Fcpx library running slow and constantly freezing

Question

Level 1

8 points

Fcpx library running slow and constantly freezing

Hi,

I have a library for a documentary film which, over time, started to severely slow down and constantly freeze up. Some more details:

Even doing little things like nudging clips or dragging clips - there's always a lag.
The library itself takes a long time to load. There's also a delay/freeze when I select any of the events in the library. They usually do load in the end, but it takes a while.
Often (sometimes very) the program will freeze up and I get the beachball. I'd say this lasts at least a minute or longer, and I have to force quit quite often.

I'm working with mostly HD footage from different Sony cameras, and some archival footage I've imported. Some of the footage was filmed in varying frame rates. I optimized, I believe, the clips in use with a varying frame rate. (I read that this can be an issue.)

Are there ways in which I can easily isolate the cause of the issue?

I'm working with the latest version of fcpx. Adding a screenshot of my system specs below.

Thanks!

Barak

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.4

Posted on Apr 25, 2023 2:44 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 25, 2023 8:34 AM in response to LightningB

Before looking at the report: such a HUGE library, and besides, in a rotating hard drive, is bound to be darned slow...

I do hope you have a good backup, because such a library is a very dangerous thing, if it gets corrupted, you could be in trouble.

With a backup in place, I would delete render files and consolidate media outside the library.

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,815 points

Apr 25, 2023 4:59 AM in response to LightningB

First, update the OS to the current version of Monterey. I think 12.6.5.

Please post an EtreCheck report https://etrecheck.com giving the application Full Disk Access in Privacy & Security System Settings. Copy the report and use the Add Text button to paste the result into reply box.

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Answer 3

Apr 25, 2023 6:36 AM in response to LightningB

Please post that Etrecheck report as Tom requested.

Also: where is the library stored? What type of drive (HD, SD)? How much free space? Is the media stored in the library? How big is it?

How much free space on the system drive?

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Answer 4

Apr 27, 2023 2:41 AM in response to LightningB

Please post an updated Etrecheck report.

If the keystone things were not removed, they will continue to do their worst.

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,815 points

Apr 25, 2023 8:33 AM in response to LightningB

Your computer seems to be failing. The kernel panics are hardware related and may be caused by the battery.

You need to completely delete the Avast software. Do not run any software that is continuously checking system activity. For the same reason Chrome needs to be fully deleted.

You need to do a complete uninstall of Chrome and its launch daemons and reinstall FCP.

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95319?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

Right-click Chrome in the Dock and select Quit.

Open Finder.and go to the folder containing the Google Chrome application, usually the Applications folder

Drag Google Chrome to the Trash.

In the Finder at the top of the screen, click Go>Go to Folder.

Enter ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome and click Go.

Select the Chrome folder, and drag it to the Trash.

1) Drag the application to the trash and empty it

2) Drag the following to the trash as well:

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.keystone.agent.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist

/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.google.keystone.daemon.plist

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Answer 6

Apr 25, 2023 8:38 AM in response to LightningB

You also should complete remove avast.

Never install any third party "antivirus" or "cleaner". Their main function is to separate you from your money. Their secondary function is to hinder your mac performance and safety.

Effective defenses against malware and other threats

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Answer 7

Apr 25, 2023 8:35 AM in response to LightningB

Oh, and Chrome...

Get rid of it, just like Tom said.

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Answer 8

LightningB Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 25, 2023 8:26 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you Tom & Luis. I'm attaching the report as additional text.

RE: Storage - It's stored on an external 5TB Lacie HD, which has 1.29 TB available. The media is all stored in the library. The library size is 3.44 TB.

There are 126.64 GB of free space on the system drive.

EtreCheckPro report

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Answer 9

LightningB Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 26, 2023 11:54 PM in response to LightningB

Tom, Luis, again,

thank you for your replies.

I've been implementing your suggestions. So far I've completely removed Chrome (though I didn't find anything in LaunchAgents, nor did I have a folder called LaunchDaemons) and Avast.

I also backed up, and then consolidated media outside of the library. So far the performance seems to be the same. I'll try reinstalling Final Cut and deleting optimized media next, though I'm concerned about the absence of optimized media slowing down the project which has seemed to be the case in the past.

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Answer 10

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,815 points

Apr 28, 2023 9:16 AM in response to LightningB

[Loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (Google LLC - installed 2022-10-13)

Executable: /Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/GoogleSoftwareUpdate.bundle/Contents/MacOS/GoogleSoftwareUpdateDaemon

Loaded] com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist (Google LLC - installed 2022-10-13)

Executable: /Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/GoogleSoftwareUpdate.bundle/Contents/Resources/GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent

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Answer 11

Apr 30, 2023 1:49 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I don’t know much about it. I don’t install any “Finder extension” that lets one work with cloud media directly in the Finder. I occasionally access such content (google drive, OneDrive, Dropbox), but only via the web interface.

I do use iCloud Drive in the Finder and in conjunction with Files app on iPhone and iCloud, but never in connection with video editing.

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Answer 12

LightningB Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2023 6:55 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Since those files kept coming back I assume they are from Google drive (backup and sync).

I double checked now and there seems to be no lag problem in other libraries, it's really this one. For now the question remains whether it's just due to size. I'll try to apply what I haven't yet from both of your suggestions and see.

I appreciate the help. I believe I've also read suggestions from both of you which has helped me in the past so thanks.

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Answer 13

LightningB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 5, 2023 12:57 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Hi again. I'm still having some problems and wondering if you could help me. I have a couple of suspicions as to what is going on. And I don't believe it's Chrome related.

Since we last talked I discovered an '__AsyncCopying' folder containing over 1 TB of all my media as duplicates. I backed everything up and totally deleted that folder. It didn't help.

But I have a suspicion: Some of the clips I used were originally downloaded as .webm files and I used vlc player to convert them into mp4. I believe something went wrong with at least some of them during this. I've begun the process of removing all of those files and replacing them, but in the process I've discovered the following:

My media folder appears to be completely full of duplicates. I've attached a picture below. You can see there are multiple duplicates of multiple folders for some reason. Most of these just contain the same media over and over again.

Do you know what's going on? Could any of the above be the issue, and any advice on solving this?

Also, I tried copying just the project itself into a new library to see what happens. Even before I relinked the media, everything in that new library continued to be unbearably slow just like the original.

Thanks in advance.

Barak

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