r/ableton • u/Ty_Spicer • 1d ago

[Tech Help Windows] Project folder organization

I'm trying to clean my computer of all the files I don't need. My Ableton project folder organization is making this a bit difficult. Basically, I just have one project folder with all my Live sets in the root. Here's a screenshot:

This means that anything I record goes into the Recorded folder under Samples. I deleted a bunch of old projects, so I don't need those recordings, but there are just over 17,000 files in that folder, many of which I still need.

I had an idea: if I can make each project into its own folder (with only one Live set per project folder), each of them will be more consolidated. This way, if I decide to move or delete any projects, it will be as simple as moving or deleting a single folder, rather than digging through a bunch of clutter.

To execute this, I found the "Collect all and Save" feature. Although I'm not entirely sure how it works, and I'm not even sure if that's the feature I'm looking for.

Any tips on how I would execute this reorganization? Thanks!

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u/abletonlivenoob2024 1d ago

Open each Set you want to keep -> "Save as". Navigate to a directory that is not a Live Project Folder. Save. -> "Collect All and Save".

Do this for each project you want to keep. After you can delete the original (huge) Project Folder

I also suggest reading these first:

https://www.ableton.com/en/live-manual/12/live-concepts/#live-sets

https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000915804-Saving-Projects

https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002864179-Saving-Live-Sets-into-unique-Live-Projects

https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209775645-Collect-All-and-Save

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u/Ty_Spicer 1d ago

This is awesome, thank you so much! I tried it with one of the live sets, and it appears to have worked. I understand it conceptually as well, so I think this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!

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