Media Cache Files? Do I need them?

I was checking what's taking place of my hard drive and found about 22 GB of hard disk space occupied from this folder
C:\Users\Me\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Common\Media Cache Files
In this Media Cache Files folder there were 459 files of type .cfa and .pek files. 13 of the .cfa files were about 1.6 GB size each
What are these files for and do I need to keep them?

Read about 'em:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/premierepro/cs/using/WSa41b87baf39dd9b0-4a7aee25125bce32690-80 00.html
Bottom line, if you clean the media cache using one of the apps (Encore or Premiere for example) and the source files are still on line, it won't delete them. You can manually delete those pek and cfa, and if you open a project with those files, it will recreate them.
Note that Encore help only says:
Clean Database . Frees up additional disc space by removing old files in the media cache database shared by Adobe audio and video applications. The database tracks media accelerator files that improve performance and speed. For example, if Adobe Premiere Pro creates a conformed audio file, and you import media with that audio into Encore, Encore uses the file from Adobe Premiere Pro instead of creating a new conformed file. The media cache database informs Encore of the conformed file’s location.

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Do I realy need the Media cache files for archiving

Hi I am arc hiving some projects and the Media Cache Files are huge over 7GB. The project this is from is a 2hr dvd so I expect big files, but I can't fit 7GB on a data DVD for backup. Can I delete this cache folder and will Encore DVD 2.0 rebuild these files the next time I try to access the project?
Matt

I wouldn't delete any if it if you want to absolutely positively guarantee it all works later. However, the PK files and CFA files can be deleted if you like, and it shouldn't bother Encore too much. Next time you open the project they will be automatically re-created (no way around it), so take that into consideration as far as your time is concerned - you will have to wait while those suckers are re-built.
If you have transcoded assets, Encore can get fussy looking for them, even if you have the original untranscoded assets recognized. My choice...delete the CFA files and PK files and archive the rest for safety. The CFA files take up a huge chunk anyways, so that should help with 1 or 2 GB of space.

Do I need all those media cache files in my user profile?

Hello Forum,
When I installed Win 7 and Adobe Production Premium on a 120Gig SSD, I made this mistake of not putting only the essential part of Windows on this System and Apps drive. (I have separate 1Tb HDDs for media and rendering, and work with compressed HD files). I noticed that my user profile has grown enormous, to the point of filling up the SSD, and when I searched to see why, the main problem is a substantial accumulation of media cache files in the folder...
user/App Data/Roaming/Common/Media Cache Files
Judging by their names, sizes, and dates, they seem to pretty much replicate all my raw media files on my media HDD, from all the projects I've done since last summer. This folder is about 40 gigs.
So what is the function of this media cache folder? Can I move it, or direct PP to put this stuff on some other drive than my SSD? Do I even need the contents of this folder? All my scratch files go to the F: Rendering HDD.
Thanks.
PS: If any of you have suggestions on how to move my user profiles off the boot/apps SSD to one of the HDDS, without reinstalling everything, I'm all ears.

To follow up, I now see this is a product of running AME, and AME gives me options of where to put all this stuff. Can I just change those options to my F: Rendering Drive, and move the contents of this folder there?

What are the advantages/disadvantages to "Save Media Cache files next to originals when possible?

I just noticed that I have over 7,000 files and 46.7 GB in my Media Cache Files folder. I know I can just delete all the files in this folder and Premiere will automatically rebuild the files when needed. But, are there any advantages or disadvantages to saving the files next to the originals? I assume that means that it will write these files wherever I'm storing my media files...

I'd say storing your cache with your media would decrease your performance. Having them on separate volumes/drives means that Premiere can read/write from them at the same time, instead of having to read/write one or the other, one at a time.
Additionally, PPro is create cache files from your original media, and it's always best practice to read from one drive, while writing to another.
TL;DR It's for Performance. ! ! ! !

Can I delete adobe/common/media cache files?

I've a seriously shrinking hard disk. Have found 20 gig of data in my Home/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/Media Cache Files.
Am I right in assuming I can safely delete these files and if I need them again, all apps that created them (e.g. Adobe Premiere Pro etc) will just rebuild them?

I recommend you to use specific software like Onyx or CleanMyMac to delete cache files. These programs aren't perfect, but it's very difficult to have a problem with them.

Video media cache files

Lightroom is using up a chunk of C drive storing media cache files for some video clips that I have in with the rest of my media. As of now, I don't have any plans to use lightroom to edit video clips. Is there any way to have lightroom ignore video files and prevent it from generating all these video cache files?

You can easily delete the media cache files using normal OS delete command. Any video file already in Lr catalog are easily removed. Remember to use the 'Remove form Catalog' option not 'Delete form Disk'. In future, the video files can be unchecked in Import window. This prevents them from being imported into Lr. However, you'll need to copy them to your hard disk manually if on a flash card.

