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Level 1

133 points

How to deal with lag in FCPX?

Hello to all.

I have been observing a lag while editing on the timeline of late. Was there earlier too but seems to have increased after upgrading to Yosemite 10.10.4 and 10.2.1 version of FCPX.

I have turned off background render but yet the application is annoyingly slow to respond to commands.

[iMac 21.5-inch, Mid 2011; Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5; Memory: 12 GB; Graphics AMD Radeon 6750M 512 MB]

Is there any way to shift gears?

Thanks in advance!

Dr. Somanna

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4), garage band, FCPX:10.2.1, iPhone 5,

Posted on Jul 26, 2015 9:17 PM

31 replies

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 27, 2015 8:43 AM in response to Russ H

Hello Russ!

I have reopened FCPX after trashing preferences and closing all applications [only Final Cut Library Manager being open]. FCPX now seems to be working at the pace I have become used to which is 'normal speed' for me.

However I would like it to be a bit more fast as I mentioned so to Luis.

Regards and take care.

Dr. Somanna

Jul 27, 2015 8:57 AM in response to somanna

Quitting and reopening FCP X or restarting the mac, can sometimes help. It certainly should not hurt.

Quitting other applications that you don't need, while editing, also cannot hurt.

It seems to me that you have a good setup, although with a by now old-ish machine.

Whether the performance you get from it is normal or not, it is quite impossible for any of us to say.

I used to work on FCP X using a 2010 MBP with 8GB (a less powerful setup than yours), and it was ok - but also, this was on Mavericks and FCP X 10.1.*. I did not try it with Yosemite and 10.2, as that mac is now used by my wife; so I can't tell if performance would be better or worse.

I also have a 2011 iMac in my office, not used for video editing. It also has a 500GB internal drive. The perceived responsiveness from this machine is somewhat inferior, but more in terms of starting up and launching applications and such things, which I definitely attribute to having a boot hard drive instead of and SSD.

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Jul 27, 2015 8:59 AM in response to somanna

A few ideas:

You might run a system maintenance procedure (which I do every week or so myself) by starting the Mac in Safe Mode,(hold the Shift key down when you press the start-button), logging in and then restarting.

Don't let libraries get too large.

Restrict open libraries only to those you're currently working on.

If it's in your budget, upgrading your Mac would almost certainly help; 10.2 is optimized for the latest/.greatest machines, I'm not sure about more RAM. If you're not incurring swaps with 12 GG, going to 16 may not have a noticeable effect. But it's a relatively low cost investment and it won't hurt.

Russ

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 27, 2015 3:25 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis for sharing your experiences. At the start of this year only did I upgrade FCPX to libraries and the OS to Yosemite. The slow performance has crept in since then, but was 'acceptable'. Guess I can manage to get along as of now by not overburdening the system in the form of having multiple applications being open at the same time.

Regards and take care.

Dr. Somanna

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 27, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Russ H

Hello Russ! Thanks for the care-filled suggestions.

Shall do what you do viz. running system maintenance procedure [didn't know about such a thing till now!].

The current series of projects are contained in one library which, with the optimised and render data, is about 64 GB, but having only 4GB of original files. I trust that this is not too large a library.

Yeah, I am already doing that. As mentioned earlier, am using Final Cut Library Manager for selectively opening libraries.

I guess your observation of the sluggish performance being attributable to the older specs of the Mac is right on target. I wouldn't mind going in for a new system if that is the only answer after going into the pros and cons.

Going in for a new, latest and fastest Mac would mean, not just faster work on FCPX, but also allow me to Airdrop files between the Mac and my other devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod! The present Mac permits Airdrop only with other Macs.

Multiple USB ports are not given with the latest Macs [correct me if I am wrong] and this is one factor which needs to be considered because it will affect my present workflow. As of now, with my Mid 2011 Mac, I have one Thunderbolt, one Firewire and four 2-USB ports. I have all the ports connected to their drives and use CCC to do the data backing up during the night hours. I have offsite backup drives too and keep them at my brother's home.

If any of the latest Macs can provide me with these multiple ports, then it would make it easy for me to go for it.

Your further ideas on this matter are solicited.

Regards and take care,

Dr. Somanna

Alchroma

Level 7

23,809 points

Jul 27, 2015 10:09 PM in response to somanna

"Multiple USB ports are not given with the latest Macs [correct me if I am wrong] and this is one factor which needs to be considered because it will affect my present workflow."

If a later Mac has a Thunderbolt port you may want to consider something like this:

http://www.belkin.com/au/p/P-F4U055/

I have this particular model and it work just fine. Also check out OWC computing plus other brands for TB docks.

The advantage is expandability. You can connect a bunch of stuff to the dock and use only one TB cable to the Mac even if it has few ports.

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 28, 2015 12:47 AM in response to Alchroma

Hello Al!

Thanks for your pointers. Have seen them. Awareness of this product allows me to take a call on upgrading to a later Mac [at a later point in time!] a bit easier!

Regards and take care.

Dr. Somanna

Jul 28, 2015 2:09 AM in response to somanna

You told us ...

[iMac 21.5-inch, Mid 2011; Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5; Memory: 12 GB; Graphics AMD Radeon 6750M 512 MB]

That is on the lower end of supported hardware, but no 'bad' set-up; with the wrong set-up, you can even bring a latest 'Tube'/MacPro to underperform and stutter......

The Doc has shown us his very ... <searching for a nice word> ... sophisticated arrangement of drives and platters and backups and copies and clones and whatnot; in the past, I had to quit participating in his posts, simply I'm overwhelmed by his construction.

I dare to say:

unplug any additional drives; do some housekeeping with your Mac; do some housekeeping in FCPX (= find a smart structure for Libs/Events/clips): add one of your faster drives as 'source machine' - and, if you do lots of muilticam/compound clips), concider usage of Proxies (which needs time to be generated, but allows then some super fast editing).

