"make session self-contained" feature?

[mdimmm]

is there something like a "make session self-contained" feature? i use the "import session data" function a lot, which means i end up with sessions whose soundfiles come from all over the place. to back up my sessions it would be most convenient to simply have all its audio files in one place.

i want to backup and delete some of my earlier sessions whose material is partly being used in other sessions. before deleting a session and its soundfiles, is there a convenient way to see if other sessions "depend" on its files?

thanks!

ele

[O.G. Killa]

In the preferences page, under operations I think, there is a check box for "Copy all audio on Import" or something like that. If that is checked, no matter what you import from where, it will always copy it to the session's audio folder.

Audio in the import session data window there is a drop down box in the upper left side (I think, writing this from memory) that says, "Refer to Source Media". If you click on it, you'll also see as an option "Copy Source Media". You should choose the Copy from when using Import Session Data and all your audio for each song will be put in the Audio Files Folder for the session. When you check the box mentioned in the previous paragraph it will grey out the "Refer to source media" option in the Import session dialog and the only option you can select will be "Copy source..."

What to do on sessions that you've already done??? Do "SAVE SESSION COPY IN..." and make sure you check "All audio files". This will create a copy of the session and take all the audio files used in the session and copy them into the new audio files folder. Then you can Back up the copied session. But just beware, DO NOT USE "SAVE SESSION AS..."!!!! you have to use "SAVE SESSION COPY IN...". Save Session As only copies the protools session file and leaves all of the audio files where they are.

[Chris Coleman]

To check where each audio file is from, go the Audio bin on the right side of the edit window and choose "Show Full Pathnames".

If you want to make a "self-contained" session, then use the Compact feature: Select all the audio you want to keep in your edit window, then choose "Compact Selected" from the Audio bin menu - a window will come up explaining what you're about to do. A word of caution: you only really want to use this feature when your sessions are done, mixed and in the can. It is meant to save disk space and consolidate session data and it is a final and permanent step.

-Chris

[CellAutomata]

DO not confuse yourself. Do exactly as O.G.Killa said above: SAVE SESSION COPY. <<<<< This is what you have to do. Nothing else.

"What to do on sessions that you've already done??? Do "SAVE SESSION COPY IN..." and make sure you check "All audio files". This will create a copy of the session and take all the audio files used in the session and copy them into the new audio files folder. Then you can Back up the copied session. But just beware, DO NOT USE "SAVE SESSION AS..."!!!! you have to use "SAVE SESSION COPY IN...". Save Session As only copies the protools session file and leaves all of the audio files where they are."

No no no no to the person who said something about "compact audio", well, this feature does not help you in any way to make a session self-contained.

[Chris Coleman]

No no no no to the person who said something about "compact audio", well, this feature does not help you in any way to make a session self-contained.

I see your aprehension, so perhaps the best mothod would be to first do a "Save Session Copy In" and then use the compacting feature for a more streamlined backup.

If you get rid of the audio files and regions you're not using (via the "Select..." menus in the Audio bin) and then Compact your session, it will be the most space-efficient way to back up your sessions if you are completely done with them. This is from the PT Reference guide:

The Compact Selected command deletes unused
portions of audio files to conserve disk space,
and to prepare for cleaner hard drive back-ups.
The Compact Selected command deletes audio
if there are no regions referencing the data. For
this reason you should delete any unused regions
before compacting.

Because it permanently deletes audio data, the
Compact Selected command should be used
only after you have completely finished your
editing and are sure that you have no further use
for the unused audio data.

The Compact Selected command can pad the regions
of the compacted file by a user-selectable
amount. You may want to do this because
Pro Tools requires extra audio data before and
after audio regions to create crossfades. So, if
your regions have crossfades, or if you want to
pad the regions for the sake of any future trimming,
you should enter an appropriate amount
of padding (in milliseconds) to allow for this.

-Chris