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Transferring Final Cut Pro X media onto external drive

I need to transfer my final cut pro X media (event/album?) and timeline from a project on my imac onto an external drive so that I can work on it on my laptop while traveling. How do I make sure that all my clips, the timeline, music from my itunes folder, etc. all get onto the external drive. Is there an easy way to do this?


Thanks. David

Final Cut Pro X

Posted on Oct 23, 2011 1:44 PM

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18 replies

Oct 23, 2011 2:47 PM in response to dlang1836

David, first start by pluging in your new external hard drive and open Final Cut Pro X.


Now you have 2x options:


  1. If you haven't already started a project and only have media in a Event, the simply highlight the Event (In The Event Library) and under the File menu, choose Move Event. Keep in mind this will only move your Event!
  2. If on the other hand you have already created a project, then highlight the project (⌘+0 to open or close), choose File - Move Project.


You'll then be given the option to move only the project, or move project + associated events.


User uploaded file


The alternative to this is to manually copy your Event + Project from the Final Cut Events Folder, and Final Cut Projects Folder.


User uploaded file

Nov 17, 2011 12:05 PM in response to davidbryeneditor

If the project copied is on 2x drives and both drives and both are connected, Then FCPX gets a little confused and will refuse to show both projects.


If this is the case, open the Final Cut Project folder found on your external HDD, and give this one a different folder name. Then start FCPX and see if they both show.


What I strongly suggest, purchase the FCPX media manager plugin, it will be the cheapest and best investment you'll ever make. It eliminates the hassle of renaming, manually moving and most importantly, screwing something up ;)


Let us know how you go.


Tony

Jan 25, 2012 2:56 AM in response to blimpmedia

Thanks so much, I've recently needed to move all project/events for backup and I find it quite unnerving!


Can I just ask, if I moved both my Final Cut X projects folder and my events folders from an external HD (where I moved them to and now work from) to a network drive (a drive that won't appear in the projects screen) could I, in theory just move them from the network drive into my movies folder on my Macintosh HD in the future and use them as normal?


Sorry, I realise that's probably really confusing!


Cheers

Jan 25, 2012 3:55 AM in response to MikeeBee8

MikeeBee8 wrote:


Thanks so much, I've recently needed to move all project/events for backup and I find it quite unnerving!


FCPX gets complicated when you don't choose to tick the "copy files to the Final Cut Pro Event Folder" on import. Having said this, I also at times don't tick this option and have cought myself out doing so!


For example, I completed an edit just before Christmas, the client called this week and asked for a change, having switched from Snow Leopard to Lion, I moved a few music files from my desktop to my external HD. When I opened that event, I got slapped with the unlinked symbol. To cut a long story sort, eventually I re-linked the music and completed the changes, however had I chosen to have these files copied to my events folder on import, I wouldn't have had this problem.



MikeeBee8 wrote:


if I moved both my Final Cut X projects folder and my events folders from an external HD (where I moved them to and now work from) to a network drive (a drive that won't appear in the projects screen) could I, in theory just move them from the network drive into my movies folder on my Macintosh HD in the future and use them as normal?


Absolutely.... but providing all your files exist in the Final Cut Pro Events folder. If you follow this workflow, you can then move events or projects wherever or whenever you like. The only thing you have to make sure of is that no two events or projects are names the same if you have all these drives connected at the same time.


Hope that helps

Tony

Jan 25, 2012 4:35 AM in response to MikeeBee8

Whenever using your internal HD, FCPX seems to place the Final Cut Events and Final Cut Projects folder in the Movie directory, however this is not the case for external HD's, instead there created in the main directory.


Let me explain.... For example I always edit on an external HD. The first time I created a new event and project on this drive, FCPX created the Final Cut Events & Final Cut Projects folder in the main directory.


Let's say I'd now like to movie these two folders to a new and bigger drive. Copying and pasting both those folders is all I need to do.


I would then disconnect the old HD, connect the new one and start FCPX. All your events and projects should work as per normal. FCPX doesn't know that your using a new drive, all it cares about is seeing those two folders, and what's in them 😉


Hope that makes sense.

Aug 28, 2014 1:01 AM in response to blimpmedia

blimpmedia wrote:


FCPX gets complicated when you don't choose to tick the "copy files to the Final Cut Pro Event Folder" on import. Having said this, I also at times don't tick this option and have cought myself out doing so!


For example, I completed an edit just before Christmas, the client called this week and asked for a change, having switched from Snow Leopard to Lion, I moved a few music files from my desktop to my external HD. When I opened that event, I got slapped with the unlinked symbol. To cut a long story sort, eventually I re-linked the music and completed the changes, however had I chosen to have these files copied to my events folder on import, I wouldn't have had this problem.



Hi Tony


I am hoping you can help me with my situation.


I have recently bought a 2TB external HD to have all things FCPX related on it. I have been working from my internal iMac till now and am running out of space. I have not on many occasions copied my media to the event folder as I found that it doubles in size and takes more HD space.


I would like to know how to link all the missing media files within FCPX with the same files in their new locations?


Thank you.


Sam

Transferring Final Cut Pro X media onto external drive

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