OreoWaffles

Q: Can I discard my original media files?

I used to work on iMovie for editing, but a few weeks ago I transferred to FCP. I keep getting messages from my Mac saying that my storage device is full (Macintosh), so I went over to my original media. A LOT of space is used up there; the original media is from old projects, audio and footage I used to use for iMovie (I don't use it anymore though). I'm wondering if I need to keep my original media files.. I never imported them into FCP, and the files seem like they're merely taking up space. Can I delete them from my computer?

 

P.S.: my friend told me to transfer the files over to my other hardware disk, but I'm unsure, I don't think I need all those files since I'm not using them.

iMovie '11, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Aug 28, 2016 7:17 AM

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Q: Can I discard my original media files?

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  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Aug 28, 2016 7:29 AM in response to OreoWaffles
    Level 7 (21,770 points)
    Quicktime
    Aug 28, 2016 7:29 AM in response to OreoWaffles

    The short answer, I guess, is that if you are absolutely certain that you will never need the media to re-edit the project or to use in a new movie, then, sure; delete the media. Most people, however, keep the media – just in case they may need it.

     

    If you are Final Cut Pro user, that implies that you will be frequently working on video projects. It is a fact that video requires storage space. Also, your boot drive really should always have at least 10-15% free space for it to run the application properly. The solution is to invest in additional storage – for your working projects (libraries) and for backup. The media drive should be a fast drive with USB3 or Thunderbolt connection. The speed of the backup drive is less important.

     

    Good luck.

     

    Russ