I guess this is why my computer feels like it’s dragging. I’ve only ever used one master library and each video I did was an event in that library. Guess that’s my problem?
Very good .. 3:25 you forgot to mention something very important .. when you create the library you have the option to either ‘copy footage to library’ OR ‘ leave in place’. At the end of your tutorial you mention deleting the footage folder - THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE IF YOU SELECTED ‘leave in place’ otherwise your project will be useless as there will be no footage at all. The footage MUST be copied to the library FIRST before deleting the footage folders. THIS SHOULD BE MADE VERY CLEAR!
@@waynelast1685 question - so if you 'copy footage to library' are you essentially doubling the footage in which the footage basically exists now in TWO places: your external hard drive and your FCPX library found in your internal hard drive? that would eat up your system storage really quickly i'd imagine... can you simply manipulate and access your footage all from within your hard drive?
Jael Nava I’m actually not an expert however I believe what you said is true you can access it directly from your hard drive in the original location but it will run more slowly I believe. Some experts reading this post can comment on that. Read the above comments and they indicated you should copy it to the library and then delete the original from your hard drive. However you should always keep a back up or two of your video footage in a separate location in case something happens to your computer and even the footage in the library gets lost.
Excellent! I just bought a new Mac Book Pro and wanted to start out using FCPX correctly from the start, instead of the mess I made on my old system. I wish I had the sense to search for this video long ago.
Really like how you broke it down. Thanks and thank "Freedom Matters" for the important point he made. I'll be visiting this post a few more times to make sure I set up my files correctly for FCPX. Thanks again.
Yes, I agree with you about nomenclature. I fell into the same trap when I started with iMovies. I should have created one iMovie library for each Karaoke song that I was working on, but instead, mistakenly I kept on keeping each new additional song in the same ‘library’. When I got up to 10 songs or so my computer began struggling to load them all up before it could get going on my number 11 song. It was only them I realised I should have created one ‘library’ per song. Ok now but it took months for the penny to drop. Yes Apple really has fumbled with nomenclature. 👍
Thanks mate. For a guy moving from premier to final cut, this was the best explanation so far of what the library, projects, etc. all means in relation to files.
Let's say I have my files on a Sim Card in a USB port. I drag a file from there into a Library. Does FCP create a folder on my hard drive and move that file there? AND WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?
Hi Ray, the files are imported INTO the fcpx library. By default fcpx libraries live in your movies folder. If you need to find the files you can right click on the lib file in finder and select “view package contents” this will reveal the folders where your imported media lives
My friend, you have just saved me such a headache. I like you did, have been getting tangled up in libraries, projects and such. I have over a dozen videos edited but messed up in the files structure, my FCPX files are gong to look very much more organised now. Thanks!
I used to do all that stuff for the 7 years I used Premiere Pro. I did it for a bit while using FCPX, but now I just create a library, import everything AND COPY it in the library and I only have that one 'package' of the FCPX Library which can be opened just like a folder anyways. Also, FCPX puts your files all in one place anyways when you're in the program so having them in folders seems pointless to me if then in the edit I still have them in chronological order all in one place. So I just do that, every time I plug in an SD Card I do it with FCPX open and use the import function and that's it. If I have to back-up, I'll just do so by duplicating the Library file onto another hard drive and that's it. Perfect.
This is what I do. New project? Create a library. Import everything, make a few "projects" for different releases. "Instagram Timeline", "Instagram Story", "RUclips", etc. That library lives on an external SSD and acts as a project container.
Thanks for spelling this out so clearly ,im just a casual user but struggle with files ,folders ,duplication and low drive space ,cant wait to put thjis into practice.
