If you've been working with Final Cut Pro X for a while you will know that it shows all events on a disk by default. Event Manager allows you to selectively hide or show events and it's just been updated with new features to version 1.2.
The way FCPX organises media into events is clever, but all events on a drive loading into the browser can not only slow your machine down, it will clutter up the GUI and show everybody else the other clients you have been working for!
Mounting and unmounting sparse disk images is one way round this, using Event Manager by Assisted Editing is an easier and quicker way. This popular $4.99 app has just been upgraded to version 1.2 and Philip Hodgetts sent us an email detailing the update and features:
"From its simple beginning as the first third-party Final Cut Pro X application, Event Manager X has evolved into a complete Event and Project Library management tool. The 1.2 release adds Sets: saved combinations of Events and Projects for instant reload based around projects or clients.
By default Final Cut Pro X will show you all Events and Projects on all mounted storage devices. Apple offer a manual answer in their support document "Final Cut Pro X: Hiding Events in the Event Library," but there is no way to keep track of Events or Projects not visible or on unmounted storage devices, nor any way to quickly bring up a Set combination of Events and Projects that match a particular job, or are related to the one client.
Event Manager X does all this and much more. You see the full state of the mounted storage devices, including hidden Events and Projects; see the Events and Projects on unmounted storage devices; and have the ability to control combinations of Events and Projects as Sets for easy reconfiguring between ongoing projects or clients."
Event manager is a free update to all existing licence holders.
Event Manager X allows you to:
- Quickly manage which Events and Projects are visible using simple checkboxes
- Filter through your library to find specific Events or Projects
- Use Sets to recall combinations of related Events and Projects (by job or by client)
- Keep track of hidden (but mounted) Events and Projects
- Keep track of unmounted Events and Projects
- View date created for all Events and Projects in Event Manager X
- See folder label colors applied in the Finder to Event and Library folders
- Check that all storage devices that hold needed Events are correctly mounted
- Detects and warns the user about permissions problems on external storage devices
- Switch from vertical view matching Final Cut Pro X, or horizontal view to better use widescreen real estate.
- Never suffer the embarrassment of an Event or Project showing to the wrong client
- Launch Final Cut Pro X faster with fewer active Events in the Event Library
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
