
❌ Avoid if you have more money to spend: The Toshiba Canvio Ready fits the budget bill, but if you have more to spend, there are better options available.
Transfer speed: ★★★★½
Build quality: ★★★★½
Portability: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★½
The Toshiba Canvio Ready external hard drive operates at 7,200RPM, putting it a little above its fellow budget-level competitors in terms of read and write speed, and that's why it's made on the list of the best hard drives for music.
As for the protection of your data, there are shock sensors aplenty within the casing to help protect your sessions from unexpected drops.
It's a good size for carting around with you, with the unit itself rocking in at 2.5" and it also utilises USB 3.0 technology and can store up to 4TB of media - an excellent amount considering its price.
Sure, the Toshiba Canvio Ready isn't as fast as an SSD, but all told, it's an excellent option if you're in the market for an external hard drive on a tight budget.
Best portable
✅ Buy if you want a robust portable HD: The SanDisk Extreme Portable is ideal for carrying with you and it's build to withstand bumps and bruises too.
❌ Avoid if big storage is what you need: With up to 2TB of storage, you might want to consider something else if you need more room.
Transfer speed: ★★★★½
Build quality: ★★★★½
Portability: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★½
Taking rugged portability to the next level comes the aesthetically pleasing SanDisk Extreme Portable.
With the high data transfer speeds you'd expect of an SSD, the Extreme Portable also packs in a bunch of resistance to things such dust, water, and butter-fingered drops.
You might think this could be a bit overkill for creative production tasks. But consider the field recordist standing out in the rain capturing the sounds of nature, or the videographer filming in harsher climes.
It might not boast the same storage flexibility as others in this list, but if reliability, toughness and sheer portability are required, you could find that the SanDisk Extreme could turn into your new best buddy as a value hard drive for music.
Best desktop
✅ Buy if you want an attractive desktop HD with good storage: I know it shouldn't matter, but I love the look of this HD - and it offers up to 8TB of storage.
❌ Avoid if you huge storage is top of your list: Sure, 8TB isn't to be sniffed at, but if your desktop needs are gargantuan, then this might not be ideal.
Transfer speed: ★★★★½
Build quality: ★★★★½
Portability: ★★★
Overall: ★★★★½
I've picked out another SanDisk special here, this time in the uniquely bean-esque form of the company's Desk Drive.
Despite being smaller than a fist, the SanDisk Desk Drive is capable of storing a thoroughly decent 8TB of your data – and it's also capable of giving you access to that data with some considerable haste too.
In my opinion, it’s an ideal hard drive for complete studio computer backups, as well as for keeping old and legacy projects within reach.
It is a shame the largest one you can get is 8TB, as most would consider a desktop SSD to be an opportunity for vast data storage.
That said, 8TB is more than enough for most of us – and so with its speed, the SanDisk Desk Drive becomes a neat, suave choice of desktop hard drive for keeping your project backups at the tips of your digital fingers.
Best rugged
✅ Buy if you want a rugged HD that'll take a few knocks: This is a much-loved HD and it'll survive wear and tear effortlessly.
❌ Avoid if your idea of design is a little more refined: I don;t mind the LaCie's distinctive looks, but some may want their gear a little less bright.
Transfer speed: ★★★★
Build quality: ★★★★½
Portability: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
Certain external hard drives become synonymous with certain applications, and the LaCie range's popularity with creative professions is legendary.
These iconic, instantly recognisable orange drives are used by photographers, videographers, and musicians everywhere, and for very good reason.
On paper, the LaCie Rugged Mini drives aren't that advanced. They only offer a 5,400rpm data transfer speed, so realistically you aren't going to be streaming sample libraries from one.
However, as a portable backup drive, its shock resistance and small size mean it is perfect for on-the-go performers and creators.
It also has storage capacity of up between 1TB-4TB depending on what model you go for and is worth serious consideration - although the colour scheme might put some off taking the plunge.
How to choose the best external hard drive
When it comes to choosing the best external hard drive for your music studio, there are a few crucial factors to bear in mind before you make your choice.
1. Speed
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First and often foremost, speed matters. As we know, music production often involves handling large files, from raw audio recordings to high-quality samples and virtual instruments. A hard drive with fast data transfer speeds is essential for smooth workflow and seamless playback. Look for drives with USB 3.0 or higher, as they offer faster transfer rates, reducing the time spent waiting for files to load or transfer.
2. Capacity
Storage capacity is another critical consideration. As your music library grows and you accumulate more project files, you'll need ample space to store everything. Determine your storage needs based on the size of your projects and the volume of files you work with regularly. If you’re making Hans-Zimmer-esque arrangements with live orchestral musicians, your data needs are going to be far higher than if you’re a solo singer-songwriter working on acoustic demos – and even still, it's often wise to invest in a drive with more capacity than you currently think you need.