My current problem is not understanding how to keep my assets--like backing music, front and rear-end video logos, and logo/bug--easily accessible from one episode of our talk show to the next..... What I have been doing is copying the folder from each previous episode to the next, renaming it and replacing those files (like footage) in order to prep for the new episode. I KNOW there's probably an easier and a more efficient way to do this, so I am in search of that solution..... Thanks for confirming that I need to start a new library for each TYPE of video project (i.e. vlogs, music videos, and talk show episodes), as that is what I had figured out after just winging it for about a year....
Hey thanks for watching! You may well find this video I made helpful, it covers exactly what you have been wondering: ruclips.net/video/7Q5tqvxtUW0/видео.html
@@WillChidlow Thanks! I watched it and what you do is very similar to what I do now (except that you rename your folders more efficiently). I was hoping to find a solution where I didn't need to copy the contents of that folder again, but perhaps that's not how it's done... I've never worked with more than one "project" open at a time in Final Cut Pro X and perhaps that would be necessary to do what I am thinking of. I REALLY would like those assets to be added to the "Generators" or "Titles" menu in FCPX, but I am still researching if that is possible.... Thanks, though, for taking time out to respond so quickly with a helpful resource. :)
Your explanation about libraries and projects was golden. This got me back on track. Thanks, Will! Very lucky to have found your video when I was on the precipice of a rage quit.
Thanks for that, that was very helpful at explaining the opening bits which have thrown me coming from premiere. One thing that stands out to me just on a process basis. If you set final cut > preferences > import to "leave files in place" you then don't get the doubling of your files and I personally would leave that initial file structure (with your cameras etc in it) for later use and searching rather than searching a library file. You can then right click your library file > show package contents - and then see your temp files etc which you can delete as needed. Keeping the files like this will probably make backups etc much easier as you aren't copying an 300gb etc library file around the place all the time. Just something to consider, I hope that makes sense. Thanks for the help though, it seems like such an odd program when coming from others.
Excellent. I have got in such a mess with old & new video files, projects, Libraries blah blah blah. As you rightly explained, FCPX back up files take a huge amount of space - I have just had a huge clear out - so now will be implementing your ideas as I start afresh! - so thank you so much 👍
Outstanding! Best explanation that's actually understandable about how to set up an editing session. I'm new to FCP X and find the Library/Project/Event hierarchy maddeningly confusing. This is a very helpful stride towards FCP X clarity.
The answer I’ve been looking for! Thank you for taking the time to go through your process it works perfectly for the way I work. At last I can get things organised and not go through all the anxiety everyone I open FCPX
Just what I needed. Complete chaos on my hard drive and have been using final cut pro for about 6 months and still didn't know what projects, library and events was all about. Super cheers for that. Simple, easy to understand and brought in a cool way.
This is interesting! I was using a library for every TYPE of project, and events for EACH project. So what I'm getting from your video is essentially to create a full library for each PROJECT, as in, for each RENDERED VIDEO. I love how the footage is neatly organized automatically by FCPX when you drag the folders into the app. I will start doing this from now on. Thank you so much!!
@@WillChidlow I did!! Thank you so much. Today I published my latest video and I followed your tips with wonderful results. It's SOOOOO much easier to find the footage you need at any given moment.
thanks for the tips, they are all so helpful. one thing I am interested in watching , is the workflow/process of how you open an old project, and start to reload/relink everything again, in order to edit an old video. :)
Your workflow is good in one sense that you are using events to make folders, besides that what I do is when i finish the project i export it as a library and as like you my media is in my library so i dont keep another copy, when everything is already there in library, but with this video i learned two things. 1. Folders as events. 2. Deleting all proxies and rendered files to save space, ill do that with all my libraries, I appreciate your effort of making this video and sharing with us, learned something new today.
Thank you soooooo much for this video! Ever since purchasing FCP a month ago I've been wrestling with how to manage the Library. You have cleared things up wonderfully!
Thank you. At least you mentioned, "this is the way I did it". I used FCPX for a few years and just like you all was confusing. You helped me not feel guilty. I knew I was sharper than the trouble I was having. As a musician, a Project is the main thing. I could not understand why the project is the basic structure and then events are above it. I filled projects, as you with gobs of gigabytes and could not figure why the file was so larger.
