Want to reduce size of session folder. What am I doing wrong??

[JChance]

Ok, I've got a demo project that I've been doing a bunch of edits on.
I've pretty much got it prepped to give to an engineer for mixing.
However, I think I'm doing something wrong.

I want to reduce the size of the session folders so that I can get each song on a DVD. (One in particular is over 5GB.)

I've consolidated regions and tried selecting and clearing unused audio files, as well as compacting regions, etc.

However, it doesn't seem to be streamlining the session. Am I doing the proper steps to get rid of the unused audio in the session, or do I need to consolidate all the audio and import them into a new session?

Just trying to figure out the most efficient way to do this. Thanks!

[Phil Ogden]

Did you delete the unused audio from disc? If you just remove audio from the session, then unused files remain in the audio files folder.

A useful exercise is to compare the contents of audio folder with the files (in bold) in the regions bin. This will tell you if there are any 'surplus to requirements'.

http://www.myspace.com/philogg

[JChance]

Originally Posted by Phil Ogden

Did you delete the unused audio from disc? If you just remove audio from the session, then unused files remain in the audio files folder.

A useful exercise is to compare the contents of audio folder with the files (in bold) in the regions bin. This will tell you if there are any 'surplus to requirements'.

http://www.myspace.com/philogg

Uh oh... I'm afraid to ask... Is "delete files from disk" in the same options as "delete unused audio from session?" I guess I assumed that deleting it from the session was the same as deleting it from the disk.
I don't remember seeing that option. Sorry if this is a bonehead Q.....

[Marc Frigo]

I believe if you use the "Save Session Copy In" function, you are only copying the audio and regions used in the session. Just make sure you select the correct options, so that you are copying all audio files, etc, and not the "link to source where possible" option. I'm pretty sure you will then have just the audio files used in the newly copied session's audio folder.

[Phil Ogden]

Originally Posted by JChance

Uh oh... I'm afraid to ask... Is "delete files from disk" in the same options as "delete unused audio from session?" I guess I assumed that deleting it from the session was the same as deleting it from the disk.
I don't remember seeing that option. Sorry if this is a bonehead Q.....

Just to be clear,

1. Open Regions Bin (<< bottom right of edit window)
2. Click on the grey Regions header and (from the drop down menu) select/unused.
3. Regions header clear.

At this point you should get the 'remove or delete' prompt.

Alternatively, follow Marc's suggestion of 'Save Copy In' and check 'copy all audio files'. This effectively creates a new session with new copies of all (in use) audio files.

http://www.myspace.com/philogg

[Marc Frigo]

Phil's got it - I think he clarified some of what I said. Thanks!

[JChance]

Well, duh... I'm a dummy.
I tried clearing the unused audio again, and noticed the "delete files from disk" option. I don't know why in the world I never saw that before.
Only PITA about it was having to answer "yes" individually to each file it was going to delete.
I know it's just there for our own security, but one of those things where "yes to all" might come in handy when dealing with tons of pieces of tracks.

Thanks for the tips, fellas-

JC

[Bob L]

Mouth breather from XP land here... on Wyndoze machines, the command for "I mean ALL of them need to go RIGHT NOW!" is <ALT> "Remove", so likely <option> "Remove" for you.

<returns to the dark side>

[Marc Frigo]

Yep - hold down the alt/option key, I believe, when deleting, and they will all go away at once!

[nerd513]

you should take care before doing anything impulsive. if you have multiple version of the session it is not a good idea to remove unused adio from disk because you will most likely remove audio from another version of the session. The best thing to do is remove all unused audio from the session and then> copy session in. This new session will have its own folder with its own audio files folder and will most likely be able to fit on a CD.