Making a back up copy

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Level 1

27 points

Making a back up copy

I am working on a project which is all stored on my external drive. I want to make a backup copy to which I need to keep adding when I make changes to the events and projects. What I did was, I just made a folder on the internal drive called FinalCut Back up and I copied Final Cut Events and FInal Cut Projects to it using finder. Now whenever I make changes I keep redoing the whole procedure overwriting the old Final CUt Events and Projects. I think Ia m overdoing it. I dont' think I need to copy everything. Do I need Rendered Filesand Backup folders? Or do I just copy the project files?

Or am I doing the whole thing wrong?

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3), 32GB RAM

Posted on Jun 14, 2013 4:11 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Jun 14, 2013 4:23 AM in response to tarsier123

Doing this stuff in the Finder is chancey. Unless you're doing this every 15 minutes or so, consider using an archive workflow.

Use Duplicate Project in FCP. If you select the Used Clips option, it should do what you need. You don't need to include your renders. This process will create a new event,, which you can locate on your back uo drive. Select it in the library and choose Organize Files.

The next BU, repeat and delete the prior one.

Russ

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Answer 2

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Jun 14, 2013 4:24 AM in response to tarsier123

I just saw that you have another thread on archiving so this may be redundant.

Russ

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Answer 3

tarsier123 Author

Level 1

27 points

Jun 14, 2013 4:29 AM in response to Russ H

Thank you again

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Answer 4

tarsier123 Author

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Jun 14, 2013 4:31 AM in response to Russ H

well one is to archive when I am completly done and might not have to go back to it for years, let's say. The other is just to always have a second copy of everything while I am still working on the project.

Wouls you use sparse disk for this? If so, how do you make one?

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Answer 5

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Jun 14, 2013 4:47 AM in response to tarsier123

No. I don't see the advantage in doing so.

You can create them in Disk Utility.

Russ

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Answer 6

tarsier123 Author

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Jun 14, 2013 5:00 AM in response to Russ H

OK, thanks

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Answer 7

tarsier123 Author

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Jun 15, 2013 5:16 AM in response to Russ H

OK, so when I do this what happens with the Event? I am only duplicating my projects.

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Answer 8

Russ H

Level 7

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Jun 15, 2013 5:35 AM in response to tarsier123

There iis an option in the Duplicate Project dialogue box that gives you the option to duplicate the event too if that's what you want to do.

Russ

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Answer 9

tarsier123 Author

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27 points

Jun 15, 2013 5:46 AM in response to Russ H

I see. Thanks. I didn't tell it to backup render files but I see render files in the duplicated Events folder. Is it safe to delete them?

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Answer 10

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Jun 15, 2013 5:50 AM in response to tarsier123

It's safe to delete render files, but if you're editing and need to have something rendered to play back in real time, then you will need to re=render.

Russ

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Answer 11

tarsier123 Author

Level 1

27 points

Jun 15, 2013 6:11 AM in response to Russ H

OK, great. DO I delete the Render Files folder or the Peaks Data folder or just the files that are in the Peaks Data folder?

Also, next time I am ready to to do a back up again. Do I go to the Movies forlder (that's where FCX put my backed up event and project) and just delete Final Cut Events and Final Cut Projects folders or just specific projects? And do I delete through FCX or delete using finder?

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Answer 12

tarsier123 Author

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27 points

Jun 15, 2013 6:21 AM in response to tarsier123

Also, when duplicating project why can't I put that project into an existing duplicated Event? It's making me create new Event every time I want to duplicate a project from the same event.

So if I have 5 projects I am duplicating, I am also going to have 5 new Events.

What is the point of Event in this case. Maybe I shouldn't be duplicating Events? But I am forced to.

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Answer 13

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,998 points

Jun 15, 2013 6:25 AM in response to tarsier123

You can duplicate a project without duplicating the event, duplicating all referenced events, which is everything, or used clips. Nothing forces you to create a new event when you duplicate a project.

Projects are not in events. They are entirely separate data bases.

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Answer 14

tarsier123 Author

Level 1

27 points

Jun 15, 2013 6:46 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

So what it the point of having Events? Can I use FCX without ever creating an event?

See the screenshot. When I select Duplicate Projects and used clips it asks me for the name of the new event

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Answer 15

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Jun 15, 2013 6:47 AM in response to tarsier123

I'm a bit concerned that this thread has gone off track. You started the discussion by describing a Finder-based wokflow for back-ups and I believe you now agree that that (while possible) is somewhat risky.

If you do a search you'll find many different strategies that people recommend. There are, for example, a variety of third party solutions (that is, products for sale). You could also do your back-ups and (long term) archiving using options within FCP, but as Tom points out, putting a project in an event is a non-starter.

Russ

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