Media cache files: Premiere Elements 9 with SSD

Hello you fine Adobe people.
I apologize if this has been asked before, if so please could somebody direct me to an answer?
I have Premiere Elements 9 on Windows 7. My issue is pretty simple: my shiny new SSD is getting full of temp files from the "C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Common\Media Cache Files" location every time I work on a project. I have set all other cache items I can see in "Preferences" to my mechanical disk, but I am alarmed to see this folder filling up with huge files on my SSD. Aside from the unneccessary reads and writes, it will be filled up in no time. It seems in Premiere Pro you can direct this folder to an external drive, but I cannot find this option in Premiere Elements.
Please tell me there is a way to move the media cache files directory to another drive than C:\ ?
Thank you in advance
A Craven

alistair78
The answer is that you need Premiere Elements answers for Premiere Elements questions.
The conformed audio files (cfa and pek) are stored in the Media Cache Files Folder. By default, that folder is found in Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 64 bit.
Libraries/Documents/Adobe/Premiere Elements/10 (if 10 is your version). You set the save location for the Media Cache Files Folder in Premiere Elements Editor workspace Edit Menu/Preferences/Scratch Disks and the "Media Cache" category.
The conformed video files (mcdb) are can be accessed via the Premiere Elements Editor workspace Edit Menu/Preferences/Media and its Media Cache Database area. There you will find a Clean up to clear them and set limits. The actual files (which have a .mcdb file extension) can be found via the path shown in that area. This appears to be an unchangeable location.
Preview files from rendering of Timeline content to get the best possible preview at play back of the Timeline content in the Edit area monitor are stored in the Adobe Premiere Elements Previews File Folder. By default, that folder is found in Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 64 bit Libaries/Documents/Adobe/Premiere Elements/10 (if 10 is your version). You set that save location for the Adobe Premiere Elements Elements Previews File Folder in Premiere Elements Editor workspace Edit Menu/Preferences/Scratch Disks and the Video Previews category.
Please let us know if you are now clear about Premiere Elements and how it relates to Media Cache et al.
Please ask if any further questions on this or need clarification.
ATR

How to manage media cache files in Premiere Pro CS5.5?

I hope my question is not too complicated but I still haven't figured this one out.
Here goes:
Whenever I open a project in Premiere Pro, the media cache files used are always the same ones from a prior project.
For example, if I open project ABC, the scratch disk used, the media cache and media cache files are from the ABC project file.
Then, if I open another document, XYZ, the scratch disk and the media cache files are again stored in the ABC project file.
HOW DO I CHANGE THE SETTINGS SO THE SCRATCH DISK AND MEDIA CACHE ARE THE ONES SPECIFIC TO THE PARTICULAR PROJECT I OPEN?
So I don't have to move all the cache files manually or change the settings in Premiere every time I open a project.
Sorry for the long description. Thanks for your help. Daniel Martel. Quebec. Canada.

You can't (unless you want to store them next to the originals, a proposition I find untenable). Some of the scratch disk settings are stored at the project level (things like video and audio previews), but the one's you're talking about are global - one setting for the whole program.
I don't like that arrangement myself. ALL scratch disks should be stored per project.
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

[BUG] Media Cache Files

Windows7 x64, SP1
Media Cache Files recreating each time when I open a project. But when I close Premier Pro- this folder was not cleared automatically. This is bug for end-user because this folder "eat" huge disk space.
Who know why and how it can be cleared? Only advanced users. And the rest will see "out of space".
You need to fix Premier Pro so Media Cache Files folder can be cleared after Premier Pro is closed.

If the cache cleared every shut-down, it wouldn't be 'cache'.
Clearing cache between projects is a fine idea. Here are some other thoughts on the subject.
Clean those Adobe Media Cache Files by Scott Simmons
MediaStorm Guide to the Adobe Premiere Pro Media Cache Database

Media cache files...

Hi
I have a folder on my C-drive under application data\adobe\common\ called "media cache files". There is a huge amount of data in that folder.
Can I put it somewhere else, and is it safe to empty it once in a while?
Thanks.
/Ulf

Render Files for your projects are stored there.
If you are sure you want to clean them up, choose Sequence -> Delete Render Files or Sequence -> Delete Work Area Render Files so as to do it safely.
Sweet cat btw

CC 2014 Media Cache Files duplication...

