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Backing up an FCPX project
Hey Guys,
Just finished up one of my first projects on FCPX and ready to store it on a back up harddrive to clear up space on my solid state.
I remember in FCP7 I would just have all of my raw footage and project files in the same folder then copy and save the folder on to the hardrive.
I am having so much trouble finding a way to back up to a hardrive for easy use if i need to re edit something, or even transfer to a harddrive and edit from a different computer, from FCPX.
Any help or techniques found would be appreciated
Thanks Nick
Director of Video and New Media
Own Point of Sale – https://www.thinkown.com -
18 Replies
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The manual goes through a bunch of options, its actually pretty easy once you understand it, but it does take some understanding.
Is all the media in your event? Did you transcode or edit natively?
Also, see here for some media management tips, not necessarily related to archiving: https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/344/6054
Jeremy
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Yes, all the raw footage I put in the event. Straight from my 7d.
FCP7 seemed a bit easier for backing up but I def. see the advantages of using X and won’t be a complainer.
I will have to download the manual and look at the options. I tried just figuring it out myself by copying the event folder and project folder onto the hard drive and opening the folder. However when I clicked to open the project off the drive it just continually loaded and I had to force quit.
Nick
Sent from my iPhone
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[Nicholas Dean] “I tried just figuring it out myself by copying the event folder and project folder onto the hard drive and opening the folder.”
The folder has to be in a “Final Cut Pro Projects” and “Final…Events” folder on your destination drive for that to work.
If you use the move function, this will be taken care of for you by fcpx.
In reality, you simply have to move two folders, then move them back to the proper directory when restoring.
Jeremy
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Thanks Jeremy, this will release my headache. didn’t even think about just moving them back when I need to re-edit. It will take a little bit to transfer, but should work perfectly.
You’re a super star!
Nick
Sent from my iPhone
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If you use fcpx, it makes sure all the copies are verified.
There are a few different ways to do it (including setting up your archive drive for editing by adding the proper directories). I can tell you some of the answers, but playing around with media management functions explains a lot, and really, once you see how they work, it’s very easy. Most of the functions are all or nothing, there’s not a lot of media trimming functions in fcpx quite yet.
Jeremy
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Can I ask for some more help on the same issue please? I am studying for a masters in Digital media and a complete novice to FCP. I am trying to back up my work in progress to a hard drive but when I ctrl click and attempt to duplicate the project – my back up drive does not show in the drop down box as an option – I only have the option to save to the Mac’s own drive, even though I can see it the hard drive on the desk top? Any advice? What is the best way to make sure my project is safely backed up (in simple layman’s terms) as I will be working on it for a few weeks and it would be a disaster if I lose it.
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[Karen Ackerman] ” I am trying to back up my work in progress to a hard drive but when I ctrl click and attempt to duplicate the project – my back up drive does not show in the drop down box as an option – I only have the option to save to the Mac’s own drive, even though I can see it the hard drive on the desk top? Any advice? What is the best way to make sure my project is safely backed up (in simple layman’s terms) as I will be working on it for a few weeks and it would be a disaster if I lose it.”
Are you backing up to another drive, or are you simply trying to duplicate it on the same drive?
A backup usually means putting it in a different location than where it sits now.
Jeremy
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I think FCPX makes archiving projects vastly easier, especially since you can consolidate your media if it’s not already in the event. To archive (back it up) with every thing intact, I use FCPX’s move/copy function to copy the project and all the media. I don’t think you need to have to choose a separate drive – just make sure whatever drive you select is formatted HFS+.
As for incremental backups (safety in the case a drive goes out, for example) I find the application a little more frustrating. The best solution I’ve come up with is to use a program that automatically copies over the Final Cut Events and Final Cut Projects folders to another drive over night. Apple Time Machine will do this too, but I suspect the system take a performance hit while it’s doing it’s thing.
Very important that whatever backup solution you choose while working on a project, it’s automatic. Relying on yourself to copy by hand isn’t much of a backup if you forget to do it.
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FCP Guru
http://www.fcpguru.com -
Thanks Jeremy, I am trying to back up to an external hard drive. I have searched the Apple forums and think the problem may be that the drive I want to use was previously used as Time machine – seems to be FCP won’t recognise it if it has been TM.
So the issue is now – all my events were loaded to the Mac hard drive – If I would rather work from an external drive, but I have already done quite a lot of work on my project, is it too late to move them as I would rather keep my mac drive clear?
I will also attempt to back up the project and associated clips to a new hard drive that I have just bought -
[Karen Ackerman] “So the issue is now – all my events were loaded to the Mac hard drive – If I would rather work from an external drive, but I have already done quite a lot of work on my project, is it too late to move them as I would rather keep my mac drive clear?”
It’s not too late. Simply move the Final Cut Events and Final Cut Project folders to the new and clean hard drive (that should be formatted HFS+).
You can also use the move command within FCPX.
Jeremy
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