Media Management/Archiving Question

New X user here. (Thanks to all of you for creating such a great X resource, by the way. )

Now, I've read over some media management tutorials and the online manuals, and I don't think there's a way to do this, but I wanted to make sure.

Basically, is it possible to "trim/consolidate" FCPX projects for archiving using only the media (with handles) used in a project, rather than archiving the entire clips used? This was possible with FCP, but with X it seems like we can only archive projects to include the entire clip, even if we've only used a small portion of it in our timeline.

Any thoughts?


Cheers!

Sadly you are correct. At present you cannot consolidate media with handles.

Ah, that's unfortunate. Not a deal-breaker for me, as I tend to archive everything, but others I know really need to be able to "trim" a project for archiving.

Thanks.

If you really have huge clips and only use portions you will habe to render a subclip out. Then again HD space is cheap. I often have hours of GoPro stuff and only use seconds of it. Since I hardly ever optimize it (make ProRes masters) I don't feel it really.
If you have highQ stuff like a reality TV show would.....doesn't look like you have a choice but buy tons of harddrives for archiving......

Whilst on the media management line of thought...

The archiving of projects with linked media still seems in 10.0.7 mode for me...

I duplicated a project from one drive to another which included Linked Media - so let's say Drive A has an event that refers to a large movie file called mix.mov in a folder called Rushes, and I have a Project called "Main" that is linked to that event. I duplicate that project "Main" that to Drive B using Duplicate Project. I select the option to Duplicate Project & Used Clips.

I'd have hoped that the linked media, or the used portion thereof, but in the duplicated version on Drive B, I get the project, and a SymLink (fancy alias) to the original rushes on Drive A. I've not created a stand-alone, self contained version that could be used as an archive, share or backup.

The Event on Drive B is relying on Drive A still.

'Ha! No problem' thinks I, select the Project on Drive B, and choose 'Consolidate Project Media' from the file menu. But it claims there's nothing to do as everything is still in place.

So I hoped 10.0.8 would fix the duplicating (archiving) of Projects with their media and solving the issue of ignoring linked media. Alas not.

Am I missing something?

EDIT: Yes, was missing something - different command required: ORGANISE EVENT FILES. This copies linked files into the Event. Not sure if I'm 100% with FCPX's choice of nomenclature, would have preferred 'Consolidate EVENT media', as there's nothing to organise with Organise Event Files - just a single modal dialogue.

Another suggestion for FCPX's 'Memory Hole' suggestion box.

User manual explicitly states you should consolidate an Event before moving/copying to another drive. Just saying...

And you're sayin' correct - but in this scenario, for both the original before duplication, and the copy it creates, when you select 'Consolidate Media', FCPX says "Meh, everything's fine."

Only selecting 'Organize Event Files' does the right thing - which actually Consolidates your Media.

So, it's a three step process - check first and Consolidate Media, then Duplicate with Media, then on the duplicate, select Organize Event Files.

I think that should be renamed 'Consolidate Event Files'.

Just suggestin'... :lol:

You're mentioning two different operations, too. So to clarify for myself:

"Consolidate Project Files" only works with Projects, not Events. It makes sure all media files are on one single hard drive. It does not replace links with original files.

"Organize Event Files" does replace links in an Event folder with a copy of the original media, and only works with Events, not Projects.

If you "copy" and Event, you copy it, as is.
If you want to replace links, "Organize Even Files".
If media referenced by a Project is spread out over several drives, "Consolidate Project Files" copies them all onto one single drive.

So to copy an Event to another drive, that contains links, you have a choice. Copy with links, or with original files? With links, just copy. With original files, "Organize Event Files" before, so replace the links in the original Event. "Organize..." after the copy, to the copy, to replace links in it, only.