FCPX constant auto backups

I'm currently working in a pretty large library and I find the system is hanging a lot when I try to do something. When it hangs it's because the Library (or maybe all of them?) are doing the auto backups. It automatically backs things up A LOT. Is there a way to disable or minimize this? Unfortunately there's no option in the preferences to disable or minimize the auto backups.

Are you sure it's the backup processes that cause your system to hang?

Do you have many Libraries opened at the same time?

Can you close FCP X in a normal way when the system hangs?

- Ronny

I have also seen slow-downs while the software writes backup files.

What I have done to speed things up is to plug in a usb3 drive, and assigning the backups to write to that volume.

It seems to have brought the hang-ups to a minimum when working in very large libraries.

Ronny, I'm curious to hear what else you suspect are causing these large hang-ups.

Cheers
Scott

By default Auto Backups go to the system drive. If you haven't changed that it may be the problem.

Actually, auto backups can be shut off or sent to any location you want in the Library Properties in the inspector.

I have mine go to my RAID and I don't have any issues. They are relatively small files because they are just database info.

The reason I asked is because I know Joe has a new MacPro, which should not have any problems with handling constant writing of backup information because that Flash boot drive is really, really fast.

But yes, setting the destination for the backups folder to an external drive is a very good idea. I am curious to find out if this solves this particular issue or not.

If not, I would suspect a RAM leak caused by third-party plugins. You notice this most when you work with huge Libraries because huge Libraries put a lot of strain on your system RAM. RAM leaks can be detected in Activity Monitor and they get solved temporarily by closing the application and openening it again, because doing this flushes the RAM cache.

- Ronny

Been seeing this also. My solution was to close libraries and only have the one I'm currently working on open...

I do have a large collection of 3rd party plugins, but I rarely if ever use most. Need to do some spring cleaning. Point is, there's a small few I use regularly, but I know they're quality Coremelt and MotionVFX stuff, Color Finale too. Very few I actually use normally.

I'm running late 2013 MP with dual 700's and 32 GB RAM, external 12 TB P2 RAID 5.
FCPX auto-backups on system drive.
I delte backups when I'm finished with a project and delete or archive the project.

Not seeing any slow downs or any issues as mentioned in this thread. But I only have one or two Libraries open at any one given time. Just FYI.

That's a good point about the MacPro using Flash Drives. There should not be an issue with that rig writing backups.

My system is using a much slower Fusion drive.

I hadn't considered plug-ins being a memory problem, but now I'll investigate that and clean up my system a bit.
As a rule, I try to make my own effects in Motion as needed. But these are usually tied to a specific client project, and can be taken offline and archived as jobs are completed.

Cheers,
Scott

Hi Joe
I'm curious if it is just this one project, or are you seeing this in all projects?
In addition to Ronny's suggestions about 3rd party plug-ins, you may have some clips in the project that is causing issues. If you have lots of high mega pixel photos imported from external editors, this might trigger slowdowns. There can be other clip format issues causing the slowdowns as well.
Just a thought
Given how small most FCPX back-up files are, I doubt it is due to periodic writes to a drive.

Hope this helps, Greg