3. Durability
Musicians and producers who are constantly on the move will value durability and portability, from an external hard drive. Whether you're travelling to gigs or working in different studio environments, your hard drive needs to withstand the rigours of life on the road. Look for drives with sturdy enclosures and shock-resistant features to protect your data from accidental bumps and drops. Likewise, a compact, lightweight drive that fits easily into a laptop bag or backpack is ideal for on-the-go creativity.
4. Reliability
Reliability is perhaps the most critical factor of all. As a musician or producer, your hard drive is the lifeline of your creative work, storing years of music projects, samples, and recordings. Choose a drive from a reputable manufacturer known for producing reliable, high-quality products. Read user reviews and resources (like this guide). Seek recommendations from fellow musicians to ensure you're investing in a drive that will stand the test of time.
In choosing an external hard drive for your music studio, then, there are five essential factors: speed, storage capacity, durability, portability, and reliability. Your ideal hard drive meets your needs in each of these areas, whether a phone-sized portable SSD or a big, chunky backup device for your desktop.
FAQs
What is the difference between an SSD and a HDD?
HDD stands for Hard Disk Drive, and refers to mechanical hard drives that store your data on a spinning disk or platter. SSD, meanwhile, stands for Solid State Drive, referring to hard drives that store their data using grids of minuscule transistors.
HDDs are older technology, and can be slow to read data from. They are useful insofar as you can get a lot of storage for cheap, and can be much more stable long-term for redundant data backups. SSDs blow them out of the water in pretty much every other sense, so my advice would be to pick an SSD where possible.
They’re so much faster for writing and reading data, meaning they’re much more versatile; besides, their lack of moving parts makes them much more durable for on-the-go usage.
Should I install my DAW and plugins on an external hard drive?
No you shouldn't. Installing your DAW and plugins on your system drive to ensure the best performance. Plugins and a DAW don't take up that much space by themselves, it's your audio files and sample libraries that should be going on an external drive.
Do I really need an SSD?
It depends what you're using it for. If you want to quickly access sample libraries and projects, I would go for an SSD. If you're just buying a hard drive from long term storage to be backed up occasionally, then a HDD will work just fine.
Do I need Thunderbolt connectivity?
Thunderbolt does offer a speed upgrade versus USB-C, but for most musician's a USB-C connection should be plenty fast enough. Audio data doesn't use loads of gigabits so you're unlike to face any issues here. The only instance I can see where a musician might benefit from Thunderbolt is if you're composing for film and using huge sample libraries.
What is the downside of an external hard drive?
The one major downfall of using an external hard drive for music versus an internal one is that it's more susceptible to damage or loss. Whether that comes from dropping it or losing it, an external hard drive by definition is more exposed, and the compact ones are more easily misplaced. That's why you should always make sure to follow the 3-2-1 rule I mentioned in the intro of this guide.
How do I transfer from my computer to an external hard drive?
Nowadays it's really quite simple to do this. Simply plug your external hard drive into the appropriate connection on your computer. If you're on a Mac it will appear on the desktop, whereas for Windows users you'll likely get a pop up asking what you want to do with it, or you might have to navigate to 'My Computer' to see your drive.
Once you've done this, head over to your files and simply drag and drop them to the external hard drive. You'll be greeted with another pop up and a progress bar, after which your files will have copied over.
If you're regularly making music, it's definitely worth getting an additional drive to act as a backup; keeping a weekly or monthly schedule for regular backups will ensure your hard drive is mostly up-to-date, and minimise the damage in the event of a worst-case scenario.
How should I format my external hard drive for music production?
If you want to ensure the best compatibility, then you should format your drive depending on what type of laptop or computer you're using. For Apple users, the format APFS (Apple File System) works best with MacOS. If you're on Windows, NTFS is the ideal format. For those moving between the two, go for exFAT. Always remember if you're moving between two different operating systems to eject the drive from each computer, this will prevent any potential errors from corrupting your data, and ensures that your drive isn't slow to load on Apple machines while it scans it using the fsck - File System Consistency Check.
Key terms
- APFS (Apple File System): The hard drive format that's best for use with MacOS.
- Bus-powered: A hard drive that gets it's power from the USB slot it's plugged into.
- Cloud storage: An online storage solution that uses servers to store your data.
- DAW (Digital Audio Workstation): The software used to record, edit, and mix music.
- Desktop hard drive: A large capacity hard drive designed to sit on a desktop.