Hi Alan! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍 yes I am sure there are many ways you could do it but I’ve certainly found my life a little easier since taking this approach. I hope you found the video helpful
Great Video! I was doing the same thing. My Hard Drive is full and my library is 100G big and titled "unknown" . You explained this very well. I will try your technic moving forward and hopefully get my projects under control. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Great video friend. One thing I’ve done to resolve the issue of libraries getting too big is that I save my libraries on an external portable drive and work right off the drive. This also allows me to continue my work even if I’m not at my own Mac.
Hey 👋 thanks for watching, yep I’ve done the same too, I’m using a Drobo for my external drive which is great and then I have a rugged drive for out and about. Thanks for commenting, happy editing! 🙏👍😎
Thank you so much. My brand new $3k MacBook Pro is rainbow wheeling like crazy. Probably because everything is operating out of the same library. Oops. Well, this video saved me a call to Apple and helped we set up a good organization system. Thanks for the tips.
I do the same workflow as you pretty much, except when I complete a project, I delete everything, except for the master copy of the completed video. I keep that only in case I later want to use parts of a previous video in a future video.
@7:20 "dragging a folder into event keeps the folder structure" that is the gold of this video. Never knew that. Feel quite silly I never tried. Have watched 100s of hours of how tos on FCP. OK, I need to go back to school now. Thanks Will
Will Chidlow Max overload on info. But one question. If I have regular assets like intro or something do you have those saved in a folder and copy into each new library? I’ve been copying them from one open project to the next. Means having to keep multiple project and libraries open. Ergo the problem you talked about of slowing down the machine. Btw new sub as well. #keepcreating
Hi Andrew, great question, personally i have a folder on my hard drive of my regular assets and i copy them in to the new library at the the start of each new library i create. I'm currently investigating a better way of managing this but at the moment that's the best i have come up with. Of course for regularly used audio it is possible but not for video and images GRRR! Many thanks for the Sub and apologies for my slow reply, for some reason youtube held your comment for review and i didn't spot it straight away 👍
This was SO helpful. The way the Library/Event/Project system works is not intuitive (to me, anyway) and I'm in the same shape you were, with stuff all over the place.
Hey! Thanks so much for watching and commenting and I’m super glad you found it useful! It took me ages to get my head around it so you are certainly not alone! Thanks again! 👍
Great explanation for some of the quirky features on Final Cut Pro! We just recently switched over from Adobe Premiere Elements and some things have puzzled me, which is how I found your videos. I will be checking out your editing process too. Thanks for clearing up some of my confusion. 😀
7:06 OMG THIS WAS SO USEFUL (dragging folder into event) and i missed this detail the first time i watched it months ago! I came back to this video for reference and was amazed by how this tip makes my life so much easier and i can't believe i missed this the first time around. wooooow so glad i discovered it! tysm!
I did a little different that leave the footage out of library, instead of that, I will render the proxy files for editing. Then I can just take the small proxy final cut library with me in a potable SSD. After the project is finished, I delete the proxy and rendering files, and then move the original footage into the library as a kept package. But really good to know that I can organize the files in finder first, didn't know that before. Cheers.
Very good! I was about 80% where you are after almost a year of using FCPX. Thanks for the final bits of info I needed to get me all the way to fool proof organization. In particular, I love your method for paring down unnecessary footage for storage after the project concludes.
