moving projects to external drive to save space

Question

Level 1

8 points

moving projects to external drive to save space

Hey guys,

My internal hard drive is running low on space. However, I have an external hard drive with plenty of space.

Some of my projects are up to 3-5 gigabytes in size. I'd like to know how to properly transfer these projects to my external hard drive so that I can have more room on my internal hard drive without affecting my project.

What I've tried is moving a project folder to my external and moving it back to my internal if I try opening it up again. The issue is that a lot of the audio files cannot be found once when I re-open my project off my internal (or external) hard drive.

What am I doing wrong? How do you guys deal with this issue of running out of space and needing to move your Logic files to an external hard drive? Thanks!

Mac Mini 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 9, 2010 1:45 PM

Reply

Answer 1

castlljs Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 10, 2010 12:08 AM in response to castlljs

Anyone? Seems like there's a simple solution but I can't figure it out. Help would be very appreciated!

Reply

Answer 2

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,416 points

Sep 10, 2010 12:33 AM in response to castlljs

I don't get the problem. You copy over your project folders, trash the originals, done. Nothing special needed.

Reply

Answer 3

castlljs Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 10, 2010 9:59 AM in response to Eriksimon

Then why is it when I open the project from its new location, audio files are missing? And yes, I've copied the folder, not the project file.

Message was edited by: castlljs

Reply

Answer 4

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,416 points

Sep 10, 2010 10:59 AM in response to castlljs

Well, if your audio files are recorded to *project folder>Audio Files,* and you copied the whole folder to a different disk and the audio files are in fact there (have you looked?), I'ld be stumped as to why the audio files could be reported missing. Just to be very sure I just did that (including deleting the original folder after copying), and the project opened flawlessly.
But even if the audio files are recorded somewhere else (not the project folder) and would stay where they are when copying the project folder, they should still be found.
So, if you did everything correctly but nevertheless you get this issue, it could very well be corruption of the project file (nasty, but often vincible) or corruption of the Spotlight Index (easily user-repairable).
So, let us know.

Reply

Answer 5

castlljs Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 10, 2010 12:11 PM in response to Eriksimon

The file that says is missing isn't in the Audio Files folder (however, I didn't make careful observation to see that the files it claims are missing were in the folder it says it's supposed to be in to begin with).

I'm afraid to experiment with another project for a test run because I've already ruined 3 of my projects.

When I try to use spotlight, or use a Finder window and do a search, the specific file that is missing can't be found. I'd appreciate some help here if available.

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 10, 2010 12:40 PM in response to castlljs

castlljs wrote:
The file that says is missing isn't in the Audio Files folder (however, I didn't make careful observation to see that the files it claims are missing were in the folder it says it's supposed to be in to begin with).

I'm afraid to experiment with another project for a test run because I've already ruined 3 of my projects.

When I try to use spotlight, or use a Finder window and do a search, the specific file that is missing can't be found. I'd appreciate some help here if available.

If your not sure if the file was in the folder it's supposed to be in, I think you need to consolidate the project so logic will copy all the files needed into the one folder.
On a separate issue you will need a better system of file space/backup. You run the possibility losing files without careful file management, by constantly manually moving files around.

Reply

Answer 7

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,416 points

Sep 10, 2010 12:40 PM in response to castlljs

To rebuild the Spotlight Index:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2409
after point 5 I'ld add a note: the reindexing will not begin immediately (takes 1 to 2 minutes), and when it begins it may take several minutes up to half an hour before the reindexing is done - of course depending on how many files/disks you have. Click on the Spotlight icon top right of your screen to see a progress bar.

After indexing, find your audio files (where did you put them?). Do you normally record to the project folder? Do you remember what they're called? When you recorded them? What format they are? All those attributes can help a search.

Did you check any of those project folders you say you ruined to see if there are actually audio files in it? And just try it again, just do one thing extra: check before copying the project folder if there is an audio files folder comntaining audio files. Also alter one step: delete the originals after you've made sure the copied version opens normally.
Still, you'll have to figure out where on earth you put those audio files of the first three projects. Because again, if they were in the original project folder and if they also are in the copied one (they MUST be), this cannot be. Or, in other words: either you didn't copy the project folder, or the audio files were never in it.

Reply

Answer 8

castlljs Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 10, 2010 2:39 PM in response to Eriksimon

Just tried it with a different project and it worked without any problems (moving folder to external hard drive and opening project from external hard drive). Not sure why it worked with that one but not the others.

Maybe I need to better understand how a project refers to audio files. This is how I understand it...

Whenever an audio file is made within a project (bouncing a track, recording vocals with a mic), that file automatically gets created in the "Audio Files" folder. If a project is referring to an audio file that exists in a different project folder or something else completely different (not sure why it would, but just hypothetically), then is it supposed to be able to find and refer to that audio file in it's non-project folder location since it didn't "move" with the project folder?

If not, is it possible that when I move a project folder to my external, the project attempts to change where it refers to an audio file? In other words, does the project know that it should refer to audio files folder within the same project folder, even if that project folder moved from my internal to external hard drive? But then it gets messed up since the audio file was something out side of the project folder to begin with?

Just trying to figure out why one of my projects transferred successfully while the others didn't.

Reply

Answer 9

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,416 points

Sep 10, 2010 3:38 PM in response to castlljs

castlljs wrote:

Maybe I need to better understand how a project refers to audio files. This is how I understand it...

Whenever an audio file is made within a project (bouncing a track, recording vocals with a mic), that file automatically gets created in the "Audio Files" folder. If a project is referring to an audio file that exists in a different project folder or something else completely different (not sure why it would,

...I think there are many people that have audio files that are used in several projects. Not too odd.

but just hypothetically), then is it supposed to be able to find and refer to that audio file in it's non-project folder location since it didn't "move" with the project folder?

Right. A socalled "absolute path" is in the project file: on +that exact location+ it is. So only if you somehow move that file to any other location (or rename any folder in its path), it'll no longer be found by your project.
However, I think Logic does not use absolute paths anymore, just relative: it should be in "This project folder/Audio files" , no matter where "This project folder" is. So move or copy, the paths travel with it and do not change.

If not, is it possible that when I move a project folder to my external, the project attempts to change...

No, a file that is not open cannot be accessed. The CONTENT of your project file will not change.

...where it refers to an audio file? In other words, does the project know that it should refer to audio files folder within the same project folder, even if that project folder moved from my internal to external hard drive?

That is what (I hope) I explained above.

But then it gets messed up since the audio file was something out side of the project folder to begin with?

Depending on what the ... you did with those audio files (have you looked for them already?), it COULD be that the project file has an absolute path for "outside" audio files, and that you moved those audio files or whatnot, and the absolute path has gone and the project cannot locate it. But if you have not touched them, the project should locate them anyway.

Just trying to figure out why one of my projects transferred successfully while the others didn't.

You first have to remember where your files were, or are. Find 'm!

And when in doubt, use *Include Assets* .

Reply