FCP X 10.1.2 released…

[James Ewart]

Erm … not so fast please.

The context was wanting to be able to import Proxy Media only into the Library and Optimised and Original Media into an external folder.

When I wrote “when importing from camera cards it does not give the option to Leave Files in Place” I never said that was what I wanted to do. This was with reference to your previous reply where you suggested Leaving files in Place and just selecting Proxy media to import into the Library.

I was pointing out that your suggestion was not always possible, for example when Importing from cards. Never did I suggest that was what I wanted to do. You made that assumption.

Thanks

[Robin S. kurz]

Okay. Fine. I was missing “the big picture”.

Well, either way, you know how it works now.

[Craig Alan]

I see, now, where you are coming from James. If you read the storage-location-modify-settings-window carefully you will see that you can set a NEW place to store an import but leave-all-the previous-imports-in previous locations. You can always consolidate the bunch to any location.

So, yes, a two-step process or actually a three-step process because otherwise your next import will now be stored in the last location you selected unless you switch the location back again.

I guess Apple has decided you would want all these media types in one place or another. To be fair, when you choose anything outside of the library, FC creates alias files to point to your selected location.

So why exactly would you prefer proxies to be in the library? (I’m sure there would be times when you would want these media types in different locations, but not sure of the pros and cons). Is “managed” media, that is media in the library, faster than using references? I thought keeping the library small makes it faster?

But, all that said, I think? this would work to do what you want:
1) import everything into the library.
2) change the storage-location-modify-settings-window to your preferred external location.
3) in the consolidate window deselect proxy media.
That should move all media out of the library except proxy media.

Kinda of weird workflow though.

If this is for sharing purposes just leave all media in an external location and export and import xml files to your colleagues. Am I missing something?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Robin S. kurz]

[Craig Alan] “So, yes, a two-step process or actually a three-step process because otherwise your next import will now be stored in the last location you selected unless you switch the location back again.”

For that one library and the events contained within, yes. Not for others or new ones.

[Craig Alan] “I guess Apple has decided you would want all these media types in one place or another.”

As I said in the other thread, this is clearly geared towards improved *collaborative* editing, since you wouldn’t want everyone to be using their own optimized, proxy, render, cache etc. files if they’ve already been created once before. This way if I generate those files, anyone else using the same source files (this is assuming the “stored centrally on a server” scenario) will automatically have i.e. can use the same optimized, proxy etc. files after I’ve created them.

[Craig Alan] “So why exactly would you prefer proxies to be in the library?”

Imagine having an MBP with a small amount of local/internal storage, but you want to take your footage with you to edit without having to lug around external drives for the the original media. If you have the original/optimized media on external storage but just the proxies locally, you can edit on the road with the proxies and reconnect to the original/optimized media for output when finished and back at the studio. Have done it and absolutely LOVED it. 🙂

[Craig Alan] “Is “managed” media, that is media in the library, faster than using references? I thought keeping the library small makes it faster?”

The overall size of any given library isn’t a deciding speed factor. If the media is on a fast drive and the library doesn’t have an endless amount of events, it’s irrelevant whether the footage resides within the library or not. Rather the amount of overall open libraries and events are the RAM (and therefore speed) gobblers.

[Craig Alan] “That should move all media out of the library except proxy media.”

Great tip. Hadn’t thought of that. And yes, that’s probably the easiest/quickest route.

[James Ewart]

Thank you, yes it has also occurred to me that perhaps I am attempting a workflow that seems intuitive to me but is based upon old habits and that there is a reason I have not understood for it being the way it is. That said there does seem to have been a bit of an ongoing back peddle by Apple to more traditional workflows because, although they clearly have brilliant minds, they could not possibly be expected to second guess how we all work in our different ways.

Makes you realise they knew from the start this was going to be a journey which is why Legacy still runs on Mavericks. Will FCPX run on Yosemite?

Me – I cut in Proxy.

http://www.jamesewart.co.uk

[Craig Alan]

[Robin S. Kurz] “[Craig Alan] “So why exactly would you prefer proxies to be in the library?”

Imagine having an MBP with a small amount of local/internal storage, but you want to take your footage with you to edit without having to lug around external drives for the the original media. If you have the original/optimized media on external storage but just the proxies locally, you can edit on the road with the proxies and reconnect to the original/optimized media for output when finished and back at the studio. Have done it and absolutely LOVED it. :)”

I thought of this. But you don’t need any of the other files, now stored out of the library, like cache? There are times I want to take a project home with me and it’s been a bit of a chore.

And if you were editing in optimized or original media can you go back forth those and proxy?

If you put the library with just proxies in the cloud like dropbox or whatever – would this work and limit how long it takes to upload? Although we will edit projects in the studio we will also have a lab for teaching editing and it would be nice if students could use the projects they are working on in the studio.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Robin S. kurz]

[Craig Alan] “But you don’t need any of the other files, now stored out of the library, like cache?”

No, those can be (re)created as needed. The only things you definitely need are either the original/optimized or proxy media, depending on what you’ve set FCP to. Everything else is recreatable as needed.

[Craig Alan] “There are times I want to take a project home with me and it’s been a bit of a chore.”

With the current model I don’t actually see how that could be.

[Craig Alan] “And if you were editing in optimized or original media can you go back forth those and proxy?”

Sure. That’s kinda the whole point. 🙂

[Craig Alan] “If you put the library with just proxies in the cloud like dropbox or whatever – would this work and limit how long it takes to upload?”

That depends on the format of your original media. Proxy is small (in comparison to other flavors of ProRes) but not TINY.

[Craig Alan] “Although we will edit projects in the studio we will also have a lab for teaching editing and it would be nice if students could use the projects they are working on in the studio.”

I’m not sure what you’re asking/intending.

[Craig Alan]

What I’m trying to do is be able to edit a project that was created in the studio at another location. All the editing decisions are stored in the XML which can be exported and stored on a flash drive or sent via email or dropbox or whatever. That leaves a copy of the original media. Now either both locations need these files or they need to be sent or accessed somehow. For myself I could bring the original media cards home with me and make a copy on my home system and leave a copy on my work station and then email the xml back and forth as needed. Unless there is a problem with the xml file I should be good to go. 10.1.2 can now read P2 footage natively so even the copy should be pretty fast since it does not need to be transcoded or rewrapped.

But I can’t think of a way to have the original media for hundreds of projects at two locations. The cloud is just too slow.

If we set up some sort of remote access can the media lab computers log into the studio computers and see media on the attached raids?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[James Ewart]

So when we get back to base, as the Optimised/Original Media has been consolidated out of the Library, when we reconnect the external drive with this folder on it the Library will automatically see these files and link them back to the project?

[Robin S. kurz]

If the project/event was connected to said directory previously and the path, names, etc. for the footage in question hasn’t changed, but rather the volume as a whole has merely gone offline, yes, of course. FCP looks for files at their last known location. If they’re there, they’re online, if not, they’re offline. Even “hot-pluggable” if you will, you wouldn’t even need to quit FCP first.