Sharing proxy library

HI,
I've a 52' documentary to edit, filmed with the new FS7 in 4K. I've ingested all the 3TB and i've made Proxy. All medias of the library are on external folder.
I want to give the same library to the film director but only the proxy medias. If i use a transfer library on an external drive, when i choose consolidate i can't choose only the proxies. If i copy/paste the library and only the proxy medias, i can't relink only proxy.
The only way to do that i've found, is to copy Library and media folder(except the original media) to an external drive with the exact same name of the original drive.

I'me sure you've a better solution

Same problems here.

Last time, I had to put manually the proxies in the library... But some proxies had to be made again.

Hi,

indeed FCPX miss a « copy only proxy media » command.

For now, I’d suggest to create proxies after having created the transfer library on the external disk.

1- Create the transfer library on the external disk, copy the media from the original library. As it’s external media, it will be left on the Raid.
2- Set storage location for transfer library on the external disk.
3- From this transfer library, create proxy media.

I found another interesting thing while I was testing a workflow : if you have already created proxy media in your library, AND if original media is on a disconnected drive, you can consolidate from transfer library, then logically only proxy media will be copied.
(FYI : www.fcp.co/forum/4-final-cut-pro-x-fcpx/...mount-of-media#59408 )

My understand of FCP X 10.1.4 is that you have use the Modify Settings button on the far right of the UI, under Library Properties, the Storage Locations.

In order for this to work, you have first delete the proxy files, then change the location of the Media storage location with the Modify settings to the new location, then select the Library, then File-Transcode Media.

It seems that proxy files cannot be transferred in the traditional sense as files, it is something that is unique to each machine, I am no expert but from watching Ripple Training and Larry Jordan, the advise is common, delete-new location-new set of proxy media.

I have sent feedback to Apple in this regard, the Library Properties Info Box has 3 sub categories, Media-Cache-Backups and really there should be a 4th. Proxy needs a separate location and not be bundled in with Media.

1) what can be made into a proxy? Standard video, means 422. 444.
2) what can't be made into proxy? Video with alpha channel (4444 – alpha will be lost), stills, audio files.
3) Can I create proxies manually? No.
4) can I replace existing proxies? Yes.
5) Can I reconnect proxies? Not really (see later).
6) What format do the proxies have? Half res ProRes LT.

Bringing all the short answers into a context you need to know how FCPX works.
You have to select where the proxies are stored – inside the library or in a dedicated Media Folder. These paths will be stored inside the library, finally only the path to internal proxies will be stored but the file in the internal lib is a sym link to the to the path of the media in the proxy folder of the external media folder.

Next important thing is to know that FCP X writes a flag into the lib SQL whether a proxy file is created or not!!!

Real dimensions and codec of proxies (and original) media) never will be relevant – only the file structure.
To replace a proxy it has to be at the same place the original was. An example a 4k file at half res is still 2k and that might be still too big for a small machine. You can take this proxy and make it half res and replace the original proxy with the new proxy. The new one MUST have the same name! You also can take the original file and create a new one at "half half res".
Knowing this you also can take a original video with alpha and create a new file with max half 2k res but ProRes HQ 4444. Then replace the existent proxy with the same rules as above.

To make things easier when sharing and the proxies are stored in an external media folder replace the proxies in the lib (the sym links) with your newly created proxies.

But that's all not a solution to create a "lib to go" in case you have stills and audio files since those never can't be made into a proxy. Depending on their file location you need to consolidate to an external media folder. This needs to be transported with the lib and everything needs to be reconnected on the target machine.

So how to create a real "lib to go" which works?
The answer is pretty simple from that what we learned above, First create some Compressor templates for 444, 422 sources and 4444 media. Create one for stills as well.

Close FCP. Create a duplicate of your library in Finder. This is important to keep identical IDs inside the lib. After completing the steps below create a zip archive of the dub and delete the original dub, so FCP X won't get confused.

Sort your media inside the Media folder of the dub. Drag the sorted media to the matching Compressor template you created before - without audio files. All should be saved under exactly to same name as the original file in an external folder.

Now replace the original media in the dub. Your "lib to go" is ready to go - always assuming that you need the shared lib only for roughs.
To share the changes with the "main" station use XML – in this case assuming you are using 10.1.x.

I have an app created long, long time ago which automates (at least parts of) the steps. It didn't do it's job cause of the changes in OS and FCPX. Ronny tested the latest version end of last year which at least created the "Matching Proxies" fine. But I gave up on this app since there was no real need for it obviously. If you are interested in such a kind of app drop me an email. Dependent on the feedback I will start over again.

- Andreas

Thank you for the explanation.

My submission to Apple through the feedback page was to separate the proxy from the original media, a sort of scratch disk idea. As I understand proxy files are really temporary files, designed to be destroyed and re-created as and when needed.

As I understood from Ripple tutorials, you do the method as I explained, this creates proxy files on the portable drive, then you edit, but it here at this point I get confused with the timelines and such, how to get the re-edited timeline back onto the main Mac...

Maybe an aspect of FCP X that will be updated soon...fingers crossed..

MsJustine wrote: Thank you for the explanation.

My submission to Apple through the feedback page was to separate the proxy from the original media, a sort of scratch disk idea. As I understand proxy files are really temporary files, designed to be destroyed and re-created as and when needed.

That's true if you use the FCPX way. So don't touch proxies within a lib created the way I described.

MsJustine wrote: As I understood from Ripple tutorials, you do the method as I explained, this creates proxy files on the portable drive, then you edit, but it here at this point I get confused with the timelines and such, how to get the re-edited timeline back onto the main Mac...

The Ripple tutorials assume that you only use "standard video". My approach is totally different. Re-read what I've written.

MsJustine wrote: Maybe an aspect of FCP X that will be updated soon...fingers crossed..

Lets hope.

- Andreas

Thanks a lot Andreas for this great explanation and those tips.
It'll be a good improvement if we should consolidate a proxy only library, as simple as we use proxies on the main station.