Windows 8 Pro
CC 2014
3930k
Titan Black
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As of the latest update for CC 2014, any time I open any audio file from CC with Audition it is now saving a PFK and Extracted audio file next to the original in addition to the folder I have designated for these files.. I do NOT have the box checked for "Save media cache files next to originals when possible".
I didn't notice this problem until almost finishing a very large project with hundreds of sound effects that now have PFK files and Extracted files sitting next to them all over my effects and music folders.
This problem is NOT happening is plain old CC... only 2014.
I have tried pointing it to a new folder, and have also tried checking and unchecking the box.
Anyone else have this issue? Any possible solution I have not tried?
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Win 7 64
CC 2014
3930k
Titan Black
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64 gigs ram
Exactly the same issue as Jeckle. Without having the box checked "save media cache files next to originals", every single file I've imported into 2014 has created a pkf file directly next to the original, as well as in the location I specified for the cache. This is eating my drive space pretty quick. Anyone?
Tested with fresh project file in both CC and CC 2014 - no problems at all with CC...
Any help appreciated...

Premier Media Cache Files eating up Drive Space

Using Premiere Pro CS 5.5, Media Cache files are eating up the Boot Drive. I keep media and render files on 2 additional internal drives. When I tried to move the Media Cache files from inside Premiere Pro, it resulted in an inability to read the drives from the Startup> Computer menu on the Desktop. This window would open but it was blank with green bar scrolling across the top (as though the computer was trying to read the 3 internal drives. I had to restore the System to correct the problem. How do I reset the Media Cache files to my Render drive which has the most available space without causing a read system problem. When can one safely delete the Media Cache files?
I was an FCP user and all we had to do was delete the render files and/or the media files to get space back. Never had a read system problem from it.

You can do three things.
1 Go to EDIT - Preferences - Media and CLEAN your cache.
2. You can also browse via explorer to the MEDIA CACH. The directory path is shown there in the screen where you CLEAN.
Usually the name is ..../user/yourname/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Common/MediaCache - the path is shown on that screen and then delete items and render files etc.
3. At that screen, you can also change your Media CACHE to be stored with your Project Files and Autosave files.
4. I think you can delete them anytime, because even if you delete them. Adobe will re-create them next time you open the project, but it will want to relink. But maybe double cheque on this before doing. I have deleted render files out of here with no negative effect. But there are also other files here. That I would want
to do more investigation before deleted. But as it is relinking..don't touch ANYTHING until it completes relinking because that seems to cause the sound and vision to go out of sync. It seems a bit of a bug in Adobe.

Can I play adobe premiere elements media cache files (original files lost)

I have Adobe Premiere Elements 9 and have lost a number of the video original files and updated video files.
However, I noticed that I have numerous adobe premiere elements media cache files (I dont think I ever cleared out the cache) - are these playable or am I able to use these to re-create the originals / make replacement videos.

OK, thanks for your prompt reply. I thought I could access them in some way to either view or re-edit.
I might as well delete them, if they no longer have a use.
Neil

Can I delete a media cache file that has caused my backup program to fail?

There are 2 Adobe Premere files that are located under App Date, Media Cache files that are causing my backup program to fail. These files were created in August of 2010 and have been backed up successfully many times. However as of Dec 2011 the backup program has failed to complete and the problem has been traced to these two files. I have no idea what the files do but deleting them would be good if it isn't going to affect my Photoshop Elements or premere Elements or my picture files and their location. It appears that the files are tiny clips from music that I may have opened when creating a movie with music to go with the slides. The actual clip of music does not seem to appear in any of the movies I created, which is a bit baffeling. I'd appreciate any help on this. Thank you.

Hi,
Can you share the name and path of the files?
Are you talking about Mediadatabase.db3 file present at: application data\adobe\Photoshop Elements\10.0Locale\en_US? If yes, you can delete this file. When you launch Photoshop Elements the next time, this file will automatically get created for you.
Thanks

Why is this massive media cache file on my C drive?

Running Adobe CS5 (NOT 6) on a Windows 7 PC.
I thought I had made sure that everything was on my D or E drives since my C drive is an SSD and I don't want anything but the basics on it.
Well, I have nearly 4GB of Media Cache eating up SSD space and no way to know if I can delete it, how to delete it, how to move that directory, etc.
Whenever I start a project I have my source files on my E drive and I list my D drive as my scratch drive.
Here is a screenshot showing the exact location of this huge Media Cashe folder.
Gents, I'd greatly appreciate some assistance. My SSD is being eaten alive.
Can this stuff be deleted? If so, how? What exactly IS that stuff and why is it on the C drive?

Hi msp1518,
Thanks for the posting adobe forums,
These are the files for conforming audio, generating peak files for audio.
Yes, you can delete these files once you have completed the project in premiere pro.
Just, close the premiere pro : Just delete the files inside the Media cache files and Media Cache folder.
Regards,
Sandeep

Media Cache Files? Do I need them?

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