Re SSD life times.
Some assumptions
Values rounded towards worst case.
Re SSDs:
a) 10,000 write cycles per block for an MLC device.
b) SSD block = 256kB
c) Drive formatted with 64kB sectors.
d) Write amplification = 4 writes per block = worst case = every sector belongs to a different file.
e) 1GB spare capacity = 1,000,000kB / 256kB = 3,900 blocks in pool.
Re sessions:
a) 32bit samples = 4 bytes
b) 44.1ksps = 44.1k x 4B x 4 writes / 256kB = 2.8 block writes per second.
c) 96ksps = 96k x 4B x 4 writes / 256kB = 6 block writes per second
d) 1 hour = 60 x 60 = 3,600 seconds
e) Actual recording time = writing to disk, playing tracks excluded.
Some rough calcs
a) Hobby = 5 hours a week of stereo (2 tracks) 44.1ksps per week, with 15GB minimum spare =
15GB x 3,900 blocks x 10,000 writes / 2 tracks / 5 hours / 3,600 seconds / 2.8 block writes / 52 weeks ~= 110 years
b) Studio = 100 hours a week of average 10 mono 96k tracks, with 100GB minimum spare =
100GB x 3,900 blocks x 10,000 writes / 10 tracks / 100 hours / 3,600 seconds / 6 block writes / 52 weeks ~= 3.5 years
Comments
a) For hobbyists, SSDs will outlive their owners (probably obsolete or failed electronically before then).
b) Studios will get a few years, but adding more spare capacity will easily make an SSD last longer.