Reduce extreme file size of Project

Question

Ocean 17 Author

Level 2

190 points

Reduce extreme file size of Project

I just completed a 4 1/2 minute fashion short, based on about 70 minutes of footage.

The file size of the project is 110 GB.

What can I do to reduce it? (I already deleted unused render files)

Questions in detail:

1. Deleting footage: is it correct , that if I accidentally delete a scene that's being used in the final version, FCP X will not let my do it (as a safeguard).

2. I'd like to move the whole project on an external hard drive (G-Tech, spinning hard drive) - will this be a fast enough connection to play back the project?

3. I'd like to keep a version on my laptop to show even when the external hard drive is offline. What settings do you recommend?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), 512 Gb SSD, 16 Gb RAM,

Posted on Jul 1, 2015 1:35 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 1, 2015 1:44 PM in response to Ocean 17

Render files are really tiny.

If you don't need the footage, you just share your finished movie and throw everything else away. Probably not what you want to do.

For some projects, we trim our clips using Favorites, assemble all the items in the Favorites Smart Collection into a single timeline, and share that at original/native settings. Then we can delete everything else and just keep the long movie. It's not ideal but it does a certain kind of job for us.

Hope you get better advice and guidance.

Philip Hodgetts recommends this product:

http://www.arcticwhiteness.com/finalcutlibrarymanager/

You might try watching this for some hints

http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/tutorials/1129-the-correct-way-to-archive-a-fina l-cut-pro-x-project

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,956 points

Jul 1, 2015 5:17 PM in response to Ocean 17

1. No, that's not true.

2. Depends on the specs of your media, the hard drive, and how it's connected.

What software version are you using?

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Answer 3

Ocean 17 Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 1, 2015 7:37 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

1. So I have to be careful when deleting clips.

2. 10.1.4 G-Drive Q, connected through an adapter to a thunderbolt port (on the other end it's a Firewire 800 plug).

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Answer 4

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,956 points

Jul 1, 2015 7:49 PM in response to Ocean 17

FW800 is barely adequate for rendered video. Performance is going to drop off as the driver be fills, and you'll be limited in the number of streams you'll be able to play back.

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Answer 5

Ocean 17 Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 1, 2015 7:58 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I would probably need an SSD drive, connected through Thunderbolt or USB 3.

I'll push the project onto the external hard drive and create a version just for playing on the computer. What format would be best to also play it on a 27" display?

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,956 points

Jul 1, 2015 11:29 PM in response to Ocean 17

QUickTime ProRes.

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