media files stored outside iMovie library

I think that the link that you included in our original post must refer to iMovie 9 rather than iMovie 10. iMovie 9 could reference media and events located on another drive. I have not been able to do that with iMovie 10, other than referencing media that was copied from another iMovie library. In the latter case, one would need to consolidate the media into the receiving library or project before moving the library to an external drive or the project to another library.

As you mentioned, probably duplicating the storage size is the only way . When you import media into iMovie from an external source iMovie will make a full sized duplicate copy and place it into the library's Original Media folder. That doubles the file storage size. The way around that is to keep your iMovie library and source media files on an external drive. Storage is cheap and you can probably purchase a 4TB external drive for $150 or so that would handle your needs.

-- Rich

Although there may be a way to do it, I am not aware of an import option in iMovie to permit the original media to remain stored in its original location, and then referenced by iMovie, instead of the original media being copied into the iMovie library.

If you import a file from iMovie Library 1 that is on an external drive into a project in iMovie Library 2 on your internal drive, then the library 2 project will reference the media in Library 1. Thereafter, if you transfer the Library 1 project to a different library you would first need to do a File/Consolidate Project Media to make sure that the referenced clip is copied into Library 1. At least, I believe that that's the way it would work.

Perhaps someone from Apple's community specialists will chime in here to explain more clearly how it works.

-- Rich

Regrettably, I don't know how to keep the media outside of the iMovie library. . .unless you store the media in the Photos library where it will be referenced from within iMovie when you click on the Photos item in the iMovie project sidebar. But as soon as you drag the media into a project it will go into the iMovie library. I know that that is not what you want.

The link below to the online help menu refers to media stored outside of iMovie, and how to consolidate it in one place in your iMovie library, but it doesn't explain how that situation could happen. A couple of times I have had a situation where I did consolidate media but cannot recall what brought about the situation. Here's the link:

https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/#/mov882dee351

If I find something on this I will post back.

-- Rich