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

Similar questions

18 replies

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.

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.

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

Fcpx library running slow and constantly freezing