Thanks for sharing this; I’m a small (but growing!) RUclipsr moving to FCPX from iMovie and this has helped massively. Also explains why my 4K iMac is so laggy and sounds like a hovercraft - it ain’t the heat, it’s the library, lol. Cheers, Peter 👍👍
Hey Peter! Thanks for watching and commenting, so glad you found the video helpful, yep FCPX is certainly quite a step up from iMovie but the fundamentals are the same so I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun with it. Video editing is so labor intensive for any computer so keeping files minimised and tidy makes a big difference. Out of interest are you using proxy media? If you are working with 4K footage then I would highly recommend using proxy files to edit, it will speed up your workflow no end! 👍👌😎
Will Chidlow Thanks Will! Yeah, FCPX is familiar coming from iMovie, but different in all kinds of ways, lol. Wish they’d kept the keyboard shortcuts more constant... No, not using 4K footage just 1080p, though 4K is something I’d like to play with once I’m more comfortable with FCPX. And I’d have to check the settings to see if I’m using proxy media, tbh! 😬
Even if you are using 1080 footage you will find that proxy media speeds things up a lot whilst editing, it basically creates small low quality versions of all your footage which helps with lag and render times. Once you’ve finished your edit you can simply export using original media and voila! Good luck with all the shortcuts, hopefully my channel can help you on your journey 👍
I definitely put all my RUclips videos in a single library, and my processing speed has been SLOW and I'm only on my third video. I'm hoping that spreading things out to different libraries really helps speed things up. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Teresa! Yeah my office is a much nicer place to work now I have the coloured lights, perfect for late night editing sessions! 👌thanks for watching and commenting and glad you found the video helpful 👍🙌
I’m going through this right now. Creating and understanding how the library files works. I deleted some finished projects in a compilation library and am now trying to reclaim them. Frustrating. Thanks, your videos are helpful.
Hey Will, this was the best video ever, you helped me so much! I've just started making videos and I was already making a complete MESS - thank so much, I love the way you explain things - can't help but subscribe!
Will, thank you so much for this! I definitely have been keeping everything in the same library (my default as a photographer-it didn't occur to me to do anything else!), and I was starting to run out of hard drive space -I just got 250 gb back from your tips near the end and my computer is (and therefore I am) SO much happier! Thank you thank you thank you!
Thank you SO SO MUCH!! I usually create fan vids using an older version of Final Cut Pro, but during Covid-19, because of being at home all the time I thought it’d be a good idea to upgrade (for my birthday) and to learn this new software. Needless to say I was completely lost!!! So thanks again for this solution xoxo
I’ve managed to delete my projects and all back up files * *Bursts into tears!* * I imagine that all editors know my pain - My intentions were good... I was trying to free up some space... but it’s gone, I even rung Apple and they told me it was irreversible. Anyhoo..... I was wondering if you could help me. What is the best way to keep space freed up for fcpx (A course of action that will not lead to losing all my carefully sculpted hours of work! Lol) I have all my footage on my external hard drive, USB connected. If I edit straight from those Files instead of dragging everything onto the MacBook would that help or hinder? Help me, Will Chidlow, You’re my only hope! 🥺♥️❤️
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Your file structure makes a lot of sense and I will start using that on an external hard drive which will hopefully allow me to switch between desktop and laptop when needed. I think I understood 90% of your explanation, so I will come back and re-watch for the bits that my brain couldn't handle 🤣. Thanks again and keep up the good work. You get a 👍 from me :)
Dude...excellent advice on FCPX file organization. I've been editing a long time and LOVE FCPX but recently it's been a little glitchy and my desktop getting too hot. You made me totally rethink how I'm organizing my files into a library for each rather than a big library with projects inside. Makes a ton of sense. Also watched your Proxy Media video too - hadn't played with that, but may start. Appreciate you!
Spot on sir. I’m a newbie just starting up and though final cut is not in budget at present, I’ve taken the plunge with Mac and so iMovie is my option at present. This has been a big bugbear in my progression and your guidelines are starting to clear up a lot for me along with the great staff in Apple shops. So glad I came across this and subbed. Many thx. Just what I needed to start with an initial ‘template’ of sorts.
