I want to see how people are configuring their sample libraries so as producers we can access samples for any DAW.
I use Ableton and Logic, both have different folders for sample libraries because I use the ESX24 in Logic and for Ableton.
So I guess I am asking if anyone knows or has a logical way to structure folders to minimize duplicates and what not.

Thank you,
Andrew

 

not what you're asking but, if you're using mac i use AVG cleaner which finds all duplicates and i can choose which to delete.

 

I have a "master" directory related to the media type. Samples, Kontakt, etc.
I also have one for Audio Projects Once you have these in place it's simple to avoid duplicates and to ALWAYS know where to go for your files.
There are hundreds of ways to organize your files. This way works well for me. I use PathFinder to quickly navigate the folders, batch rename, etc.
It's the closest thing I could find that compares to the PC side of file managements (Directory Opus, (long live the Amiga!)

Examples of Directories. You could even get separate drives for each depending on the volume of work you're doing.


Samples
>Drums
>Loops

Kontakt

Audio Project

>Ableton Projects
>> Project Names (Movie names, clients, etc)

>Ableton Render
>Logic Render


OH! and FreeFileSync is an excellent free tool for directory comparisons and backing up critical files. I use it to back up to another drive.


#Critical Files
>Ableton Projects
>xxxxxx
>xxxxxx

http://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/

Hope this helps!

 

I too used to be concerned with this Andrew, but it became a nightmare, with "missing" samples and relocating them etc... If you have a smaller library this is probably feasible, but with my sample collection of almost 24 years, well, it was a total pita... I just bit the bullet and got bigger and bigger hard drives over time.... I know that is not the response you are looking for, and perhaps someone has a more elegant way of doing it, but with what HDD's cost these days, spending $120 bucks on a 5TB drive is going to pay it back in terms of the man hours and creativity killers "locating" samples will be over time.... !

 

I use iTunes believe it or not. I use iTunes strictly for samples and management of duplicates (no songs). I use the playlist as folder structures for all the sample libraries.
1 i have all samples on a second hd
2 use iTunes for quick search outside of Daw
3 itunes has a duplicate finder.

Best answer is to structure folders of samples on a second hard drive and pull what is needed for the current session to working Hd. It does create a duplicate but thats not always a bad idea.
That way all audio on working hd if deleted has a backup on second hd.

 

Wow, I can't imagine using iTunes for that, at least in my case, how long does it take it to load??

 

if its for drum samples... i just made a user folder with separate folders inside of it (kicks, snares, ect ect) for that purpose. if i altered the sound of one of them then i saved that sound in its specific folder

 

AudioFinder audio library and production base station!

http://www.icedaudio.com/site/