switching shop from 7 to X... Workflow Suggestions?

Sorry if this is overly long, and it's probably been covered somewhere or other but...

Let's assume I'm switching our 5-6 editor shop from FCP 7 to FCP X. Here's our current workflow: All media on a RAID served from an OS X server. (render files are local) We all work from the same media but create our own projects and sequences in FCP 7. However, fairly often we need to hand off a sequence from one editor to another, and then hand it back etc. Or, we might need to hand off an FCP 7 project with all associated bins, clips and sequences. Very easy in 7. For a sequence... copy to new project, save to server, other editor opens it, works, saves it, and hands it back. All referenced media is in the same place so nothing (except render files... no biggie) ever goes offline. Obviously same for projects. So....

How would we do that with X? Is there a way that's as easy? I mean, i can duplicate an X project and give it to someone else, but since they don't have my events it'll all be offline right? So then I have to duplicate my events *and* project, give those folders to them, explain where they go , and if I want it back, i then have an entirely separate event and project? Anyone figured this out, or am I missing something obvious? I know they can modify the projects event references, and assuming they have all the same media in their events would that work?

I'm just trying to figure out the most idiot proof and easy way of doing this... hopefully close to as easily as in FCP 7. Suggestions? TIA!

The original media will be on the Server. On that server each editor needs to have their own disk image and Event. When importing the original media into an Event this way, do not copy it to the EVent folder, let FCP X simply link to it. Their projects will be similar.

Then they just send each other the "CurrentProject.fcpproject" file from the Project folder.

Here's Apple's support doc on networking with XSAN.
support.apple.com/kb/HT5084

support.apple.com/kb/HT4932

support.apple.com/kb/HT4926

support.apple.com/kb/HT5084

Hey Ben... I read that Apple info, I guess I'm just a little confused still. We're currently on a plain old ethernet network and just mounting regular old shared volumes. Ultimately we should move to a SAN, but these guys are loath to spend money so I'm trying to figure out simplest solution for the short term. Here's a specific scenario...

I Have about 40+ projects, (multiple versions of 4 spots) Linked to 2 events. one event containing all the shows, mx, vo, graphics etc, and the other is an event with all my sound FX and some random VFX, slates, leaders etc.

Say I need to have another editor take over a project. It seems that now, i'd have to give them both my events, as well as the CurrentProject file that I'm handing off. Then I need to explain where to put everything to editors who don't understand this stuff at all. All they know to do is find the "project", double click it, and work. Now, assuming everyone still has their events stored locally (but all linked to the same media on the server) would the workflow you just outlined still , um... work?

It seems like my additional FX event would screw that up in both our current networking setup, or a SAN setup. Or could they just re-link to the files (on the shared server) that are referenced in my local FX event? Also... Can fcpX CurrentProject files be opened just by double-clicking? Or do they need to be manually moved to a new folder in the users Movies/Final Cut Events folder? Sorry if this is really basic stuff, I'm on an FCP X island here so I can't really experiment.

Links over Ethernet won't work as there's not enough bandwidth for an "Edit In Place" scenario (streaming media from the server) like we have with XSAN (fibre). I was talking about more of an XSAN fibre system where everything would be on the server, nothing on the local machines.

It be great if y'all could just stay on 7, get a copy of Final Cut Server somewhere, and for very little money set up a small XSAN system. The cost of software, fibre cards, cable, and a used Mac Pro.

Anyway, on Ethernet. Create a disk image on the Server. Put the Events and Projects in that. Then each editor can download that to their local drive (let it run overnight).

Now, as each finishes their part, one at a time, just hand off the "CurrentVersion.fcpproject" file to the next editor.

But that DMG on the server has to be the complete project and events, totally. Not sure about working with all that media over Ethernet. But, at least each editor would, using DMG, have an exact copy of the same Events.

Now, are you guys editing with the Scratch Folder on the Server now? How is playback?

Actually, everything works fine over ethernet. Projects and render files are local but besides that, all our media is streaming over ethernet from the RAID. We've only got 5 editors, and all 5 rarely pull the same media at the same time, so the bandwidth is sufficient. Even though most of our source is now HD rather than DV it still works.

So... assuming we try to work the same way - local events with all media symlinked from server and local projects - what's a simple way to move projects around? Is there one?

I should note that the reason for all these questions is that eventually we're gonna need to ditch FCP 7 and I'd like to move everyone to X. I'm using it and really digging it, and I'm finishing stuff out of it (we mostly do offline editing), but it's a tough sell due to the fact that it requires re-thinking how you edit a bit. No biggie for me, not so easy for others. MC and Pr have a more "familiar" interface, but I really don't want to go there. It's tough enough explaining how X works, though I'm sure everyone will get it, but to add the fact that it requires 17 steps to accomplish what could be done in FCP7, (and AFAIK in MC or Pr) in 3 steps makes it even harder.

"CurrentVersion.fcpproject" is the file they'd move from machine to machine. See this, Steve Martin talk about this exact thing in here.
www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/tutorials/872-s...istance-with-dropbox