Logic Pro Samples folder

Antaren

Antaren

Logician
So I was playing around on my quest to dive into Logic, and pulled up the "Yamaha Grand Piano" from the library. On completion of my noodling, I saved the project and it started saving all these audio files. I stopped mid-way of saving (as there was just incoherent noodling) and closed Logic. In my Music folder in my "Users" folder, there is a "sampler Instruments" folder that now lists the Yamaha Grand Piano. And in the "Samples" folder there is another folder called, "Yamaha Grand Piano." When I open that folder, there are a whole bunch of samples listed.

I don't understand how or why they got there. Do I need to keep them or can I trash them? Will folders like this be created every time I save a project that I've played an audio instrument?

Thanks in advance
Karen
 
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You can select whether or not to save sampler instruments (and other stuff) along with a project - this is what happened to you.

To stop this happening:
When you save for the first time, a dialog opens. You have lots of checkboxes to choose what will be saved or not. Just uncheck what you don't need.

The idea behind this is to consolidate all the required files for a project, which might be useful if you need to open the project on another system. For general use, you don't need this as you'll just keep piling up tons of duplicates.

Hope this helps....
 
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Thanks for your quick reply, Colin.

I need some clarification regarding this paragraph:
The idea behind this is to consolidate all the required files for a project, which might be useful if you need to open the project on another system. For general use, you don't need this as you'll just keep piling up tons of duplicates.

So let's say I get another computer and want to be able to use this project on that new computer. If I don't have all those boxes checked, will the project with all it's assets ( I think that's the correct term) be available on the new computer?

I ask this because I've come to Logic X directly from Logic 6. All those projects I created in Logic 6 were stored on an external hard drive. I imported the projects from that external hard drive onto my new computer. When I've tried opening those projects on my new computer, I get messages that say "the audio file _______ was not found in its expected location."

I want to be able to avoid that should I get another computer.

Thanks again,
Karen
 
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Hi Karen,

The problem that you're getting could be from several causes.

You say your old Logic projects were on an external drive. Is that drive still connected to your new Mac? If not, there may indeed be missing files.

Or maybe you copied all the files onto a new drive. Unless the new drive has exactly the same name as the old old, then the file paths associated with the project will all point to a drive that's no longer there and that's why Logic X says they're missing.

You should get an option to search for missing files when you open the old projects. Accept and let Logic X locate the files (or you can assist by manually locating them. Then re-save the project.

So let's say I get another computer and want to be able to use this project on that new computer. If I don't have all those boxes checked, will the project with all it's assets ( I think that's the correct term) be available on the new computer?
Click to expand...

As long as your original factory and user files are transferred to the new computer (and with the same file paths ideally), then all will be well.

Regards - Colin
 
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Hi Colin:

Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated.

Regarding: "You say your old Logic projects were on an external drive. Is that drive still connected to your new Mac? If not, there may indeed be missing files. "

No, that external drive isn't connected. The projects were on my old computer. The external drive was for the audio files from my old computer. I imported the audio files onto my new computer, and it ended up storing locally in a folder on my hard drive. If I move them to my Logic Folder, will they show up? At this point, I'm nervous about moving the audio files folder when I don't know where to put it.


And this: "As long as your original factory and user files are transferred to the new computer (and with the same file paths ideally), then all will be well."

I don't understand file paths. Can you explain this or point me to a resource that can explain this? And is this why it's better to save as a "project" or to select the options (or those that are applicable): audio files, EXS instruments and samples, ultrabeat samples, Space Designer impulse responses, movie files, include Apple Sound Library Content?

Thanks a bunch for untangling my brain.
Karen
 
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Hi Karen,

Okay, file paths first.

Let's say your new computer's main drive is called Macintosh HD (which is the default).
On that drive, there is a folder called [Users] and inside that, there is your home folder with your name e.g. [Karen]. Inside that, there is a folder called [Music] and inside that folder, there is one called [Audio Music Apps] that contains all the User stuff for Logic X.

The file path is:
/Macintosh HD/Users/Karen/Music/Audio Music Apps

If you go into the EXSamples folder in the above location then the file path is now:
/Macintosh HD/Users/Karen/Music/Audio Music Apps/EXSamples

I'm sure you're getting the idea now...a file path is just a list of all the folders and sub-folders that you need to enter to get to a file.

So, if your old external drive was called [Karen External Drive] and your audio files were on there in a folder called [Logic audio files], then the file path would have been:
/Karen External Drive/Logic audio files

Now you've moved them to a new place e.g.:
/Macintosh HD/Logic audio files

Therefore the file path is different.

Logic Projects contain references to the location of the files used, so if the file paths change (as shown above) then Logic has to search for them.

I imported the audio files onto my new computer, and it ended up storing locally in a folder on my hard drive. If I move them to my Logic Folder, will they show up?
Click to expand...
I'd love to say "yes" but it's not that simple. OSX seems to like to keep certain locations on your drive secret and they may not show up in a search. So, depending on where you've put the files, they may or may not be found. If they're on the root level of Macintosh HD, then that should be fine.

Does this make sense...?
 
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Hi Colin:

Yes!!! Thanks for untangling my brain. Most of this is making sense now.

I will move my audio folder and see if it improves things, though I know it may not.

2 questions remaining: You say, "The file path is:
/Macintosh HD/Users/Karen/Music/Audio Music Apps"

I found all this, and see the "Audio Music Apps" folder. Is this for Logic specifically? I ask, because the only folder that has information in it is the "plug-in Settings" folder. So if I add Key commands, they would automatically end up in the "Key Commands Folder", and if purchase new sampler instruments, they would automatically end up in the "Sampler Instruments" folder?

Second question: How do I avoid this mess when/if I get an external drive, and or another computer?

Thanks again.

Karen
 
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Hi Karen

It seems that the [Audio Music Apps] folder mirrors the old folder for Logic here:
/Macintosh HD/Users/-yourname-/Library/Application Support/Logic

If you had Plug-in Settings from before Logic X, they'll also be in the Audio MusicApps folder. I don't know why this happens - maybe someone more tech savvy can explain it.

So, if you purchase new sampler instruments or create channel strip settings or any other user setting, they'll end up in both folders.

How to avoid this kind of quantum entanglement in future? Not possible, because Apple will change the ground rules, as they always do... :brkwl:

Best to get things working now and ask the same question next time you change computers, to get the latest and correct answers.

Regards
Colin
 
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Hi Colin:

Thanks for the Audio Music Apps folder info.

Ah, sigh. I hear what you're saying about avoiding this "quantum entanglement in the future." So I must live in the present, be grateful if I ever sort it out in this version of Logic and with this computer, and will deal with the old and new conundrum(s) of Logic when the future arrives. 😀

Karen
 
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