Save and backup

  • Thread starter Thread starter AJay
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A

AJay

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First of all, this is a great site. I have learned a lot from this board to get me started. Thanx to all.
Now for my question: Im still working on getting my computer set up and I was wondering what the best way is to save and backup files. If saving to CDRW, does that work the same way a floppy works? For example, if I had a file on a CDRW and I just wanted to tweek the drums a bit, can I just open the file, tweek it and save it again? Obviously I'm new at this computer stuff but I really want to use it to record my music.

Peace
 
Sorry, I'm not very familiar with those programs. However, to answer your question, using a CD-RW is pretty much the same as using a floppy (only a lot bigger).

There is a program called Direct CD (Adaptec/Roxio) that let's you read and write directly to a CD-RW - just as if it were a hard drive. I use this technique to backup my Sonar project files so that my hard drive stays relatively clean.

These are multi-track files, so they can get rather large. Generally I can only get two or three projects on a CD-RW (sometimes even less, depending on the number of tracks, the length of the song, and the bit and sample rate).

Generally you should be able to backup to CD-RW whatever you can save to your hard drive. Just check your program to make sure the audio is backed up along with everything else. In Sonar, for example, if you back up in the standard format (.wrk file) the audio in not included. You need to back up in what they call a bundle format to get everything included. I'm not sure how your programs work, but you should be able to do a test. Copy a file to the CD-RW and then make sure you can reopen it and that everything is there before you delete it from your hard drive.

Good luck.
 
Cool, thanks for your response.

Yeah, Acid is pretty cool. I just got it so Im trying to figure that out too. You can save in different file types; (.acd), (.wav), (.wma), (.mp3), and (.rm) with or without audio via a check box. I like the fact that it can match my audio into a projects tempo.
Anyway, that program (Adaptec/Roxio); does that re-format the cdrw or something? Thats what I wanna do, is keep my hard drive clean.
 
Actually AJay,

You have a couple of good options. First, if you have purchased a CDRW recently it probably included some CD burning software. Easy CD Creator or maybe Nero.

Now rather than using the Direct CD or the Nero equivalent which are called packet writing programs you could use the Create a data CD option on either program and save it directly on a regular data or cd recordable rather than the the high dollar Rewritable CD media. Windows OS can read it in this format also.

You could also upgrade to Sound Forge 5.0 which as CD burning
capability.

Or Upgrade to Windows XP which has CD burning capabilities.
Windows 2000 may have this but Im not sure.
 
Ok, cool. Thank you both for your help. But if I used cd r disk, I wouldnt be able to open the file , work on it, and save it again in the same location since its only a write-once media, right? Or can I? How do you use cd-r's?
 
I understand what you are asking but there is a better way
to accomplish the same thing. What multitracking or audio
editing software are you using or are gonna be using for
your recordings?
 
Is there a method or format yet that allows you to burn one file or song, and then come back to that cd to add another? If this is old news, forgive me....I don't get out much and my subs to computer magazines expired last year!

I've got an Iomega with Nero.
 
Getuhgrip - Unless you are referring to a playable audio CD, the answer is yes. A CD-RW will allow you to continue adding new material (and also deleting old material if you want). Works just like a big floppy disc.

Ajay - you are correct. A CD-R is a write-once medium. You can use this, and you will be able to recall the old data, but you can not write new data. CD-RW's are the way to go IMHO. As for the expese - I've seen CD-RW's for under $1.00 each. When you consider they are reusable, this is the way I'd go.
 
O.k., so at the risk of sounding like a caveman, CDW prohibits adding songs to CD once I've already burned to it once. CDRW will allow me to add songs until the disc is full.

Wow, that wasn't so bad!:p

Thanks Dach. I guess I need to quit buying these cheapie CDW's.

Wait a second, my density is kicking in again!

When you say "playable audio CD" are you refering to a commercial production CD, or a disc I've burned audio on?

Man, I apologize for dislexing here, and I could probably find the answers in the PDF's on the software., but really appreciate the help.
 
There are actually a couple of points I was trying to make and I hope I dont create confusion in doing so. Ajay, lets take that CDRW that you have and say that it has .wav files on it and that you want to edit and save.

The first thing that happens is the software progarm is gonna load a copy of it to your hard drive. From this point on all of your edits and tweeks are being applied to the hard disk copy of the .wav file. In order for any thing you do to actually be saved, you have to click save in the recording software otherwise you have done nothing. I tell you this now to avoid some possible heartache in the future when after you have been maybe tracking
for a couple of hours and you didnt click save and as software will do from time to time lock up..well guess what? you will loose all that you did up unto to the point of your last save..This is what i would define as "Save" in these regards.

Now as for backup, if you wanted to do it after each session then using Direct CD would be the way to go. If however you wanted to send it to your buddy on the west coast to edit some more and he had Vegas also, then the .wav file burned as a Data CD would be the way to go because you be able to read it from any CDRom or CDRW. This would probably be the better way to archive the final also.

getupgrip,

When you mentioned songs you must remember that there two ways that you can get a song on a CD. As a computer file as in .wav .aiff etc and actual burned audio.

You need software to play a the computer file.
The burned audio is played mechanically by a CD player.
 
Right on! Thanks for sheddin some light on this. I just wasnt sure which way to go. I considered buying another hard drive, saving on that and backing up on jazz drive. But thats a lotta duckies. More than i can afford right now. Actually, I just got back from buying a burner about an hour ago. It comes with that Roxio program,too. Thanks again.
 
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