Thank you Steve 🙌 so pleased you found the video helpful. I started with iMovie myself and found the learning curve when upgrading pretty daunting but actually it was all pretty easy once I got started. Once you get started with FCPX don’t hesitate to drop me some questions, I’m always adding video ideas to my list! Thanks for watching and commenting and welcome to the channel! 😎🙌👍🙏
Super helpful!!! Thanks will. I'm just getting into fcpx and the terminology and file management is just not as intuitive as one would hope. But, this really cleared things up. I'm going to do exactly this.
Great advice for newcomers and clearly explained. Similar to mine also with the exception the my Library is on a a different HD to the original rushes as simple redundancy.
Wow! I’m editing with Final Cut pro x almost 5 years now but today I’ve learned easy and simple way organizing files Thanks i appreciated and i ve subcribed you aswel.
@@WillChidlow FCPx has a steep learning curve for beginners like me, but a lot of RUclips videos go over some things too quickly. Showing every step clearly is very important. That's why I found this video helpful. My brother-in-law has been mentoring me and a few days earlier, he reviewed all this with me. Your instructions were very consistent with his, so this is a very good reference resource for me. Thanks.
Very helpful thanks , I’m just taking the leap of faith into fcpx after 12 years of fcp 6 (gulp), I believe you can make a template smart folder on a mac which you could copy for every new project which has the hierarchy you made in the intro
Absolutely brilliant! I have such a hard time having all my footage in one folder from multiple cameras. Especially since I haven't done it that often but find myself using multiple cameras more of a necessity these days. I just shot some drone footage with 4 cameras including the drone footage. I was dreading the editing process trying to match up footage. I'm glad I found your video. thank you.
"Every single project, create a new library". It sounds easy. It took me years to realise.
It took me a hot minute too Luis! Thanks for watching 👍🙏😎
I guess this is why my computer feels like it’s dragging. I’ve only ever used one master library and each video I did was an event in that library. Guess that’s my problem?
Kevin Strom was it?
Pavel Vitek seems like it was
Kevin Strom great!
Very good .. 3:25 you forgot to mention something very important .. when you create the library you have the option to either ‘copy footage to library’ OR ‘ leave in place’. At the end of your tutorial you mention deleting the footage folder - THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE IF YOU SELECTED ‘leave in place’ otherwise your project will be useless as there will be no footage at all. The footage MUST be copied to the library FIRST before deleting the footage folders. THIS SHOULD BE MADE VERY CLEAR!
You are very correct. As FCPX copies to library by default I didn’t mention it, but I definitely should have 👍🙌🙏😎
Will Chidlow it doesn’t do it by default unless you specified this in the import procedure.
@@waynelast1685 question - so if you 'copy footage to library' are you essentially doubling the footage in which the footage basically exists now in TWO places: your external hard drive and your FCPX library found in your internal hard drive? that would eat up your system storage really quickly i'd imagine... can you simply manipulate and access your footage all from within your hard drive?
Jael Nava I’m actually not an expert however I believe what you said is true you can access it directly from your hard drive in the original location but it will run more slowly I believe. Some experts reading this post can comment on that. Read the above comments and they indicated you should copy it to the library and then delete the original from your hard drive. However you should always keep a back up or two of your video footage in a separate location in case something happens to your computer and even the footage in the library gets lost.
I LOVE when people know what they're talking about!! Thank you, Will!
Ah thanks Tom! I try my best 👍🙏😎
You have been the only person, to break it down for us and make sense of it. I just recently, literally two days ago, got FCPX.
Thank you!
So great to hear! Thank you 👍🙏😎
I completely agree with you!
Excellent! I just bought a new Mac Book Pro and wanted to start out using FCPX correctly from the start, instead of the mess I made on my old system. I wish I had the sense to search for this video long ago.
Glad to help Randy 👍🙏😎
Really like how you broke it down. Thanks and thank "Freedom Matters" for the important point he made. I'll be visiting this post a few more times to make sure I set up my files correctly for FCPX. Thanks again.
