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Purge Unused Samples

Automatically finds audio files that are not referenced anywhere and either removes them or moved them into a user-selected directory.

It comes in two flavour:

ToolWhat it scansOpens from
Purge Project SamplesThis project's own directoryProjects Tools tab
Purge Audio Pool SamplesThe Set's shared AUDIO/ pool, optionally every project's own directory tooAudio Pool's Tools tab

What Counts as "Unused"​

An audio file is unused when no sample slot references it in any way:

  • No machine assignment on any track.
  • No p-lock (sample-lock) on any step.
  • No sample slot even has it loaded
    • Set what to purge to Unused sample slots or Both to also clear slots that hold a sample nothing ever triggers - along with handling the files that then become unused.

With Purge Audio Pool Samples, audio files located in Audio Pool are considered unused when no project of the Set reference them in any way.

Workflow​

  1. Select Purge Project Samples or Purge Audio Pool Samples from the Tools tab's operation dropdown.
  2. Pick what the run should do with the first option field: Unused audio files, Unused sample slots, or Both.
  3. The scan runs automatically and the Status panel shows what was found, for example:
    • "3 unused audio files to purge - of 128 scanned in project directory"
    • "9 unused sample slot assignments to clear" on a second line, when slots are in scope
    • A green 0 means everything is referenced
  4. Click the status button to open a preview list of everything that will change.
  5. Configure the remaining options described below, then click Execute.
  6. Review the planned changes (mandatory for Delete files) and click Apply Changes.

Configuration Options​

What to purge​

The first option field decides what the run actually does:

ChoiceEffect
Unused audio filesDeletes or moves audio files nothing references. Sample slots are left untouched.
Unused sample slotsEmpties slots that hold a sample nothing ever triggers. No file is deleted or moved.
BothClears those slots and removes the files that leaves unreferenced, in one run.

Options that no longer apply are hidden - a slots-only run shows no Delete/Move choice, no destination folder and no Exclude backups/ directory.

Slots that have a file loaded but are never triggered by any machine assignment or p-lock get their assignment cleared entirely, so the slot is reset and ready for another sample. A machine assigned on a track that no pattern trigs counts as never triggered - the state the Usage column labels "referenced but not triggered".

Clearing a slot can also free the file it held, when that slot was the file's only reference. This is why the unused-file count grows when you switch from Unused audio files to Both: files held only by a slot that never triggers them are not unused until that slot is cleared. The status line attributes the difference, for example "534 unused audio files to purge (105 freed by clearing slots)". A slot pointing at an Audio Pool file is cleared without its file being touched - pool files are shared across the Set, so removing those is the job of Purge Audio Pool Samples.

On Purge Audio Pool Samples, Unused sample slots and Both are only selectable once Include all projects of Set is checked, since slots live in projects rather than in the pool. Turning that checkbox back off resets the choice to Unused audio files.

Include all projects of Set (Purge Audio Pool Samples only)​

When enabled, every project of the Set is also scanned - in addition of the shared Set AUDIO/ pool.

The unused count and preview list combines pool and per-project results together, and the status line reads "of N scanned in Audio Pool and all Projects of Set" rather than "in Audio Pool directory".

info

Clearing a slot assignment backs up the affected project's project.work first, under that project's backups/ directory. See Quick Start for details.

Exclude backups/ directory​

Keeps each project's backups/ directory out of the unused audio files scan, so the copies stored there are never offered for removal. It sits on the same row as the option it qualifies - "Review before applying changes" on a project, "Include all projects of Set" on the Audio Pool - and only applies when files are in scope, so a slots-only run does not show it.

Delete or Move files to folder​

  • Delete files: Sends every unused file (and therefore empty directory) to OS Trash Bin - recoverable there until emptied.
  • Move files to folder: Moves every unused file (and therefore empty directory) into a destination folder (either default or user-selected one), grouped by origin.

Review before applying changes​

Displays the review table before anything is done.

  • When Delete files option is selected, this step is mandatory - deleting always requires review.
  • With Move files to folder, it's on by default but can be turned off, in which case files are processed immediately without a review step.

Default Move Destination​

Default destination directory of Move operation will be first found out of:

  1. Downloads directory
  2. Desktop directory
  3. Home directory
  4. Set root directory
  5. Project's directory

The first candidate that actually exists on disk is used as default destination.

A different directory can be selected freely by user using the "Browse..." button.

Directory Collapsing​

When every audio file inside a folder (recursively) is unused, the whole folder is removed or moved as a single unit instead of being left empty:

  • When that happens, all non-audio files inside are swept along with it
  • All affected files will be listed in preview and review lists

The same applies to an individual file's .ot sidecar: it travels with its sample and is listed as a child row, unless another sample sharing that stem survives.

Reading the Preview and Review Tables​

Both tables list every change the run will make, one row per file or slot:

ColumnMeaning
SlotSlot(s) holding this file, e.g. S4 or S9, S10, S11 when several slots share one sample. A dash means no slot references it.
ActionDelete / Move for a file being removed, Clear slot for a slot whose file stays on disk, Delete + Clear / Move + Clear when both happen.
FormatAudio, or Other for a non-audio file swept along. Hidden by default.
OriginThe project the file came from, or Audio Pool.

Every column sorts and filters. Use the Action filter to isolate, say, only the slots being cleared. The hamburger menu toggles column visibility.

While the run works, a progress modal shows its position and the file being handled, with a Cancel button. Cancelling stops between items - nothing is ever left half-moved, and the summary reports only what actually completed.

Moving Files: Folder Layout​

When moved, files will land under:

<destination>/Unused Audio/<origin>/<relative path from that origin's root>
  • <origin> is the project name the file came from, or Audio Pool
  • The relative path inside the origin is preserved:
    • File at AUDIO/kits/808/kick.wav
    • moves to <destination>/Unused Audio/Audio Pool/kits/808/kick.wav

See also​