Using an external hard drive to store and edit videos?

Question

Using an external hard drive to store and edit videos?

Hi

I have read many articles that suggest placing all video projects/events in an external hard drive to save space on my Mac Book or Mac Air.

I just ordered this: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Passport-Ultra-Portable/dp/B00E055H5O/ref= sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1429627818&sr=1-…

So, how should I format/set up the external?

If I save projects/events on the external, can I come back and edit projects/events that only live in the external drive?

I also want to be able to take the external to whomever's computer to import videos shot by other cameras stored in other peoples computers. Is this ok?

I would be using either iMovie or Final Cut Pro.

Thank you.

Sebastian

Imac, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Apr 21, 2015 7:53 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Karsten Schlüter

Level 7

34,086 points

Apr 21, 2015 11:29 AM in response to Sebastian4386

Did you follow advice given in The Manual?

http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0.6/?lang=en#/mov3fa25bae7

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Answer 2

GeeD

Level 6

9,173 points

Apr 21, 2015 11:29 AM in response to Sebastian4386

To add to Karsten's post - Libraries on an external drive behave just the same as those on the boot drive. (Like many people, I have all of mine on an external drive).

If you connect the external drive to another computer to use with iMovie or FCPX make sure that the other computer is using exactly the same version of iMovie or FCPX. This because some updates to both programs (even minor 'third-digit' updates) have required events from earlier versions to be updated. This cannot be reversed and updated events will no longer work with earlier versions.

Geoff.

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Answer 3

Apr 21, 2015 10:48 AM in response to GeeD

Thank you!

In the case of connecting to another computer, it would be to import video taken by someone else. For example, the drummer in my band shoots a lot of video and I want to get a copy of that which sits in his computer as MTS file......

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Answer 4

GeeD

Level 6

9,173 points

Apr 21, 2015 3:19 PM in response to Sebastian4386

OK, it would be safest just to copy his .mts files onto your external hard drive then drag and drop them into an event in iMovie/FCPX when the drive is connected to your computer.

Geoff.

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