FCPX size of library

Question

FCPX size of library

Hi, I am trying to understand how Library in FCPX 10.1.1 works.

When I import media I have two options - move files into the library or leave it on a place. I usually choose leave in the place because I don't want to have the twice on my HDD.

When I finish with editing I want to move this library to my external HDD. It was 13minutes video in 1080p quality, 4 mp3 songs and few pictures. Library had size arround 11 GB. When I moved it to external disk and removed fromy my HDD, opened it again in FCPX from external HDD, most of files showed red like missing files (but not all of them). So I put everything back on my mac hdd and try to Consolidate Library Files. Suddenly the library had 24 GB. Now I can open it from my external HDD.

What I don't understand is size of library. My original files from camera had arround 14 GB. I didn't use all of them so 11GB size of library seemed OK to me. I supposed it will import just used files. But how can have it 25gb? It's pretty much for 13 minute video.

In library there are Render files which has over 10GB. Do they have to be there? Wouldn't be easier to render them again and not to store all of them. I also see it contains all of my original movies even when i didn't use them in a project.
Thanks for claryfication

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on May 25, 2014 12:57 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

May 25, 2014 4:59 AM in response to ondrafromczech

The extra space used in the library is most likely render files and other generated media. Did you optimize your clips? That will add a lot of space.

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Answer 2

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

May 25, 2014 5:23 AM in response to ondrafromczech

.

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Answer 3

May 25, 2014 7:23 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

What does it mean optimized? I just consolidate it and after that I read somewhere I can delete render files so I did it and it has 15 gb.. But I think I have in that library also clips I didn't use in project.

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Answer 4

May 25, 2014 7:24 AM in response to Russ H

??

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Answer 5

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

May 25, 2014 7:30 AM in response to ondrafromczech

Tom's reply wasn't visible when I did mine. The software that this discussion forum uses doesn't permit deleted posts…so that's the closest thing to a delete if I feel what that I''ve posted is just taking up unnecessary bandwidth.

Russ

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

May 25, 2014 7:42 AM in response to ondrafromczech

If you duplicate a library you get all the media. If you want a library with only the used media make a new library and copy the project into it. This will copy only the clips used in the project. Then consolidate.

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Answer 7

May 25, 2014 7:46 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

That sounds good. Thank you

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Answer 8

Apr 21, 2015 9:02 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom,

I face the same problem...
Starting out with 35GB in a library and now I'm up to 500GB !!
My harddrive is almost full all because of this one project.
I'm afraid that if I ' Delete Generated Library Files '... That I might delete too much.
Will the Projects remain intact? Could I just start editing again on each one? If needed?

Too valuable to just try it without asking your specialist help first.

I ran into the same problem on my MacBook before, always thought it was a corrupted file or something that kept duplicating. But now with a new project and bigger HD, the same issue.

Google said I could best turn off 'automatic background render' .. to prevent this from happening? Do you agree??

Thanks !

Rick

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Answer 9

GeeD

Level 6

9,173 points

Apr 22, 2015 3:30 AM in response to Rickphone

It is safe to ' Delete Generated Library Files ' provided you then click on "Delete Render Files" with the default "Unused Only" checked.

If you work with optimised media and background rendering, every time you edit something new render files will be added to the library but the old (and now unused) render files will not be deleted (this is presumably to allow one to rapidly undo an edit). The library will simply grow and grow. Doing a ' Delete Generated Library Files ' from time to time will within a few seconds release many GB of storage.

Of course a library backup is always essential.

Geoff.

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