proxy media and optimize at end of edit?

I'm just discovering how much bigger the optimized media files are than the proxy media files - 126gb vs 15gb on my latest project. I have lot more interviews to go and would prefer to keep the file sizes down. Is there a downside to only importing proxy media and then optimizing for the final output? So far I haven't noticed a big drop off in image quality and it doesn't seem to operate any slower on my MacPro. I haven't tried it yet on my MacBookPro. Is color grading any harder using proxy media? I could always just optimize those clips that need work, no?

My workflow as I see it now would have me archive my footage from the camera directly to my archive drives and then import my footage to my edit drive enabling the Copy Files to Final Cut Event and also Create Proxy Media but not Optimize Media. Then I have what I need to optimize later. Does that make sense?

Actually if you edit with proxy there is no reason to create optimized media. The only reason to create optimized media is to improve performance. But as you found out proxy has the same result.

Proxy in fcpx is a low data rate prores at 1/4 resolution of the original media (some people call it half resolution) which is 940x540 for 1080p projects.

I just finished a project shot on a 7d. I created proxy and used it edit, ad titles, stabilize and color correct. (and i nevere rendered) Once I received approval from the client I switched batch to original media to check the shots at full resolution for any sharpening needs, etc.

Then I exported my final full res project, and the quality was fantastic.

Like I said I perfer to turn off background rendering, because rendering it about 10x faster on export that it is on the timeline.

I hope this helps.

Thanks. That is very helpful.

So as long as I have the original media copied to the Events folder, I can duplicate my Events folder and my Project folders to another drive, yes? Then I can share the project with another editor without having to deal with the optimized media files. And if they struggle with playback on their computer, they can optimize the media themselves?

Oh yes, I would STRONGLY encourage you to copy files to the FCP Events folder and therefore let FCP X manage your media for this kind of workflow. If you didn't do it already you can choose File > Organize Event Files and it will take care of it.

Then you can share that event & project with another editor, and it will include the Proxy files you generated, (which should be smaller than the original media) so they will have little reason to create optimized media.

One "gotcha" is that if you copy an event/project to another drive in the Finder, and then have both of those events open in FCP X at the same time... well it is not pretty. FCP X assigns and ID to each event, and it will then see two event with the same ID... and bad things could happen. It is better to just let FCP X do the media management including duplicating an event/project to another drive.

Thanks. That's great.

One more question - if I've copied an event and projects from one drive to another and then I add media to that event later on, do I need to make a new copy of that event and move it to the other drive? Or when I make a copy of the projects and add the associated media, does that new media simply transfer over to the other drive into the event folder.

It's all in the user manual.
help.apple.com/finalcutpro/mac/10.0.1/#ver397277a3
help.apple.com/finalcutpro/mac/10.0.1/#ver79aa468d

[quote="tpayton" post=2411
I just finished a project shot on a 7d. I created proxy and used it edit, ad titles, stabilize and color correct. (and i nevere rendered) Once I received approval from the client I switched batch to original media to check the shots at full resolution for any sharpening needs, etc.

Then I exported my final full res project, and the quality was fantastic.
[/quote]

Hello TPayton,
Hello FORUM,

this is my very first post here. So please take into consideration, that I'm a newbie and may ask a very dumb question.
I thought, I know my way around in FCP X. But the second I've read your post, it hit me. Right now I'm facing quality issues while rendering/ exporting and maybe I do something wrong in the workflow?

As you suggested, I've done the Proxy editing. So in Preferences PROXY is chosen and once I add media, FCP x renders it down to proxy before providing it for editing. So far, so good.
Usually after the last final touch of a project I simply hit Apple key + E (export) and then choose "default settings" - using a german version, hope that explains it. So basically a Quicktime file with my settings:
The source files are Apple intermediate codec Full HD 30fps. Unfortunately I experience quality issues with my outcome file. Compared to the source file, it is very very bad. The attached file shows LEFT (default settings) MIDDLE (ProRes 422 HD) and RIGHT (source).

You mentioned "switch back to Original" and that s the part the bugs me. I was under the impression, that FCPX uses the Original files to while exporting. At the same time I always wondered, why it was so fast.
Anyhow, Where do I "switch" back?

Looking forward to your reply.

File / pic
roederhallo.de/keynote/HDVgl.png

droeder wrote: Unfortunately I experience quality issues with my outcome file. Compared to the source file, it is very very bad. The attached file shows LEFT (default settings) MIDDLE (ProRes 422 HD) and RIGHT (source).

You mentioned "switch back to Original" and that s the part the bugs me. I was under the impression, that FCPX uses the Original files to while exporting. At the same time I always wondered, why it was so fast.
Anyhow, Where do I "switch" back?

Looking forward to your reply.

File / pic
roederhallo.de/keynote/HDVgl.png

I was wondering this as well. The fact that FCPX does not automatically switch back to the original media when exporting is really annoying, as I also just finished a project I edited using proxy media and ended up with an exported file that had frighteningly noticeable pixelation.

Pansa wrote: I was wondering this as well. The fact that FCPX does not automatically switch back to the original media when exporting is really annoying, as I also just finished a project I edited using proxy media and ended up with an exported file that had frighteningly noticeable pixelation.

How does I switch back?

Preferences, switch playback from Proxy to Optimize.

If you think this is a pain, you should have seen the hoops we had to jump through in previous versions. This method is a breeze.

Select Final Cut Pro > Preferences > Playback

Select Use Proxy Media to work with the proxies you have created
Select Use Original or Optimized Media to work with the full resolution media

Before exporting always select Use Original or optimized Media in the Playback Preferences to make sure that FCP10 uses the original or optimized media for your export.

I agree with Ben that this method is a huge relief if you compare it with editing with proxies in previous versions.

Before exporting you ALWAYS should set your playback preferences back to original/optimized media to do a final check of your finished edit using the full quality full resolution media. Proxies do not show you the true quality of your media, which can have an influence on how certain filters and color corrections look. That's why you need to do a final check at full quality. This is the case with any editing or compositing application.