Peak Files and Clean current project directory??

[Geo524]

Hey Guys,

Couple of questions...

What is the best way to manage those little peak files that Reaper seems to put all over my hard drive?

Also, is there an easy way to set up the "clean current project directory" so I can safely get rid of the files that aren't being used anymore?

I love Reaper but these 2 things really bug me.

Thanks!

[bigwoody]

For the peak files, Reaper lets you create an alternative path so all the peak files from all your projects can be stored in single directory. Everything else (audio files, midi etc stay in your project directory. To set this up, first go to Options/Preferences/General/Paths and create a directory under "Alternate waveform peak cache path", name it temp or reaperpeaks. Now go to Options/Preferences/Media and click the check box for 'Store all peak caches in alternate path.

The cool thing about this is it will leave your project directory much cleaner with just your important stuff. You can also occasionally empty the alternative directory and all that means is the next time you open your project it will just take a minute to re-build the peaks. You won't loose anything important. (I only clean this out about once a month or after I finish a significant project.)

To effectively use "Clean current project directory' first you need good basic project management. What I do is every song (project) has its own directory. The way clean works is if there is any sliver of any file being used in your project it will keep that entire file. If you have several takes for example but you only use slivers from 3 or 4 takes it will keep all 3 or 4 files. If you have something like this the best thing to do is glue the entire track with all the pieces when you are done with your edits. This will create a new single file and then when you clean the directory you can remove all the other ones. Be careful, like any delete, once you empty your recycle bin they are gone.

Hope this helps.

[Geo524]

Thanks for the reply BigWoody. I'll give this a shot.

[SpecialRich]

funnily enough i'm just trying to sort out the same thing!

The other problem I have is that when inspiration strikes i haven't always created a save file / directory before i started getting dirty with audio and end up with loads of audio files in a default location rather than in a defined project folder.
Is the only way to move all files to the new location the "consolidate" function? it seems to render everything again rather than just shift the source files and you loose all your edit points/splits.
I remember in cubase there used to be a function that would export a project to a new folder as an exact duplicate.

cheers

[Fabian]

I have Reaper set to store the peak files on a 512 MB RAM drive. Works great. Reaper has to re-create them when I load a project in a session, but it does that quite quickly and nicely in the background. The peak files haven't bothered me since...

[planetnine]

I have my media files saved in a relative path -a subfolder of my project file (called "audio files", predictably) and all the peak files are stored there with all the wav files.

I like to leave my peak files intact for loading speed reasons (my projects are audio heavy and will take several minutes to regenerate peaks). I don't often have to go digging in the "audio files" folder for wavs (esp since the project bay was introduced) and I just leave the peak files with them, where they are supposed to be.

I have nice clean, organised project folders; the fiddly stuff is tucked out of sight, but intact.


>

[bigwoody]

Answering Rich's question...

Under File/Save As there is a check box to move all the media into the new project directory.

I would also recommend setting "prompt to save on new project" under Options/Preferences/Project. It only takes a second and starting off with good file/project management just makes life (at least mine) so much easier.

[SpecialRich]

Brilliant, thanks woody!
That prompt save on new project is an awesome idea, in complete agreement that organisation from the get go is a major time saver in the long run!

thanks
Rich

[Coachz]

That's from premature recordulation ! It really only takes 15 seconds to save a new project so just do it. You can also have reaper open with your default template if you like so your tracks are ready.

Originally Posted by SpecialRich

funnily enough i'm just trying to sort out the same thing!

The other problem I have is that when inspiration strikes i haven't always created a save file / directory before i started getting dirty with audio and end up with loads of audio files in a default location rather than in a defined project folder.
Is the only way to move all files to the new location the "consolidate" function? it seems to render everything again rather than just shift the source files and you loose all your edit points/splits.
I remember in cubase there used to be a function that would export a project to a new folder as an exact duplicate.

cheers