FCPX with OS upgrading

Hi!

I've been very reluctant with Mac OS upgrades but it seems that I have to do that if I want my X2Pro Audio convert app to work - have to get AAF file to sound studio but FCPX itself doesn't support this need but X2Pro requires OS upgrade.

Since my home iMac computer became extremely slow after an OS upgrade I have not dared to upgraded my Mac Pro since 10.6.8 - long time ago.

Can anyone please suggest what is the best to be done with upgrades? Is it even possible to upgrade from 10.6 to 10.8 if there are all the Yosemites and El Capitans around? I'm not just afraid of the computer becoming slow after the upgrade but I'm also afraid to loose my big FCPX project which now needs to get to sound studio and get finished.

Or may be there are other ways of getting AAF file to sound studio without using X2Pro app?

Really on 10.6.8? What application version are you using?

As a retired IT engineer (or so I try to be), I can tell you from many, many years of experience that Apple OS upgrades don't normally, by themselves, make a system slower. That usually indicates a different problem. The OS upgrade may make other issues show themselves more, though.

What year is your iMac, and what are its specs?

Here's some things to look at that effect system performance, regardless of OS version.

Be sure you Mac is compatible with the OS version you're upgrading to.

Be sure all drives have at least 10-15% of their total capacity left as free space, PLUS enough room for project, media, and other files the end user works with directly.

Be sure you have a minimum of 16GB RAM, if not more.

Be sure you have a powerful enough GPU.

Be sure spinning disc drives are 7200rpm.

Be sure all libraries, project files, media are on a very FAST secondary drive, not the system drive.

Run Disk Utility to Repair drives once a week, and run Disk Warrior to repair all drive directories once a month.

OS X 10.11.3 is very stable and fast, as are the apps and plugins updated to be compatible with it. OS X 10.6 isn't doing you any favors, to be honest.

Hi Briesmas
In addition to all of the other suggestions there a few other things to be aware of.

You don't mention what model of MP you have. Some of the earliest models require some "hacking" to run the latest OS's. The last couple of models (2009-12) can be upgraded with no real issues. All of them can be made to run the El Capitan if you want, including the MP 1.1 from 2006.

The other thing I highly recommend is that when you upgrade the OS you do a "Clean Install" instead of using Migration Assistant.
If you don't have an ssd as a boot drive, do it. Then install El Capitan on it clean. Set up new user accounts. Install and update all apps you want. Then drag and drop (copy and paste) any files and folders you want. You can leave most of these in place on your old drive and have access either internally or via external drives. I see lots of issues created from using MA instead of doing a clean install. Really, take the extra time to do a "Clean Install". The older the previous OS and the more times you used MA in the past increases the importance of doing a "Clean Install". How did you upgrade your iMac??

As far as losing your FCPX project, you do have a good back-up strategy with at least 2 additional back-ups YES??
However, it sounds like you are using an older version of FCPX and before you update, be aware that the structure of FCPX and libraries have changed (a couple/few times) and read up first. Once you convert to newer version, you can't open it in older version. FCP Library Manager is helpful here. Without preparing the updating can be a little confusing and more difficult than it has to be. If sending it out to another editor, make sure you are using same versions.

IMHO it is time for you to enjoy all of the great new features and benefits available in the latest versions of both the OS and FCPX. I am not having any real issues with FCPX 10.2.2 and El Capitan 10.11.3. Just make sure any apps/plug-ins/external devices (audio?) are all compatible with the new OS. For external audio interfaces you may need latest drivers.

Hope this helps, Greg

Yes, 10.6.8 I'll do the upgrades now once I get my big project finished and safely out for publishing.

The X2Pro app version I don't know because it doesn't say. I can't do nothing with it. But I received a help from the app creators with info how to solve the problem.

What version of FCP? That's critical. You're making a big leap from whatever you have to 10.2.

I have 10.0.9. That, I guess, will be a big leap

Ben,

Thanks for your suggestions. This only proves, that I need a professional to come over and do the job on my MacPro editing computer. I am a Sunday editor with no proper knowledge of computers. Spinning disc drives, powerful enough GPUs, disk running utilities etc. is nothing I know about. I don't even understand why my primary HD is getting fuller and fuller even though I have told the program to import and save projects to the secondary disc...

As for my iMac which is not used for editing but just of home use - a simple 4GB RAM, 500GB hard disk out of which half is used, 7200 rpm. Was working fine till I approved the offer to upgrade the OS. After the upgrade become very slow, I took it to the Mac dealers which re-installed everything back (the old OS) but it remained and still is very slow.

10.0.9 gee, still on the mistake version of FCPX. One of the updates forces you to upgrade to Yosemite, I am kind of expecting the next major feature update to have the same requirement.

10.1 series is really awesome, you could not go wrong at all upgrading to EL Cap, I love the split screen, makes moving stuff a breeze. OK OK the split screen is buggy, so was FCPX v1 a bloody nightmare, I don't hear the same about the 10.1 then 10.2 series FCPX being as bad as 10.0!!

Well worth the pain of upgrading!!

VidGreg,

Sorry for being such a dumb ass, but don't really know what model it is. Does 'MacPro 5,1' say what model it is? But from what you say I understand that there shouldn't be problems with El Capitan because it is MP from around 2011-12.

Thanks for your suggestions! I will not be able to do the job myself, will have to get a professional to come over and help.

My iMac was uprgraded through the button it offered by itself. I just pressed OK. And regretted since...

Hi MsJustine!

Thanks for the reply. I'm looking forward to the upgrades!

And be sure you and your IT guy review this article, first.
support.apple.com/en-us/HT202633

And you're going to need to learn about "Libraries"...