Cannot open Project File

[jasonraines100]

I have the windows version of audicity, 1.2.6

I cannot open my project file into_cd_.aup. I did a lot of edititing of the audio files, saved them and now I cannot open the file back up.

When I go into Audacity, then click open, and then select the intro_cd_.aup file, it says "cannot find profect data folder: "intro_cd_data". After clicking "ok" it comes back and seys "unable to open project file".

I have the intro_cd_data folder saved on my computer, but it is not recoqnizing it for some reason.

How do I fix this problem?

Another thing, I can open the intro_cd-aup.bak project file. It has the same content in it, but just not the editing I have already done.

Please help,

Jason Raines

[kozikowski]

<<<I cannot open the file back up.>>>

That's because it's not "a file." Audacity projects are managed by the AUP file. It's job it to point to all the other parts of your show -- all the clips, songs, snippets, and performances. It's not a sound file.

You can't move the AUP, the project, or any other part of the show. Many people get into trouble when they delete or move the original music files based on "not needing them any more." You do need them and the easiest way to restore an Audacity project is to put all those files back where they were.

Something similar happens when you try to move a project. The drive locations of everything in a project are burned into the AUP file. If you move anything, the locations don't match any more and the show fails.

Koz

[jasonraines100]

Thank you,

Now when I want to cut, paste and change the audio tracks (edit them) do i want to edit the .aup file of the .bak file?

After doing my editing, do I save it normally, or do I need to "save as"? I just want to make shure this time after I do all the work in editing, it is not lost like this time.

Thank you,
Jason

[waxcylinder]

You should always try to open the .aup file. The .bak file would have been created the last time you did a "Save Project As" - so it is a backup vn. which may well be out of date.

WC

[steve]

After doing my editing, do I save it normally, or do I need to "save as"?

I like to use "Save As" as a regular course of action. I then end up with a series of Audacity projects which take up an enormouse amount of disk space, but provide me with multiple "restore points" should anything go wrong.

[kozikowski]

I, on the other hand, never used Projects. I Export As WAV right after a live capture and, if needed, export again several times in the middle, and certainly at the end. That's the Edit Master. The capture WAV and the Edit Master get backed up to safety drives. There is no excuse for booking a recapture session because "something happened to the computer."

If the job requires a compressed file, I make that from the Edit Master WAV.

If the job is excessively complex with a really good chance the Producer is going to change their mind, then I might save a Project -- in addition to the WAVs. Projects are brittle and in some cases unpredictable. I think there's something that doesn't get saved in a Project; the UNDO layers? Something Really Important doesn't get saved in an Audacity Project.

Koz

[steve]

I Export As WAV right after a live capture

Absolutely, and not just with Audacity but with any audio software. Recordings of live performances are frequently unrepeatable, so getting it down on an external backup device straight away is always a very good idea.

If the job is excessively complex with a really good chance the Producer is going to change their mind, then I might save a Project -- in addition to the WAVs

Different jobs call for different work-flows. A lot of the work that I do is with Choreographers and Theatre directors (notorious for completely changing their minds).

I think there's something that doesn't get saved in a Project; the UNDO layers?

Yes, that's right. The undo history is NOT saved, which is the reason for leaving a trail of projects with unique names saved at various points.

[kozikowski]

Lots of "You have to remember..."

My workflow goes face first into the mud with multi-track shows. If your deliverable is 3 channels or more, that's the day I call in sick.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Did we ever settle on a multi-channel file format? I mean other than AC3? Is there a WAV-8?

Koz