I have been moving some things around and I created a folder on an external drive and have been putting samples in it. But, I wanted to know what everyone considered samples so I wouldn't miss any.

A sample is what a sampler plays. It is a tiny bit of audio that is one or more notes. Any sound can be made a sample. 

I just started thinking about doing this also. I did all default installations, so everything went to my C: drive, but that drive is a SSD and it's filling up real quick. I used Dimension Pro multisamples as a test case. Scook wrote in another thread how to do that by moving the whole multisample directory to the new drive/folder and then using a mklink command at the DOS command prompt to direct the computer from the old location to the new location. 
 
But I'm curious, is that how you are doing it? If not, what is your method for moving them?

When i think of "samples" I subdivide the term according to function. Technically the single cycle waveforms used for synths like z3ta are just as much samples as the bass loops included in the latest Sonar update. The samples that are source material for synths are not lumped with loops for me.  Even among synths, the waveform types are different than the longer more musical type of samples found in "romplers" like Dimension Pro.

Ok feeling pretty stupid. How do I get my soft synths and instrument to look and the samples folder I put on the external hard drive? Every synth I use says file or sample not found. If it's quicker and easier here is my FB:
 
https://www.facebook.com/greg.lester.79
Thanks

This is from a Scook post about a week ago...
 
It (the multisamples folder) is easily relocated with a directory junction created by mklink:
1) Use Windows Explorer to move the folder to the D drive
2) Run cmd.exe as administrator and type at the command line:
mklink /j "C:\Cakewalk Content" "D:\Cakewalk Content"
 
worked like a charm for me. No need to futz with the registry.

ward s
This is from a Scook post about a week ago...
 
It (the multisamples folder) is easily relocated with a directory junction created by mklink:
1) Use Windows Explorer to move the folder to the D drive
2) Run cmd.exe as administrator and type at the command line:
mklink /j "C:\Cakewalk Content" "D:\Cakewalk Content"
 
 

I guess where I'm confused is my external is "j: " drive. Would replace the "D:" with the "J:" in the command line?

JohnBonesDoe
Ok feeling pretty stupid. How do I get my soft synths and instrument to look and the samples folder I put on the external hard drive? Every synth I use says file or sample not found.

Speaking pre-2015, Sonar let you install a lot of things elsewhere, just not .prog files and Studio Instruments. This took care of Cakewalk's big DimPro, some lesser ones like Sound Center and Rapture and z3ta+2, and all the 'content' loops etc.  Then you can have the 'vst2 folder' somewhere off-C and then, during installations, tell the installers (most ask) where the vst2 folder is.  This takes care of all the plugin .dll's (and SD3 samples).  Unfortunately Steinberg, in their infinite wisdom, have hard coded the VST3 folder to the C drive in the VST3 spec, thereby destroying the partial flexibility we have with vst2.  You have to wonder what they were thinking.
 
I don't know how you could move Cakewalk stuff and the vst2 folder after the fact without resorting to a symbolic link (maybe by changing paths in the Windows registry).  For vst3, we have no choice and I'll undoubtedly be sym-linking that elsewhere shortly.
 
JohnBonesDoe, if I were you, I'd uninstall everything, set up my drives, partitions and folders to taste, then reinstall everything manually telling the parts (that ask) to go where you want them to go.  Then worry about what's left over on C: and how much it bothers you.  For Sonar, that amounts to about 1.6 gb (and 1.2 gb of that is Studio Instruments).
 
On my 128gb SSD, I have one 73 gb partition for C:  (26 gb still free), one 12 gb D: partition for my programs and MS Office, and one 26 gb E: partition (3 gb still free) for Sonar(s) and 'vst folder'.  On a HDD I have an F: partition for Sonar content (loops, etc.) and Sonar projects, videos, tutorials, etc.  All my samples, including several DSF and other add-on packs, are on the SSD.

JohnBonesDoe

ward s
This is from a Scook post about a week ago...
 
It (the multisamples folder) is easily relocated with a directory junction created by mklink:
1) Use Windows Explorer to move the folder to the D drive
2) Run cmd.exe as administrator and type at the command line:
mklink /j "C:\Cakewalk Content" "D:\Cakewalk Content"
 
 

I guess where I'm confused is my external is "j: " drive. Would replace the "D:" with the "J:" in the command line?

Yes you obviously need to point it where your files are. It's just an example. Since you are coincidentally using j as your drive letter don't mix that up with the j in the command line argument mklink /j as it is a switch that tells mklink to make a junction link.

A 'sample' is a useless thing until you find it useful.