Delete all unused audio bin tracks function?

[Guitarfreak]

Alright, so you have several tracks in Logic 9, all of which took several takes to get the final take. Is there a function within Logic 9 to delete all of the unused takes in a project in one go in order to save HD space? Basically anything that is not in the Arrange window.

[ski]

Yes.

 

Start by using the Select Unused function in the audio bin. Then hit the DELETE key.

[Guitarfreak]

Thanks. They're taken out of the audio bin window, but where are they moved to? I don't see the files in the trash bin and if I press undo they're right back where they started. I'm a bit confused where they're actually going.

[ski]

I see an explanation is in order!

 

Key points:

 

• the audio bin shows you two things: a representation of actual audio files (as they physically exist on the disk) and representations of the different sections you use from those files (called regions).

 

• the arrange page only ever shows you regions. Even if a track contains a region showing you the entire length of the audio file, what you're looking at in the arrangement is never the actual audio file; instead, it's a region representing the entire audio file.

 

• regions from a single audio file can be used multiple times on a track or tracks. Example: a 4-bar horn section performance in which you only use one horn "hit" repeatedly in the arrangement at the top of each chorus.

 

So with those basics in mind... When you delete regions (whether in the bin or the arrangement), you aren't deleting anything physical, like a recording (audio file). That's because -- as previously explained -- all regions are just representations of sections of the actual (physical) file. So when you delete regions you're just erasing data pointing to sections of an audio file.

 

So now to your question... You asked where they go when they're deleted. The answer: they go to digital heaven (or hell, if they were bad takes).

 

One thing to watch out for... when you use the "select unused" function, Logic will not only select unused regions but also unused audio files shown in the bin. But deleting even those won't physically erase them from the disk. To do that you use a separate function: Delete File(s)

 

Hope that helps.

 

-=sKi=-

[Eriksimon]

When you delete regions (whether in the bin or the arrangement), you aren't deleting anything physical, like a recording (audio file). That's because -- as previously explained -- all regions are just representations of sections of the actual (physical) file. So when you delete regions you're just erasing data pointing to sections of an audio file.

 

...but, to complicate things, there is one exception: files recorded within the project.

[ski]

Indeed. Thanks for that important addition.

[bobsbarricades]

So say I have an old project with a ton of junk takes I did for demoing purposes. Now I'm going through redoing the parts and somehow after shoveling project folders from external to main HDD I get a prompt telling me it can't find a few audio files. I skip and it turns out none of the audio files are even USED, but how do I tell Logic to ignore them.

 

Also, on file management. I've managed to develop a habit of "save project as" for all my different variations of a song as it's getting written. Sometimes I'll start a project, then it'll go off and end up as another song, so I'll save as another project folder. Now I go to delete the unused files and it tells me "be aware that at least 13 other projects use these files" and...well crap I guess I can't delete them? If they're all saved as separate project folders with EVERYTHING checked in the save as window except copy movie files (because no movies) will it really hurt it?