Missing Camera Error

Importing in FCPX is almost instantaneous. However, copying the files from a source card to a library on a hard drive is a real-time process, takes quite a while to move all those gigs. The card was removed before the copying was completed.

You should be able to simply attach and mount the card, select all of the problem clips, and use the Reimport Clip function. See the FCPX help system: Import from connected cameras/file-based cameras/reimport a clip.

Reimport a clip

Two situations warrant reimporting a clip:

• If the clip was not completely imported: If you cancel or quit Final Cut Pro before an import is finished, a Camera icon appears on the bottom-left corner of the clip. This icon indicates that Final Cut Pro is using the media on the camera for playback (instead of using the QuickTime file that was created during import).To play a clip with a Camera icon, Final Cut Pro locates the media on either a connected camera or in a connected, available camera archive. (See Access media on an archive or disk image for more information.) If Final Cut Pro can’t locate the media in one of those locations, the clip will go offline and display the Missing Camera alert icon.
• If the clip’s source media file is not available: If a clip’s source media file is moved or deleted, or the volume it is located on is disconnected from the computer, a Missing File icon is displayed on the clip. To restore the clip, you can reimport it.

See Alert icons for more information about alert icons.When you reimport a clip, Final Cut Pro automatically connects to the necessary camera or camera archive. There is no need to manually mount a camera archive before reimporting.

1. Do one of the following:
   • Connect the camera that contains the clip to your computer, and turn it on. This will bring the clip online, but the clip will still display the Camera icon in the lower-left corner.
   • Insert the memory card that contains the clip in your computer or connected card reader.See About memory cards and cables for more information.
   • Make sure the camera archive that contains the clip is located in one of the Final Cut Pro camera archives.See Create and manage camera archives for more information.
2. In Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:
   • To reimport one clip: Select the clip in the Browser.
   • To reimport all clips in an event: Select the event in the Libraries list.
3. Choose File > Import > Reimport from Camera/Archive.

The clip or clips are reimported.

I spent half a day on this stupid bug, but here is what worked for me:

1. Right-click one of the troublesome files and select "reveal in finder..". Finder will navigate to the clip inside the .fcbundle archive and highlight the file.
2. Delete the file (along with any other troublesome files) in Finder.
3. Go back to the Final Cut browser . The clips should now be marked correctly as missing (yellow triangle), so just delete the marked references.
4. If there are files that are not marked as missing, reveal them in finder to locate them, and delete them from the archive, then repeat step 3 until everything is gone.
5. Delete the Event (this might not be necessary, but why risk it?)
6. Import your files again with the standard "Import > Media"

This might have gotten extra problematic for me since I started importing into the wrong Event and canceled the import. The problematic files that were generated by Final Cut where in the Event that i canceled the import to.

Have you tried renaming the files on the SD Card and reimporting them? I would agree that this is a time consuming work-around that really should not be necessary, but it's better than being stuck.

I have the same problem with students using iPads (I'm also a video instructor). It's very frustrating and I have yet to find a simple relink solution.

"does not work" is not meaningful. Since I'm not looking over your shoulder, perhaps you could explain what happens.