One important convention that Adobe got right, and Apple fumbled, is nomenclature.
Abobe = Project • Bin • Sequence
Apple = Library • Event • Project
right-o!
Bro thats basically what I came for, thank you.
Yes, I agree with you about nomenclature. I fell into the same trap when I started with iMovies. I should have created one iMovie library for each Karaoke song that I was working on, but instead, mistakenly I kept on keeping each new additional song in the same ‘library’. When I got up to 10 songs or so my computer began struggling to load them all up before it could get going on my number 11 song. It was only them I realised I should have created one ‘library’ per song. Ok now but it took months for the penny to drop. Yes Apple really has fumbled with nomenclature. 👍
Just to be clear...in the FCPX world: LIBRARY=Project , EVENT=Bin , PROJECT=Sequence
quite true... ideally it should be Project> Library> Event...
Thanks mate. For a guy moving from premier to final cut, this was the best explanation so far of what the library, projects, etc. all means in relation to files.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching! Really keen to know what made you move from PP to FCPX?
I did the same thing Its just not optimized for the Mac OSX platform , Final cut is faster and cooler hands down
Let's say I have my files on a Sim Card in a USB port. I drag a file from there into a Library. Does FCP create a folder on my hard drive and move that file there? AND WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?
Hi Ray, the files are imported INTO the fcpx library. By default fcpx libraries live in your movies folder. If you need to find the files you can right click on the lib file in finder and select “view package contents” this will reveal the folders where your imported media lives
I'm new to final cut , and I just happened to stumble upon your tutorials . I love em . especially this one . thank you.
Cheers Scott! Glad I can help 👍🙏😎
My friend, you have just saved me such a headache. I like you did, have been getting tangled up in libraries, projects and such. I have over a dozen videos edited but messed up in the files structure, my FCPX files are gong to look very much more organised now. Thanks!
I used to do all that stuff for the 7 years I used Premiere Pro. I did it for a bit while using FCPX, but now I just create a library, import everything AND COPY it in the library and I only have that one 'package' of the FCPX Library which can be opened just like a folder anyways. Also, FCPX puts your files all in one place anyways when you're in the program so having them in folders seems pointless to me if then in the edit I still have them in chronological order all in one place. So I just do that, every time I plug in an SD Card I do it with FCPX open and use the import function and that's it. If I have to back-up, I'll just do so by duplicating the Library file onto another hard drive and that's it. Perfect.
This is what I do. New project? Create a library. Import everything, make a few "projects" for different releases. "Instagram Timeline", "Instagram Story", "RUclips", etc. That library lives on an external SSD and acts as a project container.
First time I saw a simple, yet effective solution to ogranise projects. Thanks a ton! This is going to help me and everyone involved A LOT.
Awesome to hear! Thanks for watching! 🙏🙌💪😎
Thanks for spelling this out so clearly ,im just a casual user but struggle with files ,folders ,duplication and low drive space ,cant wait to put thjis into practice.
You are very welcome! Thanks so much for watching 🙏🙏🙌👍
My current problem is not understanding how to keep my assets--like backing music, front and rear-end video logos, and logo/bug--easily accessible from one episode of our talk show to the next..... What I have been doing is copying the folder from each previous episode to the next, renaming it and replacing those files (like footage) in order to prep for the new episode. I KNOW there's probably an easier and a more efficient way to do this, so I am in search of that solution..... Thanks for confirming that I need to start a new library for each TYPE of video project (i.e. vlogs, music videos, and talk show episodes), as that is what I had figured out after just winging it for about a year....
