Event with Duplicate Clips of everything

I used the Consolidate Project Media option to try and get media from several different drives into one location. Now, in my main event, I have each clip in the entire event (a wedding) TWICE. Is there a quick way to choose to delete a duplicate so I don't use twice the drive space necessary. I know I can manually go in and choose each one and delete them, but... there must be another way. I pray.

:ohmy:

When you say "main event," do you mean you keep all of your files for every project in one event? If so, I highly recommend you create a new event for each project in the future. If not, disregard.

Did you have separate events on two drives with the same media? If so, that is why you have duplicates. If not, check to see if they are exact duplicates. By this, I mean "Reveal in Finder" to see if there is actually another file with (almost) same file name, file size, etc. If they are exact duplicates, you'll have to check to see which files are being referenced in your projects, then delete the ones that are unused. As of now, there isn't a way to quickly list all used media from a project within FCP X.

Since the duplicates are all in one event, what I suggest is this (proceed with caution):

1. Back up your events and project files (.fcpproject and .fcpevent files) before you do anything. If you have space, back up your media too.
2. Use myFiles to list all used media for your project (if you have multiple projects using the wedding media, this will be more confusing). To use myFiles, you simply open your .fcpproject file in the app and it will give you a list of all used media.
3. Move the unused wedding media (the duplicates) to the trash (but don't empty yet) in the Finder. FCP X should be open for this. You'll have to manually check the filenames against the list in order to determine which are duplicates.
4. If you did it correctly, your deleted duplicates should show as offline in the event in FCP X.
5. Before you delete anything in FCP X or empty the trash, check all of your projects and make sure nothing is offline.
6. After you have verified everything is good, you can delete the offline clips from the event in FCP X.
7. If this doesn't go smoothly, you may have to restore your backups and move the trashed media back into the Original Media folder.

One thing I didn't address is whether you're using optimized media. If you're using optimized media, you'll have to delete two duplicates in the Finder for each duplicate clip in the event, since FCP X will fall back on the original media if you delete the optimized media. Keep this in mind.

I will try this method. My main issue is with duplicating events when I'm going between desktop and laptop on the same project. I do have separate events for each video I work on. I believe, going forward, that the best method for this will be to use the "Move Project" function. Another idea I had was to have a copy of the event on both computers, so no matter which one you're working on, the media is there for you to use.

The reason I used the "Consolidate Media" function was because my project was showing 3 different Events it was referencing. I thought by consolidating them into 1 event, it would possibly "weed out" the duplicates, thus truly consolidating the media into 1 event.

Consolidate literally copies every clip, duplicate or not.

"As of now, there isn't a way to quickly list all used media from a project within FCP X."

Actually, there is now...

www.spherico.com/filmtools/myFiles/

If you read my post, I mentioned myFiles for my "solution." I said "within" FCP X. myFiles doesn't generate anything inside FCP X. It just gives you a list that you can import into a spreadsheet.

It would be nice if there was a way to generate a smart collection within the event that shows the used media. I've already submitted feedback on this to Apple. I think we'll have a better solution soon, maybe by 10.0.9.

Fair Enough...

One thing I don't totally understand is why, when I look at my referenced events in a project, it shows 14 items missing, although I've consolidated the event. 3 events are involved. Funny enough, when I plug in an external drive, the missing items re-connect. So, the "missing items" are only pointers/aliases to the actual media. Why wouldn't it pull the *actual media* into the event? Again, it seems to not truly consolidate anything that's practical.

I think a better solution for weeding out the duplicates in my situation would be the use the "Duplicate Project" function. I can then choose the "Project + Used Clips only" and this should narrow it down to essentials.

:huh: