Files from FCPX Original Media folder disappeared

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Level 1

14 points

Files from FCPX Original Media folder disappeared

That folder can’t be indexed by spotlight search. Not searchable. I tried to drop two files from that folder directly to the timeline but failed for some reason ( it happens), then I released the two files, then the two files disappeared. Can’t find it anywhere in the computer, even the data recovery app couldn’t find it, and I didn’t clean the trash folder either. Any clue? This kind of thing happened before and showed up again after I restarted the computer or safe restarted, no luck this time. I know the file name, just couldn’t find it anywhere.

Posted on Jul 29, 2023 9:50 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

terryb

Level 4

3,514 points

Jul 29, 2023 1:20 PM in response to z210

It's generally a very bad idea to go into a library package and manually delete things unless you know exactly what you're doing. You especially never want to do anything inside a package while FCP is running.

The Original Media folder is used by FCP to find all the media for the library. If you have Copy to Library Storage Location selected in the Import Preferences, FCP will copy your media into the folder. If Leave Files in Place is selected instead, FCP will create an alias in the folder that points to where you have your media stored.

Import settings in Final Cut Pro for Mac - Apple Support

If you're running low on disk space, check your preferences to make sure you have Background Rendering disabled. Then, select the library in the browser, choose File->Delete Generated Library Files... Choose All Render files. Manage render files in Final Cut Pro for Mac - Apple Support

If you've corrupted your library by deleting things while FCP was running, you could try opening a backup which is by default stored in ~/Movies/Final Cut Backups/

Restore a library in Final Cut Pro for Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,816 points

Jul 30, 2023 4:55 PM in response to z210

By going into the package and changing the contents you broke the database of the library. Anything you want to do to FCP must be done inside the application interface.

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,816 points

Jul 29, 2023 10:34 AM in response to z210

Where is the FCP Original Media folder? It’s usually inside the library bundle. It may be external to the library. Why are you dragging files from there? What are you trying to do? The application puts them there as the storage location. Perhaps you could post some screenshots to show what you’re doing where.

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Answer 4

z210 Author

Level 1

14 points

Jul 29, 2023 11:50 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks Tom.

No valuable screenshots available, all gone.

I went to that folder was trying to delete some just imported files more efficiently, they took too much space. I did this everyday, too many bad shots, I then deleted the thumbnails of those bad shots in the FCPX who were just a blank in red color, i may have deleted too much including some good ones from the FCPX, I then went to the original media folder and selected them and dropped them in the timeline directly. There was maybe other folders or other things “working in process” things happening at the same time it blocked this action, dropping failed, so I just released the two files( put them back?), then couldn’t find them again in the folder or computer.

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Answer 5

z210 Author

Level 1

14 points

Jul 29, 2023 2:02 PM in response to terryb

You are right! But I already did, those two files just disappeared. My guess is that they are still in the computer somewhere, The moment I released them I may dropped them into some unintended folders (not the original media folder) which is not searchable.

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Answer 6

z210 Author

Level 1

14 points

Jul 31, 2023 11:35 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks!

But for our outlaw users, it is a bit hard to follow. I thought Intuitive is the spirit of apple, so I clicked the thumbnail in the FCPX, then it allows me to see it in finder, in finder I was allowed to delete it, nothing stopped me doing all these.

But why on earth FCPX contents are not indexed, not searchable?

I used data recovery app found the files in QuickTime format, but I couldn’t play it, couldn’t convert it. The size of the data is correct though.

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Answer 7

z210 Author

Level 1

14 points

Jul 29, 2023 11:54 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

“Where is the FCP Original Media folder?”

from finder, movie, all projects, click “ show package contents”…

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Files from FCPX Original Media folder disappeared

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