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Q: How to delete clips on external drive with fcpx

Hi all,

 

Using the latest version of fcpx.  I went to tidy up stuff today to free up some space on the external drive that houses all my fcpx data.

 

To do this I deleted unused takes.  So I select a bunch of clips>right click>move to trash>empty trash>done.  Or so I thought.

 

After doing this for quite a while, I wondered how much space I'd cleared on the external drive so I click 'get info' and oddly find that I haven't gained any space at all.  Then in fcpx I right click a clip of a take I wanted>reveal in finder and I can see all the other clips I had "deleted" still there on the external drive! 

 

So can anyone explain to me how to delete clips on an external drive in fcpx?  Also is there a simple way to fix the muddle I now have?  Basically fcpx displays the content exactly as I want it to be on the external drive, it just didn't actually delete any of it...  Please don't tell me I have to manually locate and delete each clip - there are hundreds!

 

Much appreciate any help

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), iOS 9.3.4

Posted on Aug 12, 2016 1:47 PM

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Q: How to delete clips on external drive with fcpx

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Tom Wolsky,Helpful

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Aug 17, 2016 3:08 AM in response to metalkettel
    Level 10 (118,096 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 17, 2016 3:08 AM in response to metalkettel

    WHen you say your clips are on an external drive do you mean that they're in a folder outside of the library? If that's the case, yes they have to be deleted manually.

  • by metalkettel,

    metalkettel metalkettel Aug 13, 2016 5:30 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Aug 13, 2016 5:30 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    I'm not 100% sure.  When I look at the source (the external disk) I can see folders and also libraries... I have a feeling it may be a bit of a mix up!  It is all well organised inside fcpx though, I just need to free up some disk space.  It would be simplest for me to be able to 'sync' what I see in final cut with what I see on the external drive.  Is there no way I can do that?

     

    Also how do I delete a clip that is on the external disk from within final cut?

     

    Many thanks.

  • by Tom Wolsky,Helpful

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Aug 17, 2016 3:08 AM in response to metalkettel
    Level 10 (118,096 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 17, 2016 3:08 AM in response to metalkettel

    There are essentially two ways to handle the media for your library, either as managed media or as external media. For a fuller explanation see here http://www.fcpxbook.com/articles/managed-and-external-media.html

     

    It would be simplest for me to be able to 'sync' what I see in final cut with what I see on the external drive.

     

    It's not that simple because the user has multiple options on where to store media every time media is imported, either in the library, in an assigned folder, or leave in place. The application will not reorganize media in the Finder for you as it can create chaos in other applications. Similarly if you're using external media deleting clips from FCP will not delete them from the Finder as they might be in use by or needed for other applications. For eternal media the files in the Finder have to be removed manually in the Finder. If you're using managed media, if you delete all instances of a clip in FCP then the clip will disappear when the application is closed and the trash dumped.