My current project shows "file missing" in audio clips, after I restored an old backup!

[Ally007]

Today, I restored a week-old backup that I located in the Projects window of TW12, as I wanted to copy some of the clips on it, for use in the most recent version of my project. After restoring the backup, I now find that all my more recent versions of the project now show "file missing" on some of the audio clips. Can anyone explain why? I wasn't expecting the restoration of a backup to interfere in any way with the later versions of my project, especially as they are named differently.
Thanks for any help..

[jabe]

My first guess would be that you've used audio and not taken the option of copying the audio files into the project folder. That said, there may be other causes that aren't immediately coming to mind.

[Ally007]

Thanks for the help. @jabe. I'm not sure what you meant, there... but anyway, I rebuilt the project from old saves, now.

[nowgad]

Thanks for the help. @jabe. I'm not sure what you meant, there... but anyway, I rebuilt the project from old saves, now.

the fact is that all the files that you use in the project must be saved in the project. this is indicated by a pop-up window before moving the file to the project. Yes, the project will be big, but nothing will be lost.

[Ally007]

Thanks for the help. @jabe. I'm not sure what you meant, there... but anyway, I rebuilt the project from old saves, now.

the fact is that all the files that you use in the project must be saved in the project. this is indicated by a pop-up window before moving the file to the project. Yes, the project will be big, but nothing will be lost.

Thanks, @nowgad. I've never noticed any popup window like that. When should it appear? I'm also not clear what you mean by 'moving the file to the project'. I always assumed this would be done automatically, whenever I save an edit. I have to admit I'm not clear how it all works. Do you mean I need to manually save each individual track to the project, somehow? I've never heard about this before. How do you do that?

[operandx]

When you import an audio file into an edit you will see the popup nowgad mentioned (I would always choose to save a copy in the project). Any new recordings that you make within the edit will be saved into the projects Recording sub folder anyway.

[Ally007]

When you import an audio file into an edit you will see the popup nowgad mentioned (I would always choose to save a copy in the project). Any new recordings that you make within the edit will be saved into the projects Recording sub folder anyway.

Ah, I see! Thanks @operandx. I don't think I imported any audio files to that project. Hence my confusion over the suggestions. Maybe I did, and forgot about it. So, if I copy a clip from one project into another, that is when I need to manually save a copy of the clip to the project, is it? I still don't remember seeing a popup window though. Maybe I missed it, somehow.

[Ally007]

... Pls delete this reply (error).

[operandx]

When you import an audio file into an edit you will see the popup nowgad mentioned (I would always choose to save a copy in the project). Any new recordings that you make within the edit will be saved into the projects Recording sub folder anyway.

Ah, I see! Thanks @operandx. I don't think I imported any audio files to that project. Hence my confusion over the suggestions. Maybe I did, and forgot about it. So, if I copy a clip from one project into another, that is when I need to manually save a copy of the clip to the project, is it? I still don't remember seeing a popup window though. Maybe I missed it, somehow.

You can set what happens on audio clip import in settings->advanced (at bottom of page) I aet as 'Always copy file into project'. I think I've recommended that you always use an archive if you are 'backing up' a project as this ensures all files are saved together in one archive file.

By the way, if you are copy/pasting an audio clip from one edit to another which reside in same project, they share the Recording folder anyway. Obvs different story if the edits are in different projects.

Edit - on that last point I just tried a copy/paste of a recorded clip between edits in different projects and it didn't make a copy in the second project's imported folder. So that's worth noting.

[Ally007]

When you import an audio file into an edit you will see the popup nowgad mentioned (I would always choose to save a copy in the project). Any new recordings that you make within the edit will be saved into the projects Recording sub folder anyway.

Ah, I see! Thanks @operandx. I don't think I imported any audio files to that project. Hence my confusion over the suggestions. Maybe I did, and forgot about it. So, if I copy a clip from one project into another, that is when I need to manually save a copy of the clip to the project, is it? I still don't remember seeing a popup window though. Maybe I missed it, somehow.

You can set what happens on audio clip import in settings->advanced (at bottom of page) I aet as 'Always copy file into project'. I think I've recommended that you always use an archive if you are 'backing up' a project as this ensures all files are saved together in one archive file.

By the way, if you are copy/pasting an audio clip from one edit to another which reside in same project, they share the Recording folder anyway. Obvs different story if the edits are in different projects.

Edit - on that last point I just tried a copy/paste of a recorded clip between edits in different projects and it didn't make a copy in the second project's imported folder. So that's worth noting.

Excellent info. Thank you so much for the clarification and tips, @operandx; very helpful. Would you say it's a good idea to also check "Renaming a clip also changes its source item"? I didn't have this checked, and I think I did rename some of my clips. Maybe that's what caused my "file missing" problems. Yes, I definitely must start archiving!