scook

Timeking
The more things you do the better; however, if you don't save the project as a bun file, the audio files that are somewhere in one of your potentially many /audio folders WILL NOT BE SAVED.  The .cwp files only --point-- to the .wav files in whatever audio folder they are in. 
 

Per-project folders save audio for the project in a single directory directly underneath the cwp. Bun files were rendered redundant when per-project folders were introduced years ago. If one failed to properly create a per-project folder for a project, a simple "Save As" with "Copy all audio with project" checked and proper path names in the Project and Audio path entries will fix the problem.

The other problem with bun files is that if, for any reason, it becomes corrupt, or you lose it - you've lost the entire project - everything.
 
At least if you save as a normal cwp (and take backup copies) you still have a good chance to rebuild it from the associated wavs.

One thing I'll add to this: for every synth/effect you have, save a preset with your current settings for that VST/DX. I've had terrible terrible problems with updated versions not recognized as themselves, and lost settings to critical sounds. Lame to the max.
 

Another thing I would add is....if you use other plugins like Melodyne...you need to point Melodyne's files to be saved in your "Audio" folder along with your audio tracks....or Melodyne will not be able to find them if you open the project years later on a different machine.
 
When I add Melodyne to a project track, the first thing I do is tell Melodyne to save the processed files to the project's Audio folder.

"The other problem with bun files is that if, for any reason, it becomes corrupt, or you lose it - you've lost the entire project - everything." thats the reason why i dont use bun files, the only app i use that kinda format with is reason, with everything self contained, but they are only samples loaded in the nn xt
 
 
 
 

...wicked
One thing I'll add to this: for every synth/effect you have, save a preset with your current settings for that VST/DX. I've had terrible terrible problems with updated versions not recognized as themselves, and lost settings to critical sounds. Lame to the max.

Yup had that happen a few times >.<

OK, after experimenting a bit, you all are right ... bun files are redundant, not needed.  So as far as backup, I am saving project to new folder all by its lonesome, and then saving all the tracks "with effects" to that same folder.

Yep, easy and reliable. Glad you kept on with it to see for yourself.

Congratulations everyone! This is a great thread. Totally relevant to all who think long term about all the time they are putting into their music pieces. The original post is a great topic to kick off the thread.

FWIW I have always used BUN files. There is just some thing nice an secure about having audio tracks saved as Audio, in a folder of my choosing. A single file in a single place.
 
I have not had a bun file corrupt on me and I have imported some pretty old files...the basic audio is always there, even if effects and synths fall by the wayside. Of course the folder with all the BUN files is also backed up in two external places

Is this thread about mastering or about archiving?