Deleting Unused Audio Files

Hi David,

In the Audio Window, under the small edit menu, you will find the "Select Unused" function.

Just select this, and the unused audio regions will become highlighted. Then go over to the Audio File menu (still from within the Audio Window), and select "Delete File(s)".

BE ADVISED... this erases those unused audio files from your hard drive, and is NOT undoable. Once it's done, it's done. If you merely want to remove the unused audio files from the song, but keep them on your hard drive, simply choose "Select Unused", and then hit the delete key.

Another option for removing unused audio files would be to invoke the "Save As Project" command, and store the song elsewhere on your drive, or to another hard drive altogether (for archiving, for instance). When you "save As Project", you have the option at the prompt of leaving unused audio behind, or deleting it all together, so it doesn't get copied to the new folder/location.

One thing though, make sure when you do choose "Select Unused", that you don't have tracks on your arrange page that are hidden. Logic considers these "in use", even though you can't visually see them.

make sure you go to AUDIO FILE>UPDATE FILE INFORMATION to update your song on what has been add and deleted

stash

David,

I may have misunderstood your question then. I read your first post as wanting to delete audio files from a song, that weren't actually being used in the arrangement, thus, being on the arrange page. My directions apply to that scenario.

It sounds like though, you're wanting to delete audio from your hard drive that you're not using anywhere, in any song. Is that correct?

If so, I do believe the Project Manager is the way to deal with this, but admittedly, I've never warmed up to the Project Manager. I was organizing all my audio files in Logic long before that feature was added, so I haven't wanted to change much from what works for me.

Someone else with a better handle on how to do this in the Project Manager will need to jump in here. I'm sure there's lots around here that can help in that regard.

O.K. I guess I did understand after all...

Here's the thing. Those extra 160 audio files should still be seen from within the Audio Window of the song. You should still be able to choose "Select Unused", and then once they become highlighted, choose "Delete File(s)".

I haven't encountered a situation where you weren't actually allowed to delete them. At the most, you should get a prompt warning you that says "These files May be used in other songs" or something along those lines, but you should still be able to follow through with the delete command.

However, like I mentioned, I don't really make use of the Project Manager, so maybe there is some kind of restriction that I am unaware of. Anyone have any definitive info regarding that?

David,

I suppose you could delete your Project Manager preferences, by going to ~(user name)/Library/Preferences/Logic/PM Data, and delete the PM Data folder. This should totally disassociate those 160 audio files from ANY Logic song.

You would then need to rebuild or rescan at that point, if you planned on continuing with the Project Manager.

But I would urge you to hang tight, and wait for someone else to either agree with that course of action, or refute it with a reason why. Like I've said, I don't use the Project Manager at all, so I'm a little hesitant to give too much advise where it's concerned.

David,

It Sounds like Logic is still expecting to find those files. If you open the song, and get through all the "skip" messages, immediately go to the Audio window of that song, and choose "Select Unused" again. You should see a bunch of regions become highlighted, but these are all files that don't exist on your hard drive. Simply hit the "Delete" button, and then immediately re-save.

This should clear out the references to those files. Normally, this shouldn't have happened, but I'm not sure exactly how you went about it. Regardless, see if eliminates the search dialog box upon opening that song.

Hey David,

Open up your songs one by one (mostly the songs with the problems ) then in each song go to Audio Window or click hold APPLE+9

then under Edit>Select unused to select the files that are not been used in the arrange window then hit Delete

after delete, go to AUDIO FILE>UPDATE FILE INFORMATION to update your song on what has been added or deleted

then save your song

I usually do this after doing big recording and editing

stash

What $ta$h said... 🙂

Yea, this whole time I've been referring to the Audio window in Logic (default screen-set #9). Sorry for the misunderstanding...