Updated October 2026 · Recording workflow
Keep at least three copies of every important recording, on two different kinds of storage, with one copy somewhere else. Back up the raw files as soon as you record them, and check that a backup opens before you rely on it.
An audio recording exists only as long as its files do. A failed drive, a deleted folder or a corrupted file can take a whole episode or a finished song with it. Backups are dull until the day you need one, and then they are the most important thing you own. A simple routine protects almost every project.
Keep three copies of important files: the original, one backup on a second device, and one copy in a different place, such as an external drive stored away from your computer or an online service you trust. Two kinds of storage protects against a single type of failure.
Copy the raw recordings as soon as you finish a session, before any editing. The raw files are the ones you cannot replace. Edits can be redone, but a lost recording of an interview or a performance cannot. Keep the raw files in a separate folder that you do not change.
A project file on its own is not enough, and raw files without the project may be hard to rebuild. Save the project file and any settings with the raw files, so you can re-open the work in the same state.
Every few months, open a backup file, play it, and check the length. A backup you have never opened may be corrupted. Write a short note of the date and what you checked, so the routine stays on track.
Online storage is useful for a copy off-site, but check where the files are stored, who can access them and how long they are kept. For unpublished interviews or client work, check that the terms suit your agreements. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
A backup routine protects you only if you keep it. Set a reminder after each session, and treat backups as part of the recording, not a task for later.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
At least three of anything important: the original and two backups, on different kinds of storage.
The raw recordings, since they cannot be recreated.
Not on its own. Add a second copy in a different place.
Every few months, by opening a file and playing it.
