Why are my Final Cut Pro X Files so large?

You have the option to create optimized media and/or proxy media when you import your video, or at any time after that. Many beginners think they need to do that, but for the most part this is not needed. As it turns out, optimized media can be ten times the size of your original media.

The easy way to reclaim that space: select one library, do File->Delete Generated Library Files, and tick all the boxes, for optimized, proxy and render files. This does NOT delete your content, and if necessary these files can be recreated later.

Three things usually create bloat.

1) Copying files to the library,. Not usually necessary if you have them elsewhere on your computer.

2) Optimizing and creating proxies. You have a very fast computer, so if you are choosing to create that additional media, you probably don't need to.

3) Render files. Each time we render, FCP creates additional files. They add up fast. Turn off BG Rendering and don't render unless you can't perform your edits accurately.

There is a commend called Delete Generated Library (or Project) Files. It will trash your renders and transcoded media.

Russ

Russ, you beat by less than one minute...

Not very often I'm able do that, Luis.😮

Russ