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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Missing .pts files from Pro Tools Sessions
Enjolras03 - Dec 3, 2005 - 1:06 am
Hi, I'm running a iBook G4 OS 10.3.9, and I use Pro Tools 6.7 LE with a Digidesign Mbox (connected to USB port etc.)
A long time ago I noticed that some previously saved songs were inexplicably missing, and I figured that I must have deleted them by mistake (they were saved - I made a special folder for them and everything).
Only some of the songs I recorded were missing, and the rest were there. (They're saved as .pts files)
Then later I noticed that one more song had suddenly gone missing, which is so strange because I hadn't even touched it since it had been saved a month or two earlier.
Now it's been two or three months since I recorded anything, and I just started looking up old songs, and they are all gone.
What the hell.
No one has access to the computer except me, and while I'm no expert, I'm certainly not deleting these songs randomly without realizing it.
Is there any way to get all my hard work back? Why did this happen - why is my computer setting a time limit on the life of these files?
A long time ago I noticed that some previously saved songs were inexplicably missing, and I figured that I must have deleted them by mistake (they were saved - I made a special folder for them and everything).
Only some of the songs I recorded were missing, and the rest were there. (They're saved as .pts files)
Then later I noticed that one more song had suddenly gone missing, which is so strange because I hadn't even touched it since it had been saved a month or two earlier.
Now it's been two or three months since I recorded anything, and I just started looking up old songs, and they are all gone.
What the hell.
No one has access to the computer except me, and while I'm no expert, I'm certainly not deleting these songs randomly without realizing it.
Is there any way to get all my hard work back? Why did this happen - why is my computer setting a time limit on the life of these files?
LovesMacs - Dec 3, 2005 - 2:09 am
Season's Greetings!
Since no one else has access to your iBook, have you tried doing a Search for these files? You can Search by format (.pts) on 10.3.9. You've probably already tried that, but I thought I'd give it a shot just in case.
Do you by any chance have any other recording software on the drive like iMovie or GarageBand that cames with iLife??? If so, the files could be hiding in there somewhere. Or if you have iTunes, could you have by chance moved the files to a library there?
Another way to kind of look in the backdoor on a Mac is to double click the MacintoshHD, that will open a Finder window for you. On the left side of the window is the Sidebar. Look in the Sidebar in the lower section and see if says: Music ??? That folder holds all the music on the drive. (I've had people ask where their photos in iPhoto went because they don't show up in the iPhoto library, but older albums can be found using the Sidebar in a Finder window using either the Music or Pictures folders there.
Run Disk Utility and Repair Permissions. Sometimes ownership gets buggy... Launch Disk Utility which is in the Applications>Utilities folder. Select MacintoshHD on the left side in the panel. Click Repair Permissions. Takes about one minute. Quit Disk Utility. Reboot your iBook... see if your music files are where they are supposed to be and available for you to open.
Do you have the exact names of the files? Not just the .pts format? That would help in doinga Search.
Ok.. maybe something I have suggested has helped. If not, please don't hesitate to post back and let me know. We can delve a little deeper. Isn't it frustrating! I feel for you for possibly losing your music files... a little bit of advice? If you find them, make duplicates and back them up to an external drive OR create a folder on your Desktop... "Copy of Music Files Folder" ...
Carolyn :-)
Since no one else has access to your iBook, have you tried doing a Search for these files? You can Search by format (.pts) on 10.3.9. You've probably already tried that, but I thought I'd give it a shot just in case.
Do you by any chance have any other recording software on the drive like iMovie or GarageBand that cames with iLife??? If so, the files could be hiding in there somewhere. Or if you have iTunes, could you have by chance moved the files to a library there?
Another way to kind of look in the backdoor on a Mac is to double click the MacintoshHD, that will open a Finder window for you. On the left side of the window is the Sidebar. Look in the Sidebar in the lower section and see if says: Music ??? That folder holds all the music on the drive. (I've had people ask where their photos in iPhoto went because they don't show up in the iPhoto library, but older albums can be found using the Sidebar in a Finder window using either the Music or Pictures folders there.
