Sonar's project file clean audio folder function has always made me paranoid about moving projects from one directory to another. I have a "production" directory for project folders for work in progress. Whenever I finish a project I move it to another folder in a "completed" directory by opening the project in the production directory and saving it in the completed directory. This essentially make a duplicate copy. I then "think" I have to open the project again in the production directory, remove all of the audio tracks so they are no longer asociated with any project - rather than deleting them manually - then I delete the project .CWP file. THEN I run the cleanup function to remove the audio files in the production directory.
There's got to be an easier way then this. I'm afraid to test alternative ways.

The advice I saw a long time ago that I really liked and use is to save the project to a new Project folder and let it carry over all the audio files that are still in the project.  Then, when you feel safe doing so, you can delete the old project folder(s).  I did this on my last project and it went very well.  After picking and comping the good takes and bouncing etc. I saved the project once in the existing folder then did Save As, changed the Project Folder name (Sonar automatically changed the Audio file name) and resaved.  I could see all the audio files being rewritten.    So a project would go from several GB to under a GB.

I'm paranoid, so I only deleted the old folders after they were a few rounds old.

I hope that helps (and wish I could remember who recommended it to give them proper credit).

Thanks for the response. Actually I think what I described I do is the same thing you are doing, except I;m using the clean audio folder function, whic I see now I don;t have to.
I guess as long as you save through Sonar and don't just move the folders then you can remove the original folder and files. 

I find the CAF function quite tedious. I use it for every tune I compose, but for some obscure reason it searches every folder on my hard drive even though the search appears to be restricted in the small address window to C:\CakeWalk Projects\(song title folder). I tend to lay down numerous takes of rhythm and lead guitar tracks and comp something decent from the ensuing chaos (like JHughs above), so there's usually a dozen or so tracks that need to be expunged. Quite why Sonar wants to search every nook and cranny on my HDD baffles me.

Yea, what's the deal here. It always goes through every dam audio folder on my computer! I just don't think it works like it's suppose to! Any ideas on this?

Well, I've tried it despite it going through my hard drive. I think it works ok! I Deleted the files that it found for a project and the tracks that I use in the project were still there. To be sure I closed the project and then loaded it again so I think we're ok here!

Ronboy, I've no idea why CAF doesn't restrict itself to the current project's folder, so I think we'll have to learn to live with it. I don't know if X1 has addressed that particular bugette, maybe Beagle knows?

I always presumed it was looking for other projects that might use or share data files- like back-up cwp's. And where are they apt to be? In different folders on another drive..
That gets interesting when you have a bunch of earlier 'save as work in progress versions that have those tracks or bits that might have been deleted from the current or final version you're 'cleaning.
I used to rename backups '.cwpx to get around it. 'Save as or Consolidate Audio gets around it even better.

joba51


Thanks for the response. Actually I think what I described I do is the same thing you are doing, except I;m using the clean audio folder function, whic I see now I don;t have to.
I guess as long as you save through Sonar and don't just move the folders then you can remove the original folder and files. 

AFAIK, The crucial thing in this resave-operation is that you must save under a new name. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you don't change the name, don't all the audio, also deleted clips, follow to the new folder?

You can end up with a bit of a mess. There's the global Audio Folder concept at the root of the issue. If you never do anything Cakewalk just saves it all in this massive folder. I like probably most newbies started that way not knowing better. The best method for me has been to make folders ahead of time outside Sonar.------Main Project folder/Each Song Folder/Audio Folder------- Before recording I open a Template and re-name and save as and direct Sonar to the new Song Folder location. I do this for each song in an album ahead of time. When the session starts I simply open that song. Clean up is not usually necessary anymore as hard drives are huge. The beauty of my system is it is so easy to copy the folders from my laptop to my desktop system or to a backup drive.