Media Consolidation for Online Delivery

Hey knowledgeable ones!

Having just moved up to 10.1.3, I wondered if someone here could help me out with conforms.

Under 10.1.1 I would copy a final edit to a new library on the same drive, then "consolidate project files" to an external drive, which would give me a single folder with all the audio and video media for that project.

Under 10.1.3, it seems this process has changed a bit-

1. I do the same thing and create a new library and copy my online project to it.

2. Click on the library in the Event Browser and in the Inspector change my media location to the external drive, create a new location called MEDIA, and then hit Consolidate.

the only difference I've noticed is that wherein the old way, right in the external MEDIA folder were all the files; under 10.1.3, now within Media is "Final Cut Original Media" folder, and within that dated folders within that when the media was I guess brought into the Event.

It's not quite as clean a structure for the online guys, but everything does relink find when you open the XML in Resolve.

Am I missing something, or is this the easiest way to go?

That's about it.

I wonder what the rational is for having the Original Media folder separating files by date. Everything relinks in Resolve fine, but it the single-level folder from pre 10.1.2 seemed cleaner.

Because that is an external folder, outside of the Library "package", and not really managed. There is no real database for that external folder, so it keeps track with a folder hierarchy. That may change in the future as the system matures.

Thanks, Ben.

I seem to remember someone going thru the new media management options... was it Ripple?

I was worried about moving files vs copying them in this new paradigm. I can only assume that the old adage holds- if you consolidate to another drive, it copies the files. If you consolidate to the same drive, it moves the files. Is that still correct?

1st, you can copy to a new Library on the same, or different drive, and Consolidate, just like before. With the latest version we have additional options. You can still do it the old way.

When you go in to the Library Settings, and set Media to an external folder, you now have a hybrid system. It is basically External Media, semi-managed by FCPX via Finder folder structures. From that point on only, what is imported goes to that external folder. Anything imported previously stays inside the Library as Managed Media. "Hybrid"

Until you Consolidate, then the managed media is MOVED to the external folder, and it is all now External Media.

Change the Library Setting for Media back to Library, do a Consolidate, and it is all COPIED into the Library and becomes Managed Media.

FCPX will not move or delete anything external from the Library, only copy from outside to inside. Only things inside the Library can get moved or deleted.

Not sure that answers your question, but, there's the information.

And yes, Ripple and everyone else has posted videos and articles about Library Settings.