Stop! Don't Save Your Cubase Files to OneDrive (How to Fix Missing Audio).

Hi Paul. I need professional help restoring missing MIDI and data files to my Cubase 14 Pro project. I had files saved on OneDrive and now they’re missing. – NN

I received the above message from a new client and we arranged a time to connect for a remote support session.

Once I was remotely viewing my client’s PC, he showed me the problem by opening a Cubase file that gave us a missing file error.

I started diagnosing the issue by having a look at how my client was saving his files on his PC. Immediately I could see an issue. Most of his Cubase Projects were saved in OneDrive folders. These folders were being automatically uploaded to the Cloud and some files were removed from his PC.

I spent the next 50 minutes trying to recover my client’s missing files. Some of the techniques I used were:

Checking the file and folder paths to see if we could find the audio folder in a different directory to the one expected by the Cubase project.
Manually checking the names of the files and trying to locate them on my client’s hard drives by exploring likely folders and seeing if copies of the files existed anywhere else.
Using Windows search feature to find individual files
Using Cubase’s file and folder search functions.
Looking for possible duplicates of the audio files which we could use to rebuild the projects.
Looking my client’s OneDrive online account to see if we could find the files in the Cloud. This initially looked promising as we found files with the exact names as the ones we were trying to find. Unfortunately, all the WAV files we found were listed as zero bytes in size and were corrupted when we tried to play them. We tried to download them back to my client’s PC, but they were still zero bytes and corrupted.

After 50 minutes of searching, I had to break the bad news to my client that his files had been corrupted by OneDrive and were likely unrecoverable.

I said that the next step was to try to use recovery software to search the unindexed data contained on his hard disks and we might be able to recover the raw audio data from there. However, this process wasn’t guaranteed to work and would be time-consuming.

At this point, my client decided that the best course of action for him was to recreate his missing work by recording his song again.

Although I wasn’t able to find the files, my client was grateful that I was able to confirm for him that they were definitely lost and why.

Additional Support

I used the rest of the hour with my client to show him how to save his Cubase files in a different location on his PC to avoid any problems like this occurring again.

I helped him set up shortcuts in Windows Explorer to make his new filing system easy to use.

I showed him how to safely back up his uncorrupted files and made sure he was able to do the process for himself.

If you need help with any aspect of Cubase please Get in Touch.

Categories: Cubase, Cubase missing file errors, Remote Support

Recent Reviews

    
 
 
         
   Laura Forrest-Hay 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul reinstalled all my lost sample libraries, streamlined the storage on my computer so it works faster and fixed my corrupted disk. it took us a couple of sessions and he was friendly and patient throughout. He never made me feel stupid and never over-explained stuff I already knew - in fact he boosted my confidence. Would highly recommend. I've put him on speed dial!
  
 
        
   MrMattkitt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul was brilliant, listened to the issues I had on Cubase and my home studio, worked methodically through potential problems and  sorted everything. Amazing service, down to earth and explained everything so I
could understand. I am a very happy song writer once again thanks to Paul! Will be using Paul again in the future and highly recommend. Thanks Paul.
  
 
        
   Ciarán Hanna 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Honestly, if you're in any way stuck in a creative block because of the gear you have, you've more questions than answers about what the best setup should be for your flow, or even if you have very nuanced problems in your DAW/with your gear, the service Paul provides is second to none. Besides being an extremely nice guy, he knows his stuff and takes the time to understand what you want to get out of each session and makes sure all is good to go! Can't recommend him enough!
  
 
        
   Trudie Brogan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really great service. Paul is so knowledgeable and I learned so much. Totally recommend.
  
 
        
   Cottin Ulysse 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul was fantastic, he solved my problem in less than 30mn, and he is a lovely guy. I really recommend him.
  
 
        
   Justin Bikram 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul provided as stellar service, worth every penny. I came to him with a genuine issue that was affecting my Logic Pro 11 album project regarding drums and midi maps and he solved my problem most efficiently.  He was patient, courteous, quick thinking and highly knowledgeable. I will certainly consider using the service again and thoroughly recommend Audio Support -
Thank you Paul - you are a star :)
  
 
        
   josh fulford 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Working in Reaper.
Super knowledgeable, friendly, speaks in easy to understand terms.
Paul is helping us DAW newbies get in the game. Paul got my lost plugin files working again as well as showed me how to find missing wave files for projects that were loading incorrectly. Keep this man on speed dial.
  
 
        
   Richard Grant 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul fixed in around half an hour some midi keyboard/controller problems I have been trying to solve but have had to live with for around two years! He is very knowledgeable and patient and the Any Desk link worked perfectly. I wish I had found his website sooner and wouldn't hesitate to call on his services again.
Rick Grant
  
 
        
   Paul B 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul was excellent in helping me diagnose and resolve a problem I had on Logic Pro 12 file issues
  
 
        
   William Schrul 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul really helped get my Cubase up and running again.  He really knows his stuff, and I'll definitely look him up again when I'm stuck.  Thanks!!!
  
 
  
 
  
 
   Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 160 reviews

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The Danger of Saving Cubase Files to OneDrive: Diagnosing Missing Audio

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