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Why do Events still exist?
When FCPX started, Events were the basic data container, like bins are in Avid Media Composer. Then Apple unified Events into a Library.
Right now Events seem to serve very little function other than as an organizing folder. For example, if you load 5 clips into Event 1 and another 5 clips into Event 2, you still see and can access all 10 clips at the Library level. In fact, your Events can actually be completely empty with all clips in the Library, yet you have to have at least 1 Event in the Library, even if it is empty.
Unfortunately, the full set of folders and other organizing tools you have available in the Event can’t be utilized at the Library level. So it seems to me that Events – the way they are implemented – are a vestige of the false start Apple took in the initial FCPX design.
Shouldn’t they simply get rid of Events and apply all the collections, folders, etc. at the Library level?
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
51 Replies
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Interesting thought. I use events as broad organizational bins (one per Camera/shoot day, Graphics, Audio, Sequences, etc…) then subcategorize using keywords within each event to sift and sort that media into more organized, logical groups.
For example, I always have an event called AUDIO with keywords for MUSIC, VO, SFX, FINAL MIX. I like that I can click the event to see every audio file in the project, or click a keyword to instantly filter to just music, VO, etc (which is why I want to assign a role to a keyword to it’s applied to every clip in that keyword). But you could replicate that organization in FCPX if there were folders at the library level, if clicking a folder would show you every clip in it (like an event). Then you could toss out events and not really lose anything.
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Michael Hancock
Editor -
[Oliver Peters] “Shouldn’t they simply get rid of Events and apply all the collections, folders, etc. at the Library level?
“So, pretend there are no Events, throw everything in to one Event, and work the way you propose.
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That’s how I’ve always worked. Actually I make an event for sequences so that all the compound clips that get created don’t show in my media event. I really have almost no need whatsoever for compounds to be shown in the event.
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https://BretFX.com FCP X Plugins & Templates for Editors & Motion Graphics Artists -
[Oliver Peters] “Shouldn’t they simply get rid of Events and apply all the collections, folders, etc. at the Library level?”
I bet if it was simple they’d have done that by now.
You can’t match back to anywhere but the root of an event even if you pulled a clip from a keyword or smart collection.
For features I still make one event per scene for this reason.
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[Darren Roark] “I bet if it was simple they’d have done that by now. “
IOW, the original design was flawed and they’ve been trying to work around that ever since ☺
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
[Oliver Peters] “IOW, the original design was flawed and they’ve been trying to work around that ever since ☺”
True, this is what they get for trying to emulate any aspect of how Avid works keeping sequences and bins separate then realizing that wasn’t practical for most.
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[Darren Roark] “True, this is what they get for trying to emulate any aspect of how Avid works keeping sequences and bins separate then realizing that wasn’t practical for most.”
Except that it actually works quite well with Media Composer.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
I do like events as an organizational tool, but I would love to be able to group them into folders too.
Scott Witthaus
Senior Editor/Post Production Supervisor
1708 Inc./Editorial
Professor, VCU Brandcenter -
[Oliver Peters] “Except that it actually works quite well with Media Composer.”
That must be the reason it’s still the standard operating procedure editing system here.
Because it’s better. 😉
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[Oliver Peters] “Except that it actually works quite well with Media Composer.”
Keeping a pair of thin cotton gloves in my lighting kit for changing out high wattage tungsten lamps also worked quite well for a LONG time.
Then I sold all my tungsten lights and moved on.
To me, it’s just another optional container allowing a level of organization I can choose to – or not to – employ.
I kinda enjoy things in separate packages inside other larger packages. It’s how I think. It’s why I have sub-boxes for, for example, my individual wireless lav rigs – even tho those all get put into the larger AUDIO container.
Seems to me that if I used all the mics all the time, digging them out of the sub-boxes would probably be a hassle. But when it’s time to head for a gig — and I need just ONE wireless rig — the sub-packaging helps.
Same with Events.
Creator of XinTwo – https://www.xintwo.com
The shortest path to FCP X mastery.
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