How to avoid SFK files?

Killamarshian wrote on 3/22/2019, 1:13 AM

Vegas software creates SFK files, or peak files, for all audio events imported into a project. These files contain data which helps draw the waveform on the screen. They allow files, especially large ones, to be opened quickly. In general, these files are created automatically by the program and are extermely small in size. After closing the project, they can be deleted, but will be generated again next time the software needs to display the audio file's waveform (like when you re-open the project).

https://www.custcenter.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/567/~/what-are-sfk-files%3F

Killamarshian wrote on 3/22/2019, 2:04 AM

https://vegasaur.com/sweeper

A very useful tool

webdown wrote on 3/24/2019, 11:48 PM

Can a softwere that hide these file automaticly!

john-baker wrote on 4/5/2019, 11:16 AM

Hi

. . . . Can a softwere that hide these file automaticly! . . . .

This may not be desirable, assuming you have Windows Explorer in its standard mode ie hiding files marked as hidden, there could be that some time in the future the hidden files would be forgotten and then you end up losing large quantities of disc space, which may be limited if using SSD drives, and then trying to find the reason why.

Once a project is finished they can be deleted manually, this can be a laborious task however.

I use a backup program, SyncBack, to back up my projects to external hard drive and, like several others, it has the capability of 'black listing' specified file extensions from being backed up.

Once backup is complete I delete the entire project on the working drive.

HTH

John EB

EricLNZ wrote on 4/7/2019, 6:21 AM

There is a way to avoid sfk files but it may not be desirable or convenient, and that is to have your source files located somewhere where Vegas cannot write the sfk files. It then has to recreate them each time. I discovered this with MS12 Suite which came with some Sony music tracks. I placed these in my C:\Program files along with MS12. Whenever I used one of the tracks I found when opening the project the sfk files were being redone. I've subsequently moved the music tracks elsewhere to avoid this.

karma17 wrote on 4/17/2019, 4:53 AM

Agree with getting Vegasaur and using Sweeper function.

Reyfox wrote on 10/28/2019, 9:50 AM

Late to the party, but just tried Vegasaur Sweeper and it's fast! Since I edit to the "beat", Beat Detector is amazing and fast!

Musicvid wrote on 10/30/2019, 9:37 PM

1. Click on a folder.

2. In the Search box, type *.sfk

3. Select all, right click, and Delete.

4. Wait 30 days, and repeat.

5. Or write a little .bat file to do it in two clicks.

secman wrote on 7/15/2023, 9:41 AM

I agree with the OP. There should be a way to turn off audio .sfk file creation. Some projects do not use the embedded video in imported events and the resulting event audio tracks are even removed from the project and the .sfk files are removed from disk. But there goes Vegas, recreating them every !@#$% time the project is re-opened.

Dexcon wrote on 7/15/2023, 6:02 PM

There should be a way to turn off audio .sfk file creation.

Try unchecking "Audio Event Waveforms" under the View menu - this stop .sfk files being created, but it also means that audio events on the timeline will not show waveforms.

EricLNZ wrote on 7/15/2023, 6:03 PM

@secman If the files are removed from your project Vegas does not recreate the .sfk files.

Quinellipe-Zorn wrote on 10/14/2023, 8:49 AM

FWIW...

I can understand the annoyance of SFK files and I can understand why some see this as worth prioritizing (such that audio waves are generated but no .sfk files remain persistent, not by forcing users to not visualize audio waves in order to maintain "cleaner" or leaner file portfolios). I can imagine solutions, and given a background in development and architecture believe they are feasible BUT...

...I think @Sol M. in https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/get-rid-of-sfk-files-sony--30068/#ca148435 puts it best as to the more general issue. I edited this note as I made a presumption project management can continue to improve, but then I remembered some things about newer functionality that I haven't explored...so maybe it's not so much improvement all these years later but better user navigation of options that might already address these concerns in other ways? (I haven't spent time with the project bundles, but perhaps that would be a good approach? anyway, not the point...)

So, personally, I would not want Magix to dedicate resources to "solving the SFK" problem given so many other aspects I think deserve priority, no offense to the posters who want otherwise, but I can see this being part of a more generalized approach to project management that might be a worthwhile priority and would include in its scope addressing this file proliferation to broader satisfaction.