Hey thanks for watching! You may well find this video I made helpful, it covers exactly what you have been wondering: ruclips.net/video/7Q5tqvxtUW0/видео.html
@@WillChidlow Thanks! I watched it and what you do is very similar to what I do now (except that you rename your folders more efficiently). I was hoping to find a solution where I didn't need to copy the contents of that folder again, but perhaps that's not how it's done... I've never worked with more than one "project" open at a time in Final Cut Pro X and perhaps that would be necessary to do what I am thinking of. I REALLY would like those assets to be added to the "Generators" or "Titles" menu in FCPX, but I am still researching if that is possible.... Thanks, though, for taking time out to respond so quickly with a helpful resource. :)
Back to back days I'm looking for FCPX tips and 2 of your videos came up. You have earned my subscription, sir!
That’s awesome Nico! Thanks so much, glad I could be helpful 👍👍😎
Thank you for this!. I just started using Final Cut and i was completely lost with libraries, events, projects. This video cleared that up.
Awesome to hear! Thanks for watching 👍🙏😎
Your explanation about libraries and projects was golden. This got me back on track. Thanks, Will! Very lucky to have found your video when I was on the precipice of a rage quit.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for that, that was very helpful at explaining the opening bits which have thrown me coming from premiere. One thing that stands out to me just on a process basis. If you set final cut > preferences > import to "leave files in place" you then don't get the doubling of your files and I personally would leave that initial file structure (with your cameras etc in it) for later use and searching rather than searching a library file. You can then right click your library file > show package contents - and then see your temp files etc which you can delete as needed. Keeping the files like this will probably make backups etc much easier as you aren't copying an 300gb etc library file around the place all the time.
Just something to consider, I hope that makes sense. Thanks for the help though, it seems like such an odd program when coming from others.
sorry just realised this was posted years ago. i'm sure you've changed this a bunch since
Awesome. Thank you. I knew bits and pieces of this but seeing another workflow is insight that you can't get from reading a book. Teach!
You're very welcome!
Excellent. I have got in such a mess with old & new video files, projects, Libraries blah blah blah. As you rightly explained, FCPX back up files take a huge amount of space - I have just had a huge clear out - so now will be implementing your ideas as I start afresh! - so thank you so much 👍
Hey! 👋 so glad you found the video helpful! Thanks for watching and happy editing! 👍😎🙏🙌
Outstanding! Best explanation that's actually understandable about how to set up an editing session. I'm new to FCP X and find the Library/Project/Event hierarchy maddeningly confusing. This is a very helpful stride towards FCP X clarity.
Awesome to hear! Glad I could help 👍👌🙏😎
The answer I’ve been looking for! Thank you for taking the time to go through your process it works perfectly for the way I work. At last I can get things organised and not go through all the anxiety everyone I open FCPX
Glad i could help!
Just what I needed. Complete chaos on my hard drive and have been using final cut pro for about 6 months and still didn't know what projects, library and events was all about. Super cheers for that. Simple, easy to understand and brought in a cool way.
Hey Haroun, thanks for watching and commenting, so glad you got some value from the video. Happy editing! 👍🙏🙌💪😎
Super helpful! Great into into understanding not only organizing files and folders, but also the structure of Libraries/Events/Projects.
Thanks Tyler! Glad you got some value from the video, thanks for watching 👍🙏😎
This is interesting! I was using a library for every TYPE of project, and events for EACH project. So what I'm getting from your video is essentially to create a full library for each PROJECT, as in, for each RENDERED VIDEO. I love how the footage is neatly organized automatically by FCPX when you drag the folders into the app. I will start doing this from now on. Thank you so much!!
super! so happy you found it helpful! happy editing 💪🙏👍😎
@@WillChidlow I did!! Thank you so much. Today I published my latest video and I followed your tips with wonderful results. It's SOOOOO much easier to find the footage you need at any given moment.
thanks for the tips, they are all so helpful. one thing I am interested in watching , is the workflow/process of how you open an old project, and start to reload/relink everything again, in order to edit an old video. :)
Thanks for watching! I’ll add your suggestion to my ideas list for the future 👍🙏😎
HOLY MOSES You just saved me over FOUR HUNDRED GIGS of space! Thankyou!!! And My laptop also thanks you 😂
Haha glad to help Alison 👍🙏😎
Your workflow is good in one sense that you are using events to make folders, besides that what I do is when i finish the project i export it as a library and as like you my media is in my library so i dont keep another copy, when everything is already there in library, but with this video i learned two things. 1. Folders as events. 2. Deleting all proxies and rendered files to save space, ill do that with all my libraries, I appreciate your effort of making this video and sharing with us, learned something new today.
