how do you share one MP3 file across multiple projects

Hi

I am a new user to FCPX and am a little confused over libraries and events. I want to import one MP3 file that is going to be used across multiple projects (each sitting in their own event) When I have tried this, it loads into the source media folder under the first event, and then if I import to the second event the clip shows in the browser but the file doesn't show in the library. It also doesn't appear under the source media folder of the second event. (which I wouldn't want anyway as that would be duplicating the stored data I guess, like the library would then contain two copies of the same file?

So I am thinking that maybe I imported it incorrectly, shouldn't it show in the main library folder, and then it is available to individual events. My concern is if I lost, or forgot and trashed the first event, all the other events using that file would lose their audio.

Would love some simple explanation thanks

When you import the MP3 it's in an event. It can be used in any project in any event in the sane library. When you select the library you see all its contents in the browser organized in events, basically the same structure that's in the libraries panel. The MP3 file such appear in a search of the library.

It can be a bit confusing

Ok the order in FCPx is: A Library contains Events, Events contain clips or projects or compounds.

So a clip, wether audio or video, always lives in an Event. A clip in an Event can be used in a project in that same Event or in a project in a diff Event but all must be in the same Library.

If you were to copy a clip (or edit it into a Project) from an Event in Library A to an Event in Library B FCPx always makes a copy because it wants every Library to contain all clips necessary for any Project in that Library. A clip can be in a diff Event to where the Project is that uses this clip but both need to be in the same Library. So a clip can never be in Library A, Event A1 when used in Library B, Event B1!

The way to not duplicate physical media between Libraries is to store that media externally. FCPx than only creates small reference files inside the Library/Event to point to that one physical media.

To achieve this before importing media is to tell FCPx to leave media 'in place' or to specify a folder on your drives to store it too. (To keep all media within a Library you would choose 'copy to 'current' Library)

If you already imported the clip into the Library you can put it outside the Library by using 'Consolidate Event files' and specify a folder on your drive. (Be careful if there are other clips in that Event because all will be moved by this command.

If you now want to use this clip in Library A, stored externally in a folder, in Library B you either just drag it from one Library to the other and FCPx will tell you that it needs to copy rather than move - OR you import the media and select 'leave in place'. What happens than is that only a new small reference file is created in Library B pointing to the external media on your hard drive.

This way you only have one physical media file occurrence used by several Libraries.

If you wish to archive or move a Library to a diff computer and do not copy the media separately the clip would go offline because FCPx only has reference files inside the Library.
What you can do than is to use 'Consolidate Library media' and choose the name of the Library as the destination. Because your media is stored externally FCPx will make a copy and store it inside the Library>Event (increasing the file size of the Library! because it will now contain physical media not just reference files) and leave the external media in place. Reason for this is because FCPx doesn't know if this media might be used in another Library and if it would move it, all other Libraries would go offline for that/these clips.

I haven't covered all scenarios but I hope this might help understand the organisation FCPx uses now.

Happy editing

Thanks very much for the clear information and my apologies for not saying thanks earlier, got a bit busy.