Optimize Pro Tools: Auto Backup Your Sessions

Everyone says it, but many people don’t do it. We need to save and backup our sessions all the time! Something happens and you didn’t remember to save the last few minutes of your work. Isn’t that the worst?! I’ve already covered how to properly backup or archive a Pro Tools session when you’re finished, but one setting in Pro Tools that will literally save your butt is the auto backup feature.

Head To Your Operations Preferences

This is an easy setting to setup. Simply go to the Setup menu and choose Preferences. Once you’re preferences window opens up, click on the Operations tab.

In the bottom left section of the Operations window is the Auto Backup header. Check the box to enable this feature. Then all you have to do is choose how many backups you want to keep at any given time and how often Pro Tools will do an auto backup. I keep 10 backups (the 10 most recent) and mine backs up every 5 minutes.

Where To Go When You Need A Backup

At some point in working in Pro Tools you’ll need a backup. Your computer might crash, Pro Tools might crash, or the power might go out. It doesn’t matter the situation, the problem remains. You didn’t get to save your work and you lost the last few minutes or tweaks.

When this happens, simply close out of the session. Navigate to your Pro Tools session folder, find the folder inside called Session File Backups, and double click on the most recent of those files. It will open up the auto backup session. Simply do a Save As from the File menu and overwrite your original Pro Tools session. You’re now up to date!