Small library, but duplicate files in External Media drive AND ORIGINAL MEDIA

I have a large documentary project, and all footage is stored outside the library in a RUSHES folder and an ARCHIVE footage folder, I've then created proxies for everything which live inside a 'MEDIA'' folder I've created. For some reason though - my Final Cut Original Media folder (which is also inside 'MEDIA') is showing 4TB of footage? Are these real clips (they look big enough and are duplicates of things inside the Rushes and Archive folder) or are they some kind of symlink?  I'd like to get rid of them if possible...

A sym link should only be a few k in size, nowhere near what an actual video file would be. Verify the storage locations for the Library via the Inspector.

Yeah, the files are definitely not symlink sizes, they're big and look like original media. Only thing is that I know that when consolidating to the same drive (which I did last year to move clips outside of the library) FCP is not meant to duplicate the media.

Try relinking to the external video.

Yes - there is over 4500 clips so relinking tends to be a monstrous process - (takes 2-3 hours), but its probably the only way to know!

If you relink all, and they're in the same location, FCP should do it very quickly. You shouldn't need to relink one at a time.

Yes - even when relinking all - Its taking sometimes near to 2 hours to relink all with my my book duo 12tb raid...

I believe Consolidate copies, not moves?

As far as I know - consolidate to the same drive moves files not copy’?

Just tested, it copies, so you have the same media inside the Library as you do in the external folder, duplicated/copied.

Interesting - as I'm sure I've read that consolidating to the same drive doesn't copy, but moves. I'll try and find that online.

I've just carbon copied my primary drive to another drive, and now the original media folder is 3TB smaller... very odd.

If you change storage location from external folder to the Library, media is copied.
If you change storage location from the Library to an external folder location, media is moved.