Auto Sync Backups of SD Cards (macOS)

Scene Tips, Tricks & Tutorials
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Maybe a few others will find this helpful. I wanted to document my method for automating the backup of the micro sd cards I use for Polyend devices.

Sorted this initially for my tracker mini card because I work on it nearly everyday and was getting paranoid about losing my work. But now using it for my other PE gear, Rekordbox usb drives, camera cards etc.

Whenever my tracker micro sd card mounts on my Mac it automatically checks for changes and syncs those changes to a folder on my Mac. In my case it’s a folder in my iCloud Drive so I get the added benefit of cloud redundancy.

So by connecting the card to my Mac a few times a week I always have a mirrored backup of my card on my Mac and in the cloud.

This can be tailored to use with any removable media to any backup destination. Same concept can be used in reverse as well, where a folder on your Mac automatically syncs to removable media when it’s inserted.

There are other approaches but this approach best suited my needs.

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Nice to see a free alternative is possible and detailed with clear steps :clap: I’ve been using Carbon Copy Cloner (not free) for my backups and was also able to configure backup on connect for the tracker (if someone wants a no terminal option)

Note that you can also use this technique to “chain” backups and get more/offline backups:

  1. Connect your tracker to back it up
  2. Connect your backup drive to run a general backup, as long as the tracker backup folder is included, you’re not also got an additional backup of the backup

For those who might have forgotten, if it saves at least one person the pain of loosing data it’s worth repeating the basic rule for backups is 3-2-1:

  • 3 copies
  • 2 media (i.e. one hard drive, one flash drive)
  • 1 offsite (aka not in your studio/different place than where you keep the gear/backup)

Back up often and verify :wink: :vulcan_salute:

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Nice! :+1:

Don’t know how I’ve never stumbled across Free File Sync before. Even without your clever auto script it’s a super useful bit of software.

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I’d forgotten you can create tasks in CCC too. I use it but mostly just for cloning hard drives and complete system backup.

Good thinking :+1:

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i’ve been very happy with Syncthing.
But i also have some very specific usecases (ignore patterns, selective syncing to desktop/notebook/mobiles etc), which is where syncthing really shines.

It allows me to sync removable media.. and of course lots of other things.. with any number of devices on a very granular level. My NAS is one of the targets as well, which in turn takes care of off-site (cloud) backups for me.

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I also have Syncthing. You’ve just reminded me how good it is.

Three solutions in one thread. What a time to be alive! :sweat_smile:

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