I've been using a 4tb external SSD for all of my FCP X projects and I'm left with around 250gb of space. Is there a way to compress / .zip a Library within the drive to free up space and not lose anything or the quality?
MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)
You are misunderstanding.
Generated files can be safely deleted and, depending on your usage of transcoded media, you may gain a LOT of space.
Generated files include optimized media, proxy media and render files.
They can always be REgenerated should the need arise.
Select a library in the browser, do File->Delete Generated Library Files and check all boxes. Watch the drive space miracle happen.
You are misunderstanding.
Generated files can be safely deleted and, depending on your usage of transcoded media, you may gain a LOT of space.
Generated files include optimized media, proxy media and render files.
They can always be REgenerated should the need arise.
Select a library in the browser, do File->Delete Generated Library Files and check all boxes. Watch the drive space miracle happen.
I deleted everything on one Library and saw it drop from 82gb to 18.83 - this was a Library I was comfortable losing if I screwed anything up. Doing the rest now, I have a few that are 400 - 800gb's.
Just to confirm, we're selecting All under Delete Render Files, correct?
I have never tried that. Interesting!
My thoughts are that if the existing external is your only place where media and FCP X work is stored it’s time to get another drive that is for BACKUP purposes.
Once backed up successfully delete older Project/Libraries from you working external.
Drives and or drives docks are very affordable and saves your bacon in a crisis.
Al
So this is my full backup. I have two other 2tb SSD's that I use for active editing and then I move it over to this 4tb drive. I'd rather not keep buying more drives unless it's truly necessary.
I zipped several libraries and it only decreases them by 2-4gb's, so not much help there.
I performed this operation yesterday to my main working drive in a house cleaning operation.
Some Libraries yielded half or more space saved, others not so much depending on how and what was required on the various Projects.
As mentioned already, deleting render files is a safe operation and can re-rendered later if required.
Al
Just in case you don't already know, have you deleted the Generated Library files for the project you've completed?
I haven't completed this, but my understanding is if you do this, you'll lose the original files which I don't want to do.
Deleting generated files deletes renders, optimized, proxies, and caches, it does not remove original media. It's SOP for archiving.
Will do! I'll give that a shot when I get back to the office. Pumped that this doesn't remove anything I've built out for a clip. Stay tuned, I'll share what the results are.
I think you'll find it will make a big difference! Keep us updated! 🙂
Yes.
This has worked perfectly, I took a 450gb file down to 12gbs and a 1.2tb to 55gb's. Thank you all so much for the quick responses and guidance on this step.
That's a HUGE space saving! Glad we could help!
Compress/Backup a Library
