Protocol for Backing up work in FCPX 10.1.1

[Helge Tjelta]

Hi Jack, also remember to use my app called X-wiper to clean up you library before archiving or just as a regular cleanup tool.

It will delete renders, proxies, transcoded and shared files. You choose what to delete. And One-button, all are gone, freeing up a lot of GB’s in your libraries.

check it out at:

https://tiny.cc/1wr47w

Helge

[Bret Williams]

If the media is all internally managed then yes, the duplicate would be all you need. But of you’re like me you also have AE, motion and PS projects and their media to backup as well.

Just to be sure, you can always highlight the library and choose to consolidate library files. Then choose to put the media IN the library in the pulldown. Any files that are external will be copied. Like the organize command pre 10.1. External files would be any that you chose to “leave in place” upon import.

The “old” folders can be deleted if you’ve determined that the converted versions are ok. I’ve still hot mine. They do stand alone. Nothing should be linking to them.

[Mark Smith]

I think It would be helpful if there was a flow diagram describing the back up process with the proper terminology. I’m not exceptionally ignorant when it comes to this stuff, but we are visual folks working in a visual medium and one picture is worth many words. A flow chart to go with the apple white paper would be amazing.

[Jack Niedenthal]

Here is what I am doing for backup (Thanks to all who helped me by posting their thoughts and ideas).

The data backup found in FCPX preferences is on my iMac’s hard drive (takes up very little space).

All of my Libraries (media, clips, etc) are stored an an external hard drive (1).

I copied all the same Libraries over to another external hard drive (2). (same names, I just dragged and dropped). I then keep external hard drive (2) turned off because I intend to backup only at the very end after the work is done and I have closed FCPX.

At the end of the day, after I work on a project, I use Carbon Copy Cloner to back up that particular Library from external hard drive (1) to external hard drive (2). Very fast and works great. This way if external hard drive (1) completely craps out–my biggest fear–I won’t miss a beat. You can even schedule CCC to backup as you work but that would mean leaving both drives on at all times, not sure if this would slow things down, which is why I decided not to do it.

Jack Niedenthal
Microwave Films of the Marshall Islands
http://www.microwavefilms.org
https://www.microwavefilms.org/Crickets.html
iMac i7 using Mavericks 10.9.x, HPX 170 using only one 64GB card
I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific, YOU are my only resource.

[Brett Sherman]

[Aindreas Gallagher] “somewhere at the end of it there are going to be external render and proxy files.
because it is completely pointless to have them like ten ton dead weights in the project file.”

I agree with this. They walked halfway back, which has created the problem you describe. There is no way to contain the project in a small file that easily placed on your system drive or sent via internet. Each library should have a Media folder designation where it stores imported media, renders and transcodes. This would organize external media – right now it’s the wild west.

I think there was another way they could have gone which was to keep the same event/project structure but make external media easier and allow you activate/deactivate projects and events. If a project used an event that was inactive it would automatically activate it. This would have worked better for me. But, I’ll take the library structure – especially if they allow external renders and transcodes.

[Tony West]

Almost exactly the way I am doing it Jack.

I tend to unplug that 2nd external drive after a backup to protect myself in the event a power surge hits the main computer and the 1st external drive.

[Dave Brandt]

I use sync folders pro.
I have a project folder on my working drive. In it is everything related to the project, graphics, after effects, scripts etc. and my fcpx library with all media in it.
At the end of the day I sync this folder to another folder on the raid. It only copies the changed or added files, and I have an exact copy of my working folder on my raid.
Sync folders pro can see into the fcpx library and only copy changes and new files, projects, render frames etc. and is very fast.

Hope that helps
Dave

http://www.BrandtStudios.ie

Macbook Pro Retina 15″ i7 2.7 16GB Early 2013
PC i7 32GB Self Build
FCPX LogicX Adobe CC Vegas 12 Nuendo 4

[Johnny Robinson]

I have had the same question for months. It’s unbelievable how hard it has been to find the answer. This has been VERY helpful.
However before I try this, I need some clarification.
So I have a similar situation. 2 external drives. One is the active, the other the backup. Half TB of media in the bundle. I work on it every day and want to back up my edit decisions and any new imports without duplicating the whole thing.

When you say drag over…is this in Finder or in FCP?
Can I open 2 Bundles at the same time in FCP10.1 like I did projects in FCP7?
Or do I do the “Show Package Contents” thing on the bundles and drag contents?

Also what specifically am I dragging over?

Here’s the third wrinkle. I need to learn to do this without any backup software like carbon copy. Why? because I teach a video class and I have to pass this on to the kids in the lab where they have no backup application.
Thanks,
Johnny

Johnny Robinson
Johnny@johnnyrobinson.com