Any knowledgeable fcpx to the rescue please...

Guys,
I fear my questions can only show up a lack of knowledge of the software - I really do try though. I've been working on final cut for 6 years now, but I am truly beaten by fcpx.

After numerous failed attempts at trying to locate a problematic clip in a timeline that would not export (by cutting out pieces away one at a time and trying to export, until I found the problem clip), I then found the problem area, and went back to a backup of the latest complete timeline in order to replace the problematic clip and re-try exporting. (replacing the event file, 'CurrentVersion', with the latest full correct one I made, a few hours earlier).
However, ... when I opened this file, it loaded up a timeline dating back 2 weeks - prior to any post work done on it, even though the file has a 'modified' date from today. I tried loading other backups (from two hours earlier), and same 2 week old timeline loaded up, and same for all my backup event files.
I must admit I simply don't understand the system, but I have worked this way for 18 months now without seeing this kind of problem. Something about an old project file? ...

Any suggestions as to how/why it is doing it, very gratefully received.
Many thanks.

Where did you get those backup Project files? From a backup utility such as Backups or ProVersioner?

If you have a corrupt clip on your timeline preventing you to export the edit all you have to do is to make a duplicate of this Project (without the render files), find and replace (or remove) the corrupt clip and export. I don't understand why you are using an older backup file of the project to do this.

- Ronny

Hello,

The files I backed-up are not project files but the 'currentversion's from the events folder. And I keep copies myself without use of a software. I used this 'manual' system since fcpx came out, and they usually load fine.

I DID duplicate my project once I knew there was a corrupt clip. But to find the corrupt clip (since it didn't physically show up anywhere, nor did fcpx indicate any area of problem on each freeze), I had to keep deleting clips until I found the problem area, thus losing the full edit on that duplicate project.
When I went back to my original project, (after about 6 crashes) the edit there was 2 weeks old.
So I went back to my event files backups that I manually keep, and instead of loading that day's edit (like it always used to) ...they all loaded the exact same 2 week-old edit, even though the creation date of those files was the same day...
Obviously something I did was wrong, what I don't understand is why this problem now (I've been using this same 'manual system for 18 months now), and if, basically, I have lost 2 weeks work.
thanks

Ouch, that's a scary experience indeed. But I really don't understand your workflow.

You say you don't backup your project files but you backup the "CurrentVersion" files from your Event? The Event only contains the original media and no information about your actual edit. So you cannot restore a Project by opening an backup Event file. This means that you are really working without any backup safety net. But all is not lost yet. Let's take this from the start.

You had an original Project (edit) that had a corrupt clip.
You have duplicated this Project and you have deleted clips from this duplicate Project to find out where the corrupt clip could be situated.

So now you have two Projects:
- One original Project that contains your complete edit including the corrupted clip
- One duplicate Project from which you have deleted clips

You say that when you tried to open the original Project again you got crashes. These were possibly caused by the corrupt clip inside it. And when it finally opened your Timeline was empty. That's a bummer indeed. This means you now have a corrupt Project file.

As you only have backups of your "CurrentVersion.fcpevent" files (which are useless for restoring a Project) and you don't have any backups of your actual Project which is corrupt, there is not much you can do except trying to restore the original project from the FCPX Project Backup File:

1. Open the the Final Cut Projects folder and find the corresponding folder to your corrupt Project.

2. In that folder you will see "CurrentVersion.fcpproject". Above that, you should see a "backups" folder.

3. Rename the "CurrentVersion.fcpproject" file to "Problematic.fcpproject" and move it out of that directory (or just trash it).

4. Duplicate the backup Project file and move the duplicate file to the root level of your Project folder.

5. Rename the file to "CurrentVersion.fcpproject".

6. Launch FCPX and see if your Project opens.

- If the Project opens and your edit is intact, IMMEDIATELY create a duplicate from the Project and remove the corrupt clip from the Project.

- If the Project shows up in your Project Library but it crashes as soon as you open it, post back for further instructions because this can be solved.

- If the Project opens and it still shows an empty timeline: I think you are screwed, but post back anyway so I can get you in contact with someone.



- Ronny

As Ronny said:
you have Events and Projects.

Events are like media Pools. Your Event information contains information about waveforms, analytical data, thumbnails, ratings and keyword organisations.

Your Edits are all stored in the Projects folder(s), unless you made your edits in Compound Clips in the Event.

