I JUST did a video on that, but Scook sums it up well.
In my video, I create two projects and show how they end up on your hard drive.  (it's not a long video ;-).
...but it will show you the screens shown above and etc, etc.   Basically a "light" version of Scook's reply, but in a video format.  But I TOO, put my audio on my D drive and the vid shows that too.
Hope it helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEq-IIvwpEw

scook
SONAR project layout works for me. I created a directory junction
mklink /j "C:\Cakewalk Projects" "E:\Cakewalk Projects"
 
No need to worry about the Global audio folder, it is normally empty. So it can point to the projects folder. It should be on the same drive as the per-project audio data anyway.
 

So if there is no need for a global audio folder, we return full circle to my original question.  How do I get my projects to create with the audio read write to not default to C:\cakewalk projects\audio.  Do I simply have to re-type a path, or if like scook suggests, that is a fine place for it, what tells it to read/write somewhere besides that?

I guess my hicup in understanding is if it is not the "Global Audio Folder" where the read/write happens, then where?

Wait, I think I get it...  You are saying to move the projects to the data drive so that all plays nice.

Still install the program on OS drive, and even keep your project files there, but have them mirrored on the data drive along with the data itself...

Am I getting what you are saying now?

The only time when you need the Global Audio folder is if you start a new project by using the Control + N command.
 
Otherwise Sonar doesn't have a clue about where to store any audio you subsequently record.

SimpleM
Wait, I think I get it...  You are saying to move the projects to the data drive so that all plays nice.

Still install the program on OS drive, and even keep your project files there, but have them mirrored on the data drive along with the data itself...

Am I getting what you are saying now?

No, the projects aren't "mirrored" anywhere.
 
Assuming you've set in Preferences exactly where your projects reside (I use drive 'E''), every time you start a new project (call it "New Song" you'll have a folder called "E:\Cakewalk Projects\New Song"
Underneath that you'll have a folder called "E:\Cakewalk Projects\New Song\" whixh is where all yourt audio will be stored for that project
 

Bristol_Jonesey

SimpleM
Wait, I think I get it...  You are saying to move the projects to the data drive so that all plays nice.

Still install the program on OS drive, and even keep your project files there, but have them mirrored on the data drive along with the data itself...

Am I getting what you are saying now?

No, the projects aren't "mirrored" anywhere.

In the scenario scook presents it does appear it would mirror.

SONAR project layout works for me. I created a directory junction
mklink /j "C:\Cakewalk Projects" "E:\Cakewalk Projects"

That is what I spoke of when mentioning mirroring.

I still would love for the "new project" dialogues to default to D:\xxx instead of C:\xxx simply because I am absent minded enough to forget to re-direct the path at times.  Caught myself doing it the other night and was having dropouts once I got several VI's going.

That's not mirroring though - there is still only one copy of your project, mklink is simply a pointer, nothing more.
 
Setting Preferences > Folder Locations > Project Files to D:\xxx will do exactly what you want

Yeah, no mirroring going on, simple directory redirection just like setting the paths in preferences except I don't have to remember to set preferences. FWIW, I usually do set the preferences but forgot in Platinum and everything still worked because the directory junction was in place. Either way, let the New Project dialog set the path to the project and the audio on the second drive. Don't get fancy, the default per-project audio folder setup works fine.
 
SONAR will not run without a Global Audio folder. If SONAR cannot resolve the path to the Global Audio folder, it will create a new one at the location specified in preferences, failing that the program will create "C:\Cakewalk Projects\Audio" and reset the preference, failing that the program will abort with an error. I believe the Global Audio folder is still used as a temp directory. This is why the Global folder should be on the same drive as the per-project audio folders, so the temp files can be moved without having to copy data. Using per-project audio folders, all the audio is read from the per-project audio folder.