Run Disk Utility and Repair Permissions. Sometimes ownership gets buggy... Launch Disk Utility which is in the Applications>Utilities folder. Select MacintoshHD on the left side in the panel. Click Repair Permissions. Takes about one minute. Quit Disk Utility. Reboot your iBook... see if your music files are where they are supposed to be and available for you to open.
Do you have the exact names of the files? Not just the .pts format? That would help in doinga Search.
Ok.. maybe something I have suggested has helped. If not, please don't hesitate to post back and let me know. We can delve a little deeper. Isn't it frustrating! I feel for you for possibly losing your music files... a little bit of advice? If you find them, make duplicates and back them up to an external drive OR create a folder on your Desktop... "Copy of Music Files Folder" ...
Carolyn :-)
Enjolras03 - Dec 4, 2005 - 7:08 pm
Thanks for the quick response :=)
Yes, I already searched for both the file type and names of files . . . the only one showing up is one I just did last night.
I looked everywhere - they simply seem to have disappeared.
I did the disk repair and rebooted - they didn't show. But in response to your suggestion to look into the music folder on the sidebar, I had already created another file called "ROTA (sessions) Music" to hold the songs and distinguish them from the "music" folder. It's still there, but when I click on it I get a message that says:
"The alias "ROTA Music" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found."
That makes me sad - I know I would never delete that whole folder (and besides, the copies should have been in the Pro Tools Sessions folder anyways.
I'm only searching in the little text box in the upper right corner of a window that appears when I open Finder - maybe there's a better, more comprehensive way to search?
The problem could be with my version of Pro Tools - I fired off a message to them (but have yet to hear a response, and I'm guessing that they will just blame my computer somehow).
Have you heard of something like this happening with Pro Tools 6.7 LE?
I suppose that it could have something to do with the fact that to record these songs and produce/save these files, I have to have my MBox peripheral hooked up to the computer by USB port . . . maybe I'm supposed to "eject" the MBox instead of just unplugging it after saving everything and quitting Pro Tools?
Thanks so much for the help.
Adam
Yes, I already searched for both the file type and names of files . . . the only one showing up is one I just did last night.
I looked everywhere - they simply seem to have disappeared.
I did the disk repair and rebooted - they didn't show. But in response to your suggestion to look into the music folder on the sidebar, I had already created another file called "ROTA (sessions) Music" to hold the songs and distinguish them from the "music" folder. It's still there, but when I click on it I get a message that says:
"The alias "ROTA Music" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found."
That makes me sad - I know I would never delete that whole folder (and besides, the copies should have been in the Pro Tools Sessions folder anyways.
I'm only searching in the little text box in the upper right corner of a window that appears when I open Finder - maybe there's a better, more comprehensive way to search?
The problem could be with my version of Pro Tools - I fired off a message to them (but have yet to hear a response, and I'm guessing that they will just blame my computer somehow).
Have you heard of something like this happening with Pro Tools 6.7 LE?
I suppose that it could have something to do with the fact that to record these songs and produce/save these files, I have to have my MBox peripheral hooked up to the computer by USB port . . . maybe I'm supposed to "eject" the MBox instead of just unplugging it after saving everything and quitting Pro Tools?
Thanks so much for the help.
Adam
LovesMacs - Dec 7, 2005 - 12:51 am
HI :-)
Searching in the text box in the upper right corner of a Finder window will Search the entire drive. Or, in 10.3.9, you can Search using Sherlock which should be in your Applications folder. The Sherlock icon might already be in your Dock.
ok.. Adam, your last paragraph is your answer. You definitely need to Save or Save As these files BEFORE you disconnect the MBox. To do this, select the MBox icon on the Desktop so that it is highlighted. Then either do Command + E on your Keyboard, OR, while the MBox is still highlighted, go to File>Eject. ALWAYS "Eject" before disconnecting and always Save As before you disconnect.
I've made this same mistake myself Adam... I know it's a bummer to lose important data. The reason you need to Save As before you disconnect the MBox is because you created files using the software/hardware that doesn't completely reside on your internal hard drive. So to edit those files again, you of course need to have the MBox mounted.
