Saving audio files ONLY

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

Saving audio files ONLY--HELLLLLLLP!!!

What is the correct extension (wrk. OR bun.) that should be used for AUDIO files only? I am confused by the HELP ME files. It seems like the advice given is ambiguous. Another question I have is that I lost ALL my work on one piece to a friggin "kernel" error when I went to final mixdown. FUCK IT ALL!!! I did not have the AUTO SAVE function activated. Would this of saved my ass and 6 hours work? Thanks in advance ----ROB

 

[AlChuck]

Neither. Both are Cakewalk formats that hold MIDI data, project data, and pointers to the audio data (and in the case of the bun format, the audio data is packed in there as well).

To save WAV files you have to export them track by track.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

Thanks so much replying with your help, Al. I know about mixdowns fairly well, but after I am done tracking/panning/eq'ing ETC...., should I save the work to WRK *or* BUN in order to later mixdown and export? This is where my confusion lies. And also, do most folks use the "auto save" function? Thanks ---ROB

Neither. Both are Cakewalk formats that hold MIDI data, project data, and pointers to the audio data (and in the case of the bun format, the audio data is packed in there as well).

To save WAV files you have to export them track by track.

 

[dachay2tnr]

Rob - Both formats are acceptable ways to save your projects - so long as you understand the difference between the two formats.

.wrk files (or .cwp files in the later versions) do not actually hold any of your audio data. They contain pointers to .wav files that are located and stored seperately on your hard drive. So for a complete project in .wrk format you need both the .wrk file + the .wav files.

.bun files (or .cwb in later versions) however hold everything in your project, including as AlChuck told you, your audio. So to have a complete project in .bun format you ONLY need the .bun file.

If you want to be super-safe, save everything as a .bun. However, the drawback is that .bun's take a little longer time to load and save than .wrk files. AND if you screw up the .bun file, you entire project is screwed. If you screw-up a .wrk file, there is somewhat of a chance you can recreate it. (I don't want to alarm you, I've never had either format get corrupted on me.)

If you plan to back up a project to CD-R you are best advised to do it as a .bun file. This way you will be sure to have the entire project. You could do it as a .wrk file, but you would also have to seperately back up each .wav that is used in the project.

Now, to confuse you even more, on projects that I am currently working on I tend to save a version in both formats. I use the .wrk file as the version I do my edits on, and I keep a .bun version as a security backup. When I have done a sufficient amount of changes, I update (resave) the .bun.

On older projects that I am not currrently working on I typically only keep those in a .bun format. Generally I also keep them on a CD-R to clear space on my hard drive.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

Hi Dach. You really are not confusing me at all. You and Chuck have certainly answered the main question in my message. The only unanswered inquiry is the "auto save" function. Do you guys use it routinely and will it save my ass in a mixdown crash such as I had experienced at 4 A.M. this morning? Thanks again----ROB

 

[Paul881]

I would never use the auto save, it would be too invasive for my liking.

Dachay's advised methodology is the best IMHO, I have adopted it myself and found it to be the optimum system for safety and efficiency.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

"I would never use the auto save, it would be too invasive for my liking"

Descibe the invasivness of this feature if you don't mind, please?. It sounds scary. The advice I am seeing is no doubt sound as shit, but how can I prevent the disaster that occurred last night? All I did was start the mixdown, and I got an ERROR and 6 hours of painstaking production when out the window! Should I manually save occasionally as I go along, thus negating the history features that I use as well? Sorry for busting all of your balls, but I do GREATLY appreciate the time and expertise you guys

 

[AlChuck]

I don't use autosave because I've long had the habit of hitting the hot key for Save (CTRL+S) constantly as I work. I suppose it could be intrusive if you are about to set up a new track and suddenly the auto save kicks in and saves your file, which if there's any audio might take a couple of seconds, but I don't think there's anything worse than some minor annoyance like that.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

"I don't use autosave because I've long had the habit of hitting the hot key for Save (CTRL+S) constantly as I work"

Oh baby, now THAT'S gonna help out for sure, Al!!!!. YESSS YESSS YESSS. I can EASILY save as I go along AT MY leisure, and still have the ability to use the undo/history function, and if something screws up, I am "saved". Thanks a ton Al, and all of you guys. If it wasn't for the salient advice from many of you guys on this board, I would not be able to produce air-worthy music that my dreams have been made of for 25 years, with such command. A massive T H A N K Y O U for all of you. -------ROB

 

[AlChuck]

You're welcome... and extra points for using a word like "salient," and correctly, no less!!

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

You're welcome... and extra points for using a word like "salient," and correctly, no less!!

I really did suck at a lot of stuff in school because I was a lazy bastid, but somehow I knows' how to speeks da' lang-gwage. Thanks!

Note: Can someone stop the pitter-patter of rain out my home studio window so I can start tracking the dang vocals!!!
FLORIDA...ARGHHHHHHH!

 

[Paul881]

FLORIDA!!!! You wanna try living in England. Ain't stopped raining since I was born

And manual saving is always preferable to autosave imho cos it always saves at crucial creative moments.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

FLORIDA!!!! You wanna try living in England. Ain't stopped raining since I was born

And manual saving is always preferable to autosave imho cos it always saves at crucial creative moments.

I hear ya' mate. Although the weather and the culinary prowess of the UK is lacking, you chaps MORE than make up for it in terms of the plethora of musical talent which eminates from your country. Nice to meet you, Paul!!!