There’s nothing worse than the aftermath of a computer crash, where you’re left to re-install and re-configure all your programs, presets, workspaces, and such. I can’t save you the install, but I can show you how to preserve all your presets, workspaces, and keyboard shortcuts in Audition. (This is also useful if you use Audition in multiple places and just like to have things synchronized between locations.  A lot of us do this with Audition on our desktop and our laptop for field recording.) I have seen software on the Internet sell for upwards of $50 to do what I’m about to explain to you. This won’t take you more than a minute or two, and it won’t cost you a thing.

In this tutorial, as always, you can click any thumbnail image for a larger version.

For reasons that aren’t clear to me, Audition stores your keyboard shortcut preferences in the Windows Registry. That means we have to go two places to make copies of critical files. A minor hassle. Here is how to retrieve a copy of those:

1. Keyboard Shortcuts

You’ll want to initiate the registry editor by clicking “Start”, then “Run”, typing “regedit”, and hitting enter. You can also use the Windows Key and “R” to bring up the run dialog much faster. If you’re unfamiliar with this program, this is the part where I caution you to be very careful and follow my instructions exactly. The folders you see on the left side of the program are roughly analogous to Windows Explorer. You will want to expand the folders (by clicking the “+” button next to each) in this sequence:

1. KEY_CURRENT_USER
2. Software
3. Adobe
4. Audition
5. 3.0

At this point, simple highlight the folder called “Prefs”. (It’s not necessary to expand it.) Right click, then select “Export” (image at left). You will be prompted with the usual “Save” dialog you’re used to from other Windows programs. Decide on a location to store your backups. I would suggest creating a new directory on a drive other than your primary operating system drive. Give the file a name such as “Adobe Audition Keyboard Shortcuts”, then click “Save” (image at right).

You’ve saved your keyboard shortcuts! (Yes, it saves all the keyboard shortcut profiles, including the Adobe Default.)

2. Workspaces, Effects Presets, Program Settings

Thankfully, Adobe has made this part of the backup process easy. You’re basically just going to copy a folder from one place to another. Open Windows Explorer (Windows Key and “E”), and browse to directories in this order (from your main operating system hard drive):

1. Documents and Settings
2. [Your User Name] (Mine is “BT” in the example. Yours may be your name, your nickname, or maybe even Administrator.)
3. Application Data
4. Adobe
5. Audition

Highlight the folder called “3.0″. Right click, then select “Copy” (see left). Go back to where you saved your keyboard presets from above. Once there, right click inside the file area, and select “Paste” (see right). These aren’t large files, so this should happen in the blink of an eye.

Once this is done, so are you! You’ve backed it all up! If you want a sanity check, your “backup” folder should look something like this:

3. Restoring or Moving Those Settings

Now, any time you need to quickly restore or move your presets, it’s easy. (If you’re moving them to another physical computer, put the contents of your backup folder on a flash drive or copy it across the network to the desktop of your target computer. Then, proceed with this description.)

First, just double click the file we called “Adobe Audition Keyboard Shortcuts”. Windows will ask, as a precaution, if you want to import this information into the registry. You will confirm that you do. You will need to be at least a local administrator on the target computer to do this. Additionally, your anti-virus software may fuss and ask for confirmation. I assure you this is safe, so green light the process.

Next, just move the “3.0″ folder to the same location on this computer you copied it from originally. (Or, the same computer if you’re recovering from a crash.) As a reminder, that’s:

c:\Documents and Settings\[Your User Name]\Application Data\Adobe\Audition

There will already be a “3.0″ folder in that location (likely the default Audition settings). Be aware that when you “restore” the backup, you’re going to also systematically wipe out effect presets and workspaces on the target machine. So, if you’re just trying to put your effect presets on a buddy’s machine so he can emulate your daft stylings, be prepared for a nasty surprise when he loses all of his presets. (He should read this blog and learn how to back them up!) Anyway, we’re assuming you know this and are proceeding. Windows will ask if you wish to over-write it, and you will say that you do. Again, the copy should be lightning fast.

Once you have completed those two steps successfully, your settings are fully restored. Yup! You’re done! Just fire up Audition, and be glad you did the back up in the first place. (No reboot of Windows is required, even!)

That was easy (enough), right? If it makes you feel any better, I’m working on a simple Windows program that will perform this backup procedure for you automatically. More to come on that later.

This tutorial is intended for Adobe Audition 3.0. The steps, however, are very similar for Audition 2.0. I’m betting you can figure it out.