New to Using Time Machine, Should I Even Use It in This Case?

Hey everyone
So I just started a full Time Machine backup on my Macbook Pro to my Seagate 2TB External Hard drive. I make music, so I have a lot of projects and sounds, which I would like to have backed up just incase something happens to my Macbook. I have around 250GB of stuff on my computer, and it says that's it's going to take around 12 hours to back everything up. I'm new to using Time Machine, so I have a few questions:
Will this occur all the time if Time Machine is running? Like, will it keep updating the data I already have and replacing it, or will it just backup new changes/files after this first backup is complete? Is there an option/preference I can change so it only backs up new changes/files instead fully backing up every day?
Does Time Machine store the files/folders onto the external hard drive, or is it just like a backup file that you run which backs up everything?
Thank you guys in advance, really need help with this!

You should not use a Time Machine backup drive for permanent data storage. Use a separate drive for that purpose. It's much safer. Time Machine will over time delete files if they are deleted from the source drive which makes Time Machine a poor long term storage option. If you want a permanent storage option buy a separate drive for that purpose, but do not use Time Machine. User other backup software:
Suggested Backup Software
  1. Carbon Copy Cloner
  2. Get Backup
  3. Deja Vu
  4. SuperDuper!
  5. Synk Pro
  6. Tri-Backup
Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore.  Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.

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