How do I transfer projects between computers?

Druidrum wrote on 7/16/2002, 4:00 PM
Sorry about this newbie question.

I was wondering if there is an easy way to transfer audio projects between my laptop and my desktop. I have a studio where I record drum tracks on my laptop. I would like to do mixing on my destop at home. What are the steps I need to take to do this? I have a 250 MB zip drive.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/16/2002, 4:26 PM
It helps a lot to begin with if you've created separate directories for each project. Hopefully you have. If not, it's not a huge problem, but it's something to keep in mind for the future.

You should be able to simply copy the .veg file and all the media files over to a Zip cartridge, then copy them back to your drive at home. It will make life easier if you put them in a directory with the same path name as the directory at the studio (for example, C:\vegasprojects\julysong\ ... or whatever). If you put them in a different path, then loading the .veg file will generate an error that the first media file can't be found. Select the option to specify a different location and browse to where the file is stored. Vegas will "get the idea" and look in that place for the rest of the files.
Rednroll wrote on 7/16/2002, 5:22 PM
1. Create a new folder
2. Open the Vegas project
3. Click "Save as" .VEG and make sure "Copy all media with project" is checked.
4. Save the project into the new folder you created.
5. Drag and drop that folder onto a CDrom using your favorite CDR software.
6. Copy that folder to the other PC and open.
7. Have a nice day :-)
Druidrum wrote on 7/16/2002, 7:09 PM
Thanks!
Spot|DSE wrote on 7/17/2002, 11:51 PM
Another, easier way to do this if you don't want to burn a disk, just simply assign all temp files, storage, and wave files to the portable disc. I travel all over the world with 2 1394 drives, and share files regularly with a variety of computers. I don't burn discs, I just have everything always point to the 1394 drives.
wcoxe1 wrote on 7/18/2002, 11:16 AM
The instructions about transfering everything to a CD-ROM is good, but everytime I do that, ALL files are turned into READ-ONLY files.

This is fine for the media, but some files MUST be written, or re-written to, and if they are read-only, life gets interesting. You may have to go to each problem file and right click on it, go to properties, and turn OFF read-only.

wcoxe1 wrote on 7/18/2002, 11:20 AM
The only problem with this otherwise excellent idean (I do the same) is that on some computers, the drive letters are all already taken, so when you use the 1394 (FireWire) portable drive, it gets the first available drive letter. If it is not the one specified in the .veg file, it gives an error. That can be fixed, of course, by opening the file and telling the progect where all the files are. It then fixes it self and looks to the correct drive.

This works fine, until you change computers and encounter a different drive arrangement from the last one. Then you have to "fix" it again. Not a major bad-day, since it is easy to fix, but the first time it happens the ol' eye-brows tend to go sky high.
Rednroll wrote on 7/18/2002, 4:42 PM
"You may have to go to each problem file and right click on it, go to properties, and turn OFF read-only."

Step:

8. Goto the folder you copied all the files to. Goto EDIT>SELECT ALL. Right Click on selected files and choose PROPERTIES. Uncheck "Read Only". Hit OK. All the files are now ready for editing.

CDR's are my prefered storage and transfer device. Almost every PC has a CDrom drive, and you get 700megs of storage for 25 cents. Plus, you can stick a CD in your back pocket if you want. When you're done with the session, a CD can be archived in storage and takes up 1.2mm of space. What's the price of those 1394 drives, and can you fit them in your back pocket?


wcoxe1 wrote on 7/18/2002, 11:18 PM
CD Rs and other writable CDs are fine for very small things, but even a DVD at 4+ GB can't begin to hold even one simple project, usually. I use the 1394 drives because they can hold several hours of projects all in one place.

Lets see 1.2 mm for .6 GB, divided into 12.9GB per hour, times 8 or so projects, is quite a bit bigger than the 11294 drive, and I can't seem to master that trick of putting a CD in my pocket and having it survive very long. The only pockets I have are my pants pockets. They break things like sturdy combs. Hate to think of what would happen with a 20 CDs back there.
stickstr wrote on 7/25/2002, 1:30 PM
An easier way to do this is to select all the files at once by dragging the mouse over all of them to create a region, or holding down CTRL and clicking each one individually. Once all the files you need are selected, hit ALT+ENTER or right-click and choose Properties, and turn the Read-Only flag off.