library size

I'd like to hear consensus on library size and using external media. I have found that on large projects, if I import all my media into a library that the response times are slower. My initial reaction to the notion of libraries was - great, now I can have everything in one place and simply move that library around (for archiving, etc - all in one place. I'm wondering now if it makes more sense to have the library essentially filled with reference files instead and keep all my media separate. Keep all the media in the same folder as the library, but not in the library. Then when I archive (or give to another editor) - move the library and the media folder together. But for smaller projects, just have it all in one library. Does this make any sense? thx

Hey, Parker

I have experience with large projects using both methods. For personal projects at home I always use managed Libraries. For projects at work, we always use external media- so that others can easily access the files.

There would appear to be similar performance either way. I have not noticed any significant difference that I would say was because of Managed Libraries vs. external Libraries.

Where I have noticed slow-downs would be in the use of compound clips within events. My experience is that when we increase the number and complexity of compound clips within the events contained in a Library- we get proportionate slow-downs in performance.

Another curious thing I've noticed is that projects that have been converted from FCP7 usually are far less responsive than I would otherwise expect. This would appear to be an issue with sequence markers originated in FCP7, but I'm not sure. (I have sent xml to the publishers of 7toX, and there have been updates that have addressed some of the problems.)

Is there any other circumstance that may be causing your slower performance? Are you using 3rd party plug-ins?

Another thing i would double check is font conflicts or corrupt fonts. I know it's not supposed to be an issue any more, but I still seem to get speed boosts whenever I clean out my FontBook data.

Cheers,
Scott M

It is convenient to have managed media in FCPX because files won't go missing or have to reconnect when moving the Library. Your folder idea that contains the media & FCPX Library would also work. Are you working in a collaborative environment?


Personally, my large projects are all managed within the Library for simplicity. Although, I am having major slowdowns when loading the project but I think it has something to do with the project being started on a pre-10.1.1 version. even after creating a new Library & Projects in 10.1.1 & copy & paste my timeline...it's still slow (cutting on a Late 2012 iMac 3.4Ghz 32GB RAM / 2GB VRAM / Media on Pegasus R6).

Thanks. These are very helpful responses. I can't really pinpoint what is slowing things down for me. I thought it was titles I had customized in Motion but I'm not so sure any more. I do some collaborating, but whether the files are in the libraries or in a folder next to the library shouldn't really affect the work flow. I tend to work with really big projects so keeping the files outside of the libraries but available if I need them seems like a good way to go. I'll see how it works going forward. thx

Here's an example of a library that feels too big. I shot a few concerts and one of them I created multi cam edits for. I also have a bunch of interviews. I have a total of 98 GB of files which I imported into the library. It isn't slow now, but I haven't done any editing yet. I'm guessing it's going to slow down once I start adding titles, compound clips, pictures, etc.

Without knowing exactly why, I feel like I'm better off if l had left the files as external - in a folder within a folder that also contains - in another folder - all the media associated with this project . I probably will only use parts of each concert so importing all of them into the library itself seems unnecessary at this point. Then I would have had a small library that draws on media that is right there (I know the physical difference doesn't mean anything, but psychologically ...). My hope would be that this would make the project zippier - although I don't know that that's true. Then at the end of the edit, I could bring in to the library all the media files that are used in the edit. I could then archive just the library itself or the whole lot.

I'd like to try and copy the events to a new library (does anyone else have troubles typing the word "library"?) and leave the media in it's original folders, but I don't think I can do that. Once you've imported the media into a library, the only way to copy that event is to copy the media along with it, yes? Sorry this is so long!

You can consolidate all the media out of a Library to any Folder you like.

I started off with a managed Library but then switched to external which I now prefer.

Have noticed no difference in speed at all.

So what made you switch?