I am using Sonar X1 PE and was wondering what is the best way to backup projects. The way I do my back up right now is I go to C:\Cakewalk Projects and then copy the folder project to my external Hard drive. I'm sure there is a better way of doing this. Right now my projects are around 5GB each and so it takes time to copy and paste the projects into my external hard drive. Thanks

Why not set Windows 7 backup to run in the middle of the night to back those up?

You can set it to backup the Cakewalk\Projects folder and get them in one automated swoop.

Bob Bone

I heard that there is a specific save type (not.cwp) file type that is used to backup projects.

There are 'bundles' - do not mess with that.  All you have to do is back up the project folders.

Bob Bone

I use Synkron (free) to backup my projects folder to a folder on another internal hard drive. Synkron takes care of synchronizing the two folders and only updates new files or ones that have changed. I use it for everthing and backup everyday, also to flashcards and usb sticks for smaller stuff like email and documents.

Funny how files are now so big you need another hard drive for backup. I've yet to try to backup to my bluray burner which can go to 50gb.

One of the best ways to backup  a project is copy the project folder to another drive. An internal one or an external one. 

I recently installed a "backups" hard drive. Cost about $80. I don't leave the DAW powered on 24x7, so for me, I know the top-level folders where projects and audio exist, so every day or two I just drag those folders over to the backup drive, and (when prompted) select "over-write". It is kind of manual, but I don't work on Sonar every day of the week, so it works for me. Might not be the "best way", but that will probably vary by user anyway.

I use a simple method for archiving projects, which would work for backups as well. Here's how I do it.

1. Open the project
2. Select "Save as" to save it somewhere completely different. IMPORTANT---> Make sure that the "Copy all audio with project" in the save dialogue box option is checked.
3. Delete original project directory.

Of course you don't need to do the last step unless archiving. I've also assumed that the "Per project folder" option is in use (Preferences-->File--->Audio Data)

The way you are doing it is just fine. You can also open the window for each drive side by side and drag and drop the folder. So what if it takes a few minutes. Go make a cup of coffee. 

I just drag & drop my entire Projects folder to my external. when it's done, I rename it to include the date. This way, I can keep a rolling archive whereby the oldest one is deleted when a new one is added.