Does FCPX decide on its own whether optimized files are necessary?

Even if I choose "create optimized media" for importing does FCPX decide on its own whether optimized files are needed? I ask this because it seems that some of my imported files which were in Animation codec don't allow me to click them and "create optimized file". And when I open up my Library package contents, I see no equivalent file in the "optimized media" folder.

Am I misunderstanding something? I could imagine that FCPX might decide on my behalf that it can play the original file just fine, even if I asked for it to create optimized files... but Animation codec has a very high data rate and can only cause problems during playback once i start stacking up multiple layers.

Thanks,
Victor

If the media is native fcpx will not allow optimization for some obscure reason. I use JVC exdcam ex 35 an it is native. I want to use optimized so I have to use MPEG streamclip to convert to Pro Res 422. before import my clips. Native clip is not optimized clip. This is not a bug but a pure decision from Apple.

Hi Victro,

"Create optimized media" will be dimmed if FCP X thinks your system can play back the original footage without any problems. This is mostly the case for HDV, DV, DVCPRO HD and XDCAM HD/EX/HD422 footage.

As I have not dealt with video in the Animation codec for a long time now I was not aware that FCP X would refuse to create optimized media for this format as well. If "Create optimized media" is greyed out you either will have to work with it in its native format, convert it to ProRes 422 (4444 if you need alpha channel), or if the file comes from a motion graphics artist you can ask them to deliver ProRes instead of Animation. Honestly, Animation is not something we often see anymore because there are much more efficient codecs nowadays.

- Ronny