Snow Leopard on External Drive

Hello guys,
This is an issue that I have and the simplest option to resolve it is the one that I cannot afford for the moment. I'm a Pro Tools user and unfortunately I found out the hard way that the Pro Tools 8 version I have does not work with Mountain Lion which I just installed on my Mac Pro not too long ago. Since I don't use Pro Tools that often, I didn't do the required research before installing 10.8 simply because I'm a graphic designer and photgrapher first. That said, I don't even have an ungrade option. I will have to purchase Pro Tools 11 at $699. Yikes!
So my question is, is it possible to install 10.6 on an external HD and start up my computer from it. If so, can I re-install Pro Tools 8 in that same HD like if it was the internal drive? So I will have my internal drive with 10.8 and the external with 10.6 so I can use Pro Tools 8. Make sense? Will the compter work like if it was operating from the internal drive?
Thanks,
Luis

That would be the best solution. Then it should be the same as far as disks go for either operating system.
I had failed to ask about tha earlier. Sorry.
Allan

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