a VERY simple way to improve MultiCam performance...

using a hardware set-up close to min.specs (MacMini, usb3 drives...), plus the megalomania to edit like the pros, I found this very simple trick, aside using proxies etc etc. :

I'm editing soccer games with up to 6 cams, a 'main' cam (manned), and a bundle of cheap unmanned devices. Usually I copy the SDcards content onto my usb3 drive (backup for future use etc)

In FCPX I then 'import' the main-cam and select my tiny, software Raid0 (two 2.5"/1TB Toshibas, Raid0 by DiscUtilities Raid-function) to import to. NO optimizing! On this Raid is my Event and the according Project.
the other sources are 'imported' as well, but NO transfer to my working drive, but selected 'keep on original drive' (= the usb3 drive).

I then create a MultiCam file (in FCPX settings, 'optimzed for Multicam' UNchecked!).

==> 6 streams of h264, not optimized nor proxied, 5 on a 'slow' drive - should result in stutter...
but...

What I've found is, you just have to hide the Cam Angle Preview!

In my special situation, I can edit 'blind folded': my main cam shows me the action; if I notice, I should use a diff. angle, I just use the short-cuts (1,2,3,4,5,6). I know my sources, 2/4/6 are left sided cams, 2+3 are the 'top' ones, 4/5 are the goal cams etc etc.-

As long as FCPX doesn't have to shovel video of 6 sources from a to b, plus has to display six diff. h264 streams simultaneously, performance is no issue!

Plus, import is a snap - FCPX just 'indexes' the files on the usb3 drive - done. .. ok, the final exports takes some time. :lol:

Yes, this is just 'cutting'; but it's real fun to read about other set-ups on other platforms, discussing all sorts of performance issues... and my tiny 500€ macMini handles here 6 streams of 'raw' AVCHD... real fun! and finally super-fast, due to as little copy/converting processes as neccessary.-

Karsten, great tip!