Missing files again!

[wmike1503]

So, I was using Waveform Free 11. I would save a project, return to it and find ALL the files were missing. I thought this might be because I was saving to OneDrive. So, I changed to a local directory. The problem still occurred.

'UPgraded' to WaveFrom Free 12. Again using a local directory and saving frequently. I spent a few hows working on a project. Opened the file again (this having been done multiple times, with no problem), to find ALL files missing again.

I can only surmise that WaveForm has a serious issue.

Spending hours working and then finding WaveForm loses the project files makes this useless.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Are files MISSING or corrupt? I have had issues with OneDrive and Python scripts where files that get updated (appended to) "frequently" would occasionally go corrupt. Try working on a local/non replicated drive and archive to OneDrive...?

[wmike1503]

As I mentioned - I moved to working directly from my local hard drive. Saved to it multiple times with no issues - then, open the project and all files are missing. Unable to recover the project. A serious issue that many report. Renders WaveForm unusable.

[wmike1503]

Trying CakeWalk - seems much more stable and reliable.

[pough]

Even though you seem to have moved on, here are some ideas:

On the Project page (I think you might be referring to Edits as Projects) the recorded audio should also show up. When focused on a Project you can see the folder that the whole Project exists in and open that containing folder. Recorded audio should be in the "Recorded" folder.

You can also focus on the audio files in the Project view and see where Waveform thinks they should be and what their name should be so you can investigate using the Windows file folder.

One thing about OneDrive is that it by default tries to suck in other folders, in particular your Documents folder. So in some cases even though you're not specifically using a OneDrive folder you might still be using a OneDrive folder. I use a completely different hard drive for music.

I hope you can sort it out. I don't recall ever having this issue and I don't recall seeing many people report it.

[pekbro]

I'm not having this issue at all either, win 10. Though I have OneDrive disabled.

[Watchful]

I suspect the answer will lie in the Projects tab. If this tab isn't showing the files where Waveform needs them to be, this is the result. Make sure none of the projects or edit names are grayed out. This can happen when files are moved or renamed: Waveform will lose track of them (as will other DAWs).

[wmike1503]

See screenshot.

missingFiles.png

I have not moved any files - they were all saved, multiple times, now waveform says they are missing.

[wmike1503]

The files have, magically, reappeared. However, now the playback doesn't work. Press play and nothing happens. Ridiculous. Certainly doesn't inspire any confidence. Also fails to play to my connected and working headphones. I surrender.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Your default output device may not be your headphones - particularly if you were using another output device previously ?

[Watchful]

This is very strange, as Wmike's screenshot shows them in place. If Waveform thought the files were missing, they'd appear grayed out on the left, like the project named SubWays, as well as in the center and right. According to that screenshot, they're there...so I have no idea why they were reported as missing in the original screenshot. That is exactly what you would see if they were grayed out in the second screengrab.

It's almost like there's something conflicting, either driver or there are two versions of Waveform (or Tracktion) running and each is grabbing the other's services.

The only time I've had Waveform not play back was (a) someone else used the system and turned off output monitoring for some reason--easy fix, but likely not the case here, and (b) a driver issue, which I fixed by closing out Waveform and relaunching it.