... and then create your personal, bullet-proof backup system ...

For simple editing, adding music, titles, color corrections, his 'old' Mac is good enough ... I dare to suggest ...

Jul 28, 2015 2:37 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

[...]

Multiple USB ports are not given with the latest Macs [correct me if I am wrong]

[...]

It depends on what Macs you are talking about. With one exception, they offer a number of ports.

MP: 4 USB3 ports

iMac (21" or 27"): 4 USB3 ports

rMBP (13" or 15") 2 USB3 ports

MB Air (11" or 13") 2 USB3 ports

MB (the new 12inch): 1 USC "C" port (the only one, used both for connecting periphals and for charging); this would definitely require a dock of some sort.

The new 12 inch MacBook is not the best option for video editing anyway. All the others will give you a good assortment of USB ports.

Plus, you can follow Alchroma's suggestion and get a lot more if you need them.

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 28, 2015 7:32 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Hello Luis and Alchroma and Russ and Karsten!

You are right Luis. I have looked into the features of the latest iMacs on the Apple's page and have found that the multiple ports are eating, there are two and not one TB ports.

About 6 months back, when I was just 'scouting' for newer Macs [sort of window shopping Eh!] I remember seeing some Macs having having fewer ports. This was not on an Apple's website but on online vendors. I'm not sure about this and hence my wording has been [correct me if I am wrong].

Thanks for correcting me. I appreciate all the trouble you and other members in this thread have read through my doubts and queries and have patiently answered them.

I wish to state that all of you have helped me to get my FCPX going along as it was earlier. I do not know which badge has to be apportioned to whom!!!

I feel it is just of me to let all of you know that I have millions of thanks to all of you, but only three awards to give to you! Can you help me in this matter too?

Regards and take care!

Dr. Somanna

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 28, 2015 7:34 AM in response to Russ H

Hello again Russ. Have done what you have asked me to do. I started the Mac in safe mode and restarted. FCPX regained its earlier state. Thanks!

Dr. Somanna

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Jul 28, 2015 7:50 AM in response to somanna

Glad to hear it.

Russ

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 28, 2015 5:11 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter

Dear Karsten! Thanks for your further inputs. I am relieved to learn that my 'system' is still 'good' [for a while].

I am aware of your not total [putting it mildly] approval of my usage of external drives and data backup procedures. I would like to inform you that I consider my video making very seriously [I have quit from a job in order to give more time for this activity] and I do not want any avoidable mishap to destroy my works. [Should I lose one kidney, I should at least have another kidney to get along...kind of logic]. I have been posting questions in this forum, and based upon various helpful suggestions given by contributors, this includes you, I am having the present 'sophisticated' arrangement of drives. I am very satisfied and comfortable with this set up and trust that my works will not get destroyed for good!

Regarding unplugging of additional drives: Yes! I can certainly eject all the inactive drives! CCC will mount them for the backup tasks placed on schedule. Yes, I will do it while using FCPX. Thanks.

Yeah, I hope I will remember to start the Mac in safe mode once a week. Russ had stated that apps are available for clearing of memory. I should look into that aspect too.

I guess I have organised my FCPX libraries to the best of my ability. I use my Thunderbolt drive for editing projects. When done, I move the event to my LaCie for archive purposes. I export the project as YouTube quality 720 resolution to a separate drive labelled as drive for media sharing. I have backup drives/partition for these 'primary drives' viz. Thunderbolt, LaCie, and the drive for media sharing. I have two backups for the internal drive. For other than the Thunderbolt, I have backups for the rest of other drives!

Have not yet started on multicam! Will keep your suggestion to have proxy media in mind when I do. Same with compound clips.

Yeah, you are right on target with your final observation: For simple editing, adding music, titles, color corrections, his 'old' Mac is good enough ... I dare to suggest ...

Thanks once again, dear and daring Karsten.

Regards and take care.

Dr. Somanna

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Jul 28, 2015 5:27 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Hello Luis! Thanks for the detailed information you have provided.

While pondering over this matter, I am wondering whether any laptop [Apple's of course] would give me a 'lag-free' FCPX performance. Having a portable workstation would help. Family commitments may sometimes require me being away from home for a while. For e.g.. my daughter has undergone surgery and has requested me to be with her next week. Going for outstation video-shooting with a laptop would be an asset.

Can you suggest which laptop would be good for this purpose?

Regards and take care.

Dr. Somanna

Jul 29, 2015 1:57 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

Hello Luis! Thanks for the detailed information you have provided.

While pondering over this matter, I am wondering whether any laptop [Apple's of course] would give me a 'lag-free' FCPX performance. Having a portable workstation would help. Family commitments may sometimes require me being away from home for a while. For e.g.. my daughter has undergone surgery and has requested me to be with her next week. Going for outstation video-shooting with a laptop would be an asset.

Can you suggest which laptop would be good for this purpose?

Regards and take care.

Dr. Somanna

Any current mac can work with FCP X. The choice, as always, depends on a lot of factors. My main mac is a laptop, essentially the only machine I use (except for some office stuff, where I use a 2011 iMac), so when I updated (from a 2010 17" MBP, now used by my wife), I went with the best at the time (2014 15" rMBP, with discrete GPU). This rMBP is an awesome machine.

If I were editing all day at a desk, and only occasionally needed portability, I would have made a different choice (probably an iMac and a MBAir, I suppose).

My point is that if your main editing machine is a desktop you probably can go with a not so expensive laptop and still do fine. Note that you'll have to consider how you take your media. Depending on the size, you may be fine with a 2.5" inch USB3 drive to carry your media while on the go.

How to deal with lag in FCPX?