Media Organization Question

Hey Folks:

Two questions about media organization once an event has been created. Once the footage has been ingested, transcoded and proxied, usually there will be some different other elements I need: music tracks, sound effects, graphics (stills, logos). Typically, I will create folders within the event to organize these materials and then import them into X (not copying the file to my events folder-it's already there, right?)

Is having these additional folders within my event a problem for X? Will it slow down performance?

Also, down the road, once I want to move the event/project to an archival drive, if I use the move options within X, will it also move these other folders that reside within the event?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts/best practices.

The folders shouldn't slow the performance, but why not just import the files into the event?

No, the folders won't be moved.

Well, I need a place to keep them, especially music. Often, when looking for music for a current project, I go back and look at previous projects music folders for similar tracks or to reuse.

I also keep my exports in the event folder so everything is together. Maybe it's a holdover from working with 7.

Otherwise, I would always have to use X to locate and find past files.

Alternative would be to create other project folders on another drive, and then, use import/copy to pull them into the event/project.

Give Smart Collection a try to organize your graphics and audio within a Event.

You can have Event tied to a Project or you could just create a Event that is only for your audio and graphics and dip in when ever you need it.

One of our Freelancers keeps all his music in iTunes and dropped his audio effects folder into the Music and Sound Browser within Final Cut Pro X. Which seems like cool way todo things. As soon you drop a track or effect into the timeline it adds to the corresponding Event. Can't do no previewing until it dropped in.

From there when your project is done all your needed files are in the Event which is easy to movie or backup.

I have a dedicated place for all my "non captured" Digital Assets. I used to call it "Non-Tape Items" but that's no longer appropriate. :lol:

I also copy them to the event as needed as they usually aren't very large.
This way if the Event is moved or archived then everything goes with it.
Once the job is complete I can delete/archive the Event but still have the digital assets for use if I do more work for that client or the files get repurposed into Disc Sleeves, Web Pages, Blogs or Podcasts.

I have this folder also backed up by TimeMachine as well as archived onto a separate external drive.

As for music, this is why I know almost exclusively use online services like "PlayProductionMusic" it allows me to create project databases of the music I chose for each job. I've got every edit I've ever done going right back to 2006. I refer to it often.
Of course if your music is commercial or composed you will need to archive it.

I have one Event that is all of my stock footage and stills. I use keywords to divide them up into smart collections. It's there at all times, ready for me to access any stock clip or still. And when I use them in a Project, nothing is duplicated, saving drive space.

As for stock music, and my own (as a composer), I put it all in iTunes. I give it custom genres, collections, etc, using the metadata in iTunes to organize it. This makes it easy to find from inside FCP X, and I get to play the audio previews.

And I've tons and tons of stock stuff. In fact my project this summer is to go through it all and cull out the old garbage.

So you use one Event for all your "reusable files" like I guess logos, branding etc... would you advice this same workflow if projects are shared over more then two editors?

How do you back up your project Events, do you drop in the files from your stock footage and stills Event?

We have been thinking about creating the logos and other stock as Generators in Final Cut Pro X.

Backups are done via Carbon Copy Cloner on scheduled appended backups for specific folders on specific drives.

All stock footage and stills and audio are handled as I specified.

Logos are kept in a disk image that contains events and projects for that specific client.

Why would I catalog a logo for universal use? Isn't it specific to a client?

Oh so you have the graphics "logos" saved with the corresponding Events and Projects for each client, like three different categories on a disk. Also a interesting way.

I was thinking by projects so having all graphics, Events and "Final Cut Pro X" Projects together on it's own disc or disc image.
So if there is a update or the project has to leave the house only the specific files get transferred...