Alternative to REAPER Media Folder

Hi, Maybe a stupid question, but it is a legitimate question on my end, nonetheless. My REAPER Media Folder is so packed with every single track I have ever done, in addition to all my .rpp files. Whenever I try to load up a song, especially after first opening, it takes FOREVER to open. How do I fix this issue? Can I be moving track files around to another location without damaging songs? It just doesn't make sense to me that the track files would be in the same folder as the actual .rpp files. Thanks in advance! Also, sorry in advance, if this is a genuinely stupid question. Troy

Hi Troy, I recently posted some hints/links about file management in another thread (so I'll just add the link here):

VERRRRRRY cool! No wonder it was taking so long. I had over 550 MBs of .REAPEAKS files in there. Good to know that Reaper reproduces them as needed. Thanks, man! One more question: How about all the .wav files in that Documents > Reaper Media folder? BUMP

I've never used the Reaper Media folder. Projects reside on a work drive in an enclosed folder, which holds the project and audio files. That's how I always worked before I used Reaper, and I just considered the Media Folder one of those odd Windows-thinking setups or one of many the Reaper defaults that I wouldn't want to leave at the default. Maybe there's a good reason for it for some, but I personally don't know anyone who uses the Reaper Media folder as the place everything is directed to.

Here's what I do.. In the project settings window I type 'Audio' in the 'path to save media files' box. I then keep: Create subdirectory for project ... and Copy all media into project directory ticked. The result of that is this.. Inside that folder.. A well organised self contained folder with all the audio in your project automatically placed in the Audio folder (which is automatically created when you first save the project - because of the project settings option where you typed 'Audio').

I also keep all my peaks in a separate folder to keep things meticulously tidy. That peaks folder gets regularly cleared out.

Thanks for all the help, guys! I will be organizing those files posthaste!