Question about making a backup disk

[Duomike]

Using a mini running Yosemite and Audirvana for my music listening. 
All my music is on external USB hd. How can I make an exact copy
Of that's disk?
I'm a comuter dummy so please keep explanations simple. 

Cheers
Michael

[thumb5]

I take it you mean you'd like to make a back-up copy of the USB hard disk, for safe-keeping?  Do you have another external drive to copy the music onto, or did you have something else in mind?

To do a disk-to-disk copy you could use tools supplied with the OS by issuing commands in the Terminal program but from your post I gather you would prefer something easier to work with.

The most user-friendly way to do it is probably to use a directory synchronisation tool.  Those tools are designed to keep a back-up disk in sync with what's on a master disk.  The one I use is Destek Folder Sync, which I find reliable and easy to use.  Searching for "OS X folder sync" will help you find other options.

By the way: don't forget to keep your back-up drive somewhere physically separate from your Mac Mini, unless you have another back-up mechanism as well.

[baddog]

How much space are the music files using on your hard disk?

Do you anticipate adding more music files and needing to back up again?

I assume your external HD is connected to your Mac Mini?

It should be really easy to make a backup based on your answers above.

Also good answer by Ian above ... ^^^

[Duomike]

Thanks baddog and thumb5! My collection is only around 120 gb. My main concern is backing up the music I already have. Only occasional add music. Yes it' an external disc connected to the minis USB port.

[K4680]

Hello, for such purposes I use for years the tool "CarbonCopy Cloner". Easy to use and offers everything for data backup! From CCC there is also a test license !!
https://bombich.com