What are the best ways to name audio tracks and folders?

1 Use descriptive and meaningful names

Your audio tracks and folders should reflect the content, purpose, and source of your audio files. For example, if you are working on a podcast, you might name your tracks according to the episode number, the speaker name, the role, and the type of audio. For example, E01_John_Host_Intro.wav or E01_Mary_Guest_Answer1.mp3. Similarly, you might name your folders according to the project name, the date, and the stage of production. For example, Podcast_2021_07_15_Raw or Podcast_2021_07_15_Edited.

3 Use abbreviations and codes wisely

Sometimes, you might want to use abbreviations or codes to shorten your names or convey specific information. For example, you might use M for mono, S for stereo, L for left, R for right, V for voice, FX for effects, BG for background, and so on. However, you should use these abbreviations and codes wisely and sparingly. Make sure they are clear, consistent, and relevant to your project. Avoid using ambiguous or confusing abbreviations or codes that might clash with other names or meanings.

5 Use version control and backups

Finally, you should use version control and backups to manage your audio tracks and folders. Version control means keeping track of the changes and revisions you make to your files and naming them accordingly. For example, you might use a suffix like _v1, _v2, _final, or _draft to indicate the version of your file. Backups mean making copies of your files and storing them in a safe and secure location. For example, you might use a cloud service, an external drive, or a CD to backup your files. This will help you prevent data loss, recover from errors, and restore previous versions if needed.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?