Also check out some of the more regular backup solutions, like Digital Rebellions Pro Versioner, and there is another Backup software somewhere on the Mac App Store I believe.

I think Digital Rebellion also has a program in their Pro Maintenance Tools or Pro Media Tools for looking out for corrupt clips in a timeline. I don't have direct experience though, to know if its reliable or not.

Ronny,

I am a little confused about the event files that theoretically do not store any info on the edit...
I have a series of backedup event files I call 'part 1', part 2', which is my feature film divided into parts.
To work on one or other part, I just replace the 'currentversion' in the event folder, and it opens up the relevant part (completely different edit to the other files).
So I don't understand where, then, the edit info is kept, if I can change so easily from one edit to the other without ever touching the project file.
Knowing this, might help understand what is happening.

Just one thing; when I go back to my original timeline, it isn't empty, I have the entire edit, but ...one that dates back 2 weeks! ... It's all there! just old edits and effects...
I am totally confused by this....

I just read the posr above that says 'unless you made your edit in compound clips'
My edit, in fact, is within one big compound clip.
It's just what i inside that compound clip is what I had worked on two weeks earlier, not the latest changes....

Ah, I see. Now I fully understand why you are having this issue.

With all due respect, I'm sorry to say this workflow is absolutely wrong.

You should never, ever, and I'm going to say it once more: NEVER put your entire edit in a compound clip without having the same edit in a real Project timeline. At least not as long as FCPX is working like it does now, with separate Event and Project folders (which might change in the future, or not). The way FCPX works at this time you can keep a copy of your edit as a CC in your Event, but not having a real Project Timeline for your edit is a recipe for total disaster.

To try and restore your CC you could try to replace your CurrentVersion.fcpevent file with the Backup file you can find in the Final Cut Events folder (just follow exactly the same procedure as I have explained for the Project Backup file).

If this works and you get your edit back, the first thing you must do is create a new Project, open the Compound Clip in its timeline and copy the contents of the CC over to the Project Timeline. From there you should continue to work in the Project Timeline and not in the Compound Clip.

If this does not work send me a PM so I can direct you to someone at Apple who has more experience in these matters.

- Ronny

Hi reville From Australia
have you come across the fcpx xml to logic x xml transfer issue where the in an out points are not retained with synchronized clips?
Cheers Reville

Hi Ronny,

In fact, my 'workflow' (for want of a better word) is not really one: I started my 5th feature movie at the exact time fcpx came out, and thought at the time (I know, but I was young, I was foolish), that I would naturally give up fcp 7, and 'progress'. The first few weeks we lived together in a state of innocence. Then after months, the reality set in, but it was too late. It was in the utter confusion/chaos of the first versions that my 'workflow' was born. Since then, I was somewhat depressed and unmotivated, and didn't do all the homework, I guess waiting for such advanced things as ...automatic useful backups from fcpx, that never came. I then thought, it doesn't matter, there's no little left to do, for my next project I'll do it right...

I will continue to try and get back the 2 weeks work somehow, follow suggestions by you, and if not I will indeed send a message. Trouble is, we premiere in 5 days in Buenos Aires' biggest cinema...
It looks like I may have to show my 'work in progress'.
Thanks for help, as always.

Hi Ivan,

I understand your frustration. FCPX has indeed evolved a lot since the first versions, but backups have never been its biggest strength :dry:

I have been talking to lots of people lately and I'm quite confident there may be a change in FCPX media management very soon. It does have a really solid media management foundation, but the Events and Projects structure has not been perfect up till now, that's the least we can say.

I'm sorry you have lost so much work due to not having a Project file to rely on. You are indeed learning it the hard way... Corrupt Events can be rebuilt, but any Compound Clips inside them are always lost. That's why I have always warned people against depending on CCs inside an Event. Let's hope the next major update will get this sorted out once and for all.

- Ronny

Hi Reville,

The FCPXML to Logic X workflow is not fully developed at this stage. Although the XML exported from FCPX contains all necessary information Logic Pro X does not translate everything correctly.

At this moment the only reliable way for getting a complex FCPX project into Logic X is to export an FCPXML from FCPX and convert the XML to AAF using X2Pro. Then you import the AAF into Logic Pro X and everything will work. I'm vey confident this issue will be addressed very soon.

- Ronny