Hi,

Been using Sonar for a very long time and as new versions came out, I admit that I was one of those guys that if I knew how to get something done in the older version, I never bothered to learn some of the new features of the program.  I go back to using CAKE before they even supported audio files (when it was just a MIDI sequencer).

So, with that said, I recently had an issue where a hard drive went down. Luckily, it was a drive with a bunch of sample based VST instruments and somewhat easily recreated.

But, this got me wondering if this drive had my project work on it, I would have been toast.  So, I went out and bought one of those new external HDs for backing up my project work.

This has led me to ask the question on how you guys SAVE your project work so you can easily backup projects?  Is there a file format to save in that is better than other formats for this?  I get confused because my AUDIO files get saved in some sort of global directory for audio and I am confused on how the audio files can be saved and back-up'ed with the other project data?

Thanks in advance for any help and I am almost embarrassed that I am asking this question given the number of years I have been using CAKE.

Jim

The easy way is to constantly save projects to an external drive, and back that up elsewhere.  Pretty fail-safe, but lot's of work.

There's a service called "Gobbler" (https://www.gobbler.com/tour).  I have no experience with it yet.  But it claims to do just what you're looking for.  Just a lead.  Like I said, I haven't tried it yet.

Use "per project" folders and back them up. Very simple. Take a copy off-site if you really want to to safe.

Thanks guys!  So there is a way to save each project and all of its components in its own directory automatically or is this something I need to create one project at a time?  Will the audio data also get saved in this directory?

Sorry for all the questions.

Jim

Initially you do a save as command and create your own folder for each project. After that everything from that project gets save there. Do this first before recording!!! You must select the "use per project folders" in the properties section for this to work.

Haven't looked in awhile, but if your using X1 or X2, go to Preferences

and look for something that indicates 'Folders'. There should be something about 'Default Save Location'. In my case I have all Projects save 'Per Project' option & automatically saving to my external 1TB USB 3.0 Western Digital Remote Hard Drive. You can also click 'Edit' up at the top left, and then at the bottom, 'Preferences'.

YOu only need to set "Use Per Project Audio folders"

See Preferences/File/Audio Data

Nothing special to setup at all. just decide where you want to save your projects and tell SONAR the location In Preferences/File/Folder Locations

When you save a project SONAR will create a file with that name eg My Song.cwp and place it a folder called My Song.

as per this example.

Cakewalk Projects\My song
Cakewalk Projects\My song.cwp
Cakewalk Projects\My song\Audio
all the associated audio will be placed in the audio folder.

You can decide where you place your Cakewalk Projects folder and indeed what you call that folder.

Thanks.... I am going to check all these suggestions.. I like the one that happens automatically with a setting.

:-)

Jim