BAK files

[Boreal]

Hi,

When & how is the mcf.BAK file created? Is it possible to have the mcf.bak file created in a different folder than the .mcf file? It would make backing up the .mcf file a lot easier. I recently lost both on my HD and lost a ton of work because I didn't have the files different locations.

Thanks.

[Paul Sanders (AlpineSoft)]

Hi,

The .bak file is created whenever VinylStudio saves your collection (.mcf) file (which it normally does behind the scenes so you're not aware of it).  The idea is that you're original .mcf file is renamed and then the new one is saved, so that if VinylStudio should crash partway through saving your work is not lost.

It's not possible to create this on another drive, sorry. Do you have some kind of backup regime?  It should be easy enough to include your .mcf file in that, it's not very big.

[Boreal]

Paul,

It was just my dumb luck that the TB drive corrupted the sectors where I had the MCF & MCF.BAK files stored, so I lost both at the same time.

As we speak, a brand-spankin' new desktop computer is speeding my way. With a 2TB HD, this should enable me to actually save my WAV files on the working computer. My 10 year old XP based desktop will then be designated sculpture.

With the old computer, the lack of HD space was an issue, so I bought a 1.5 TB external drive where I stored my WAV files. It was easy to set up an automatic backup from desktop to the TB drive, but not the other way around. At least the WAV files were not lost. Now I will be easily able to save a mirror onto my external drive.

I am archiving a lot of irreplaceable cassette tapes onto which I recorded friends and myself in college as we sat around drinking & smoking & playing guitars. This was back in the days when CASSETTES were new!! They are a bitch to enter trackbeats, and I have about 20 hours worth of tapes transferred to WAV files. Luckily, I saved the tracklists to TXT files on my desktop, which will enable me to at least import that data back onto the WAV files and begin rebuilding, but all of the editing is lost. It was also lucky that I had already burned CDs from my work, but they were trimmed to fit on a CD.

Your software is awesome! Most programs are either under-featured, or tremendously over-featured, giving them a steep learning curve. I don't have the time to spend on learning the software as well as performing the tasks. VS was definitely the answer. My favorite feature of your software is the ability to download tracklists from the internet.

Thanks Paul!!

[Paul Sanders (AlpineSoft)]

OK, well glad you like it and good luck.  Check out VinylStudio's Hiss filter for you cassettes, if you feel you need it.

Sorry you lost your data.

[Boreal]

Oh yes, the Hiss filter works wonders. Especially when used on tapes that were recorded on a crappy recorder 40 years ago played back on a high-quality 70's era tape deck patched into my computer.

One interesting note. We were all warned about magnetic tape's limited lifetime. My Maxell XL-II tapes from that area are in terrific shape. However, hard drives and even CD's seem to be more prone to failure than older technology such as tapes and vinyl. Society and technology are very strange...

[ZingZong707]

It was easy to set up an automatic backup from desktop to the TB drive, but not the other way around. At least the WAV files were not lost. Now I will be easily able to save a mirror onto my external drive.