- Dirty bit: A marker placed on Windows hard drives when they aren't ejected properly.
- DIY enclosure: An alternative to pre-built hard drive that allows you to buy the drive and enclosure separately, potentially saving money.
- exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table): A hard drive format that can be read by both Windows and Mac systems.
- FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32): An older generation file format that was limited to files 4GB in size.
- fsck (File System Consistency Check): A scan that runs in the background on Apple machines, preventing the drive from showing up in Finder.
- GB (Gigabyte): A unit of measurement for data storage. 1 GB is equal to 100 MB.
- HDD (Hard Disk Drive): A mechanical hard drive that uses a spinning disk to store data.
- Journaling: A safety feature used by certain drive formats that prevents data being corrupted if a drive is unplugged or loses power mid-save.
- KB (Kilobyte): A unit of measurement for data storage.
- MB (Megabyte): A unit of measurement for data storage. 1 MB is equivalent to 1,000 KB
- MB/s (Megabytes Per Second): Used to measure data transfer speed.
- NTFS (New Technology File System): A file system format used by Windows computers.
- NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express): An ultra-fast type of SSD hard drive.
- RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks): A system that links multiple hard-drives into one large unit.
- SATA (Serial ATA): An older interface protocol used for mechanical hard drives to connect to computers.
- SSD (Solid State Drive): A modern type of hard drive that uses transistors for storage instead of mechanical disks.
- TB (Terabyte): A unit of measurement for data storage. 1000 GB is equivalent to 1 TB.
- Thunderbolt: A very high speed hardware interface that uses a USB-C connector.
- USB-A: A connection port still found on some computers today, it's the rectangular type of USB connection.
- USB-B: A connection port found on older computers, can be found on older printers, and some older music gear.
- USB-C: A connection port found on most modern computers and smartphones. It's oval shaped and comes in varying connection speeds.
- USB 3.2 (Gen 1 & Gen 2): The most common data transfer protocols used by modern external hard drives.
How we test
At MusicRadar, our team comprises seasoned players and experts deeply immersed in the world of music making, from drummers and guitarists to producers and DJs. With years of playing and meticulous product testing, we bring a wealth of knowledge to the realm of music gear, whether we're testing the best budget laptops for music production, the best studio chairs or of course, the best external hard drive for music storage. We live and breathe everything related to music making, including the peripherals that make our workflows more streamlined and efficient.
When it comes to identifying the best external hard drives for music currently available, we employ a rigorous selection process. Our approach combines hands-on experience, user reviews, and in-depth discussions with our editorial team to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the top products in this distinctive category.
As dedicated music makers ourselves, our primary goal is to assist fellow musicians in discovering the perfect gear for their sound or workflow. We meticulously consider factors ranging from budget constraints to the intricacies of feature sets, ease of use, and build quality. The result is a thoughtfully curated list representing what we confidently assert to be the best external hard drives for music on the market today.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
Why you can trust us
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Meet the experts
Chris Corfield is a journalist with more than 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. Chris loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar and bass gear, to synths, microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.
Matt has been recording bands since the mid-noughties, cutting his teeth with an M-Audio M-Track 2 and a copy of Cubase on Windows XP. Since then he's used countless audio interfaces to record music for bands across the UK, covering everything from djent to jazz. As a MusicRadar writer, Matt has reviewed 15 audio interfaces in the past year alone, and over 50 different products including guitars, amps, and pedals. Before becoming a writer, he spent five years in the music retail industry working for Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars, providing expert advice to musicians. He’s currently studying Music Production at Spirit Studios in Manchester, UK.
James Grimshaw is a freelance writer and music obsessive with over a decade in music and audio writing. They’ve lent their audio-tech opinions (amongst others) to the likes of Guitar World, MusicRadar and the London Evening Standard – before which, they covered everything music and Leeds through their section-editorship of national e-magazine The State Of The Arts. When they aren’t blasting esoteric noise-rock around the house, they’re playing out with esoteric noise-rock bands in DIY venues across the country; James will evangelise to you about Tera Melos until the sun comes up.
Latest updates
21/05/26: The guide has been given a new introduction and header image. The FAQs section has been expanded, and a brand new glossary of key terms has been added.
20/10/25: The latest update to this guide has included finessing the product specs, updating the pros and cons so they're clearer, and adding to the buying advice.
12/03/25: The guide has been updated with three new products: Toshiba Canvio Ready, SanDisk Desk Drive and iStorage diskAshur DT3. All six product entries have been expanded, including new star ratings and "at a glance" boxes. The FAQ section has been expanded with more information, while a section detailing why you can trust the MusicRadar team is also now included. Meet the experts section with all three writers added.