Hard lesson to learn... but I assure you, it happens to the most experienced of computer users. One suggestion, when it's feasible, purchase a back up drive. Make copies of those all important files, save them to a back up drive. That way you at least have a copy if for some reason you can't locate the original.
Regards,
Carolyn :-)
Searching in the text box in the upper right corner of a Finder window will Search the entire drive. Or, in 10.3.9, you can Search using Sherlock which should be in your Applications folder. The Sherlock icon might already be in your Dock.
ok.. Adam, your last paragraph is your answer. You definitely need to Save or Save As these files BEFORE you disconnect the MBox. To do this, select the MBox icon on the Desktop so that it is highlighted. Then either do Command + E on your Keyboard, OR, while the MBox is still highlighted, go to File>Eject. ALWAYS "Eject" before disconnecting and always Save As before you disconnect.
I've made this same mistake myself Adam... I know it's a bummer to lose important data. The reason you need to Save As before you disconnect the MBox is because you created files using the software/hardware that doesn't completely reside on your internal hard drive. So to edit those files again, you of course need to have the MBox mounted.
Hard lesson to learn... but I assure you, it happens to the most experienced of computer users. One suggestion, when it's feasible, purchase a back up drive. Make copies of those all important files, save them to a back up drive. That way you at least have a copy if for some reason you can't locate the original.
Regards,
Carolyn :-)
Enjolras03 - Dec 7, 2005 - 3:49 am
I'm sorry - I miscommunicated . . .
I meant to say that I saved everything before unplugging the MBox, which doesn't appear on my desktop or in Finder when it's plugged in (although it's recognized in System Profiler). I don't know how to to eject it.
And besides, I could see the files an many previous occasions (with the MBox unplugged) before - I've had them for months, and just noticed last week that they were missing.
I definitely am going to get an external hard drive for all the music/pictures/docs and whatnot.
I did recently install the recent Student/Teacher Edition Microsoft Office for Mac (I know I'm a sellout but I need it to read Powerpoint), and I've heard of it doing strange things to Macs, even though it seems to run fine. A friend of mine had something internal melt right after they installed it last week . . .
Thanks
I meant to say that I saved everything before unplugging the MBox, which doesn't appear on my desktop or in Finder when it's plugged in (although it's recognized in System Profiler). I don't know how to to eject it.
And besides, I could see the files an many previous occasions (with the MBox unplugged) before - I've had them for months, and just noticed last week that they were missing.
I definitely am going to get an external hard drive for all the music/pictures/docs and whatnot.
I did recently install the recent Student/Teacher Edition Microsoft Office for Mac (I know I'm a sellout but I need it to read Powerpoint), and I've heard of it doing strange things to Macs, even though it seems to run fine. A friend of mine had something internal melt right after they installed it last week . . .
Thanks
LovesMacs - Dec 8, 2005 - 9:02 pm
Hi :-)
I don't think the Microsoft edition of Office for Mac could cause your files to become "stealth" so to speak but one never knows with software.
And you aren't a sellout. Many people use PC's as well as Macs. I am one of them. I have to be able to read formatted files made with Windows also so I understand.
Ask Santa for that back up drive1
Happy Holidays!
Carolyn :-)
Mac/Windows tip: If a PC user sends you a file created with the Windows WordPad, you can read it in the Mac's TextEdit. AND, Windows can read the Macs TextEdit !!! Sometimes when you aren't working in Word, those smaller less complicated formats come in handy.
I don't think the Microsoft edition of Office for Mac could cause your files to become "stealth" so to speak but one never knows with software.
And you aren't a sellout. Many people use PC's as well as Macs. I am one of them. I have to be able to read formatted files made with Windows also so I understand.
Ask Santa for that back up drive1
Happy Holidays!
Carolyn :-)
Mac/Windows tip: If a PC user sends you a file created with the Windows WordPad, you can read it in the Mac's TextEdit. AND, Windows can read the Macs TextEdit !!! Sometimes when you aren't working in Word, those smaller less complicated formats come in handy.
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