Best way to edit from 2 machines?

I have a TOTR imac 27" which I currently do all my editing on, i occasionally use my old 2010 MBP but its just not fast enough with FCPX.

However, just ordered the 15" MBP i7 retina, 16gb ram etc and wondered what the best way to edit certain small projects in FCPX away from home (sometimes I need a change of scenery to inspire me rather than my home office! sad i know)

in essence I want to edit on the iMac, take it away or access it from elsewhere on the MBP etc then finish it again on the iMac?

Assuming your on at least version 10.1 of FCPX, what you want to do can be quite easy and reliable. Use a managed Library. That is, import all the footage into the library rather than reference external locations for your media. Then it is a matter of copying just one file, the Library, between the iMac and your rMBP or the portable drive you want to connect to the rMBP.

Thanks Bobbyco

So if i copy the footage onto an external hard, do my edits, and import or copy the library back over to my iMac, will it not look for the portable hard drive location?

Two choices once working on the MBP is done.

1- Export Project as XML to the iMac.
or
2- Open FCPX on iMac with portable drive connected, copy Project over to the iMac Library.

If both Libraries are identical (media, collections, etc), I don't think you'd need to reconnect media. Worth a try.

I wouldn't recommend XML (though I love it for my purposes).
With XML you might lose some settings.

- Andreas

interested on this topic as well, so I have an additional question that may be related (sorry for the hi-jack)

would this be a good use of "proxy" to minimize the data movement between 2 machines?

Absolutely! I'd only load proxies on the portable drive with the MBP. Good idea!

I've done editing on the road, and XML has worked out great. But I'm not doing complex stuff on the road, only simple edits. When it gets to the stage where XML won't carry over some data, I'm always on my desktop finishing. Depends on how complex and deep the edits are becoming.

Simply copying a Project between identical Libraries in theory should work just fine, though.

Just this weekend I did this with a project. I started the project on the New Mac Pro with a managed library. I had the app generate optimized media for everything imported. Then I transferred the library to an external drive (about 200gbs total) and connected the drive to my MbPr. I used Final Cut Library Manager to delete all optimized media from the library making it about 50gbs and transferred it to my internal SSD. I made edits on the laptop while traveling, then when I got back to my home station I exported an XML from the MBPr and imported on the New Mac Pro and everything transferred over fine.

thanks everyone..Makes sense what you have said so far, though I cannot remember how to make proxy files 'after' I have already imported (will have to remember not to add any effects as I dont want to clog up the MBP with effects like I have done with my iMac!)

Now if I wanted to edit from my new MBP downstairs via the wifi network (as I store all my libraries on an external hard drive), is that workable or would it make more sense taking the external hard drive with me??

To create proxies from already imported footage: select the clips in the Browser, R-click the selection and choose "Transcode Media".

Editing over WiFi is not workable, not reliable and not safe. WiFi simply is too slow.

- Ronny

Thanks Ronny

did think it was a silly suggestion but I think my fingers typed before my brain thought :lol:

So if I am going to transfer the library on to a portable drive, should i go for a thunderbolt device or will usb be fast enough?

If you are going to edit from that drive Thunderbolt is your best choice, next comes USB3. Never edit from a USB2 drive.

- Ronny

Would you go for a portable thunderbolt like this

G-Technology G-Drive Mobile Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 1TB Hard Drive

OR a powered option

LaCie 3TB d2 USB 3.0/Thunderbolt Series Hard Drive

or is it a matter of preference?

I always prefer a powered drive, but that's indeed a matter of preference. I have worked with a Lacie d2 TBolt drive before, and it's fast.

- Ronny

Thunderbolt. Considering your investment in the latest gear, and considering time is money, Thunderbolt.
Use USB3 to backup, Tbolt to edit.

There are always tradeoffs.
Tbolt bus powered drives, more portability, possible performance hit, impact on rMBP battery.
Or, Ext. powered drive, yet another wire getting in the way and tethering you :huh:

I think bus powered is fine for you since you say you just want a change of scenery once in a while. Also you say "small" projects.

Thanks gents

Bobbyco you're correct, I got carried away there, although once or twice a year I have had to film in Spain or Portugal and editing on my mid 2010 MBP was painful, sometimes all night staying up painful!

Not ventured into thunderbolt storage as yet, still using USB 3, so I guess I was starting to consider thunderbolt storage for my imac and a portable thunderbolt storage for when I need to edit elsewhere...

My bank manager is going to hate me today!