Awesome 😎 thanks so much 🙌 glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching 👍🙌😎
Thank you soooooo much for this video! Ever since purchasing FCP a month ago I've been wrestling with how to manage the Library. You have cleared things up wonderfully!
Thanks for watching David! So glad you found it helpful. Happy editing! 👍🙏🙌💪😎
thanks buddy! very helpful! starting to wrap my head around the whole FCPX structure!
Happy to help 👍🙏😎
OMG you're answering all my questions thanks Will I love your video I've been getting my guts in a twist about how to organise the assets. Thank you !
Really helpful& you explained it easily enough for the organizing folders in fcp for someone coming from using windows & svp, thank you!!
You're welcome!
I bought a $700 content creator course...and still had to youtube this lesson. Thanks for giving this lesson for FREE.
Thanks so much for this, so glad I could help! 👍🙏😎
Thank you. At least you mentioned, "this is the way I did it". I used FCPX for a few years and just like you all was confusing. You helped me not feel guilty. I knew I was sharper than the trouble I was having. As a musician, a Project is the main thing. I could not understand why the project is the basic structure and then events are above it. I filled projects, as you with gobs of gigabytes and could not figure why the file was so larger.
Hi Alan! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍 yes I am sure there are many ways you could do it but I’ve certainly found my life a little easier since taking this approach. I hope you found the video helpful
Will Chidlow Thanks Will.
You are very welcome Allan! 👍
I still come back to this video for help. tysm!!!
Awesome stuff! So glad you are getting value from the video! 👍🙏😎💪
Thank you for making this simple to understand. Feel super confident moving forward!
That’s so great to hear Sacha, thanks for watching! 👍🙌🙏😎💪
I've only just figured this out with the terminology, libraries etc... Your video explains it all really well, wish I'd found it earlier!
Awesome! Thanks for watching 👍🙏😎
Great Video! I was doing the same thing. My Hard Drive is full and my library is 100G big and titled "unknown" . You explained this very well. I will try your technic moving forward and hopefully get my projects under control. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Awesome, glad you found it helpful! 👍🙏🙌😎
Great video friend. One thing I’ve done to resolve the issue of libraries getting too big is that I save my libraries on an external portable drive and work right off the drive. This also allows me to continue my work even if I’m not at my own Mac.
Hey 👋 thanks for watching, yep I’ve done the same too, I’m using a Drobo for my external drive which is great and then I have a rugged drive for out and about. Thanks for commenting, happy editing! 🙏👍😎
Thank you so much. My brand new $3k MacBook Pro is rainbow wheeling like crazy. Probably because everything is operating out of the same library. Oops. Well, this video saved me a call to Apple and helped we set up a good organization system. Thanks for the tips.
Still trying to get a hang of FCPX and this is really helpful. Thank you.
Happy to help! 👍🙏😎
Makes perfect sense to me, excellent video.
Glad to help! 👍🙏😎
Thank you very much for saving me from headaches. I literally don't know how to organize the library, event and project. This video helps me a lot.
Great stuff 👍 thanks so much for watching! Happy editing! 👍🙏🙌💪😎
Thank you! Very well explained. You answered a lot of my questions which other video didn’t.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks Bill 🙏👍
I do the same workflow as you pretty much, except when I complete a project, I delete everything, except for the master copy of the completed video. I keep that only in case I later want to use parts of a previous video in a future video.
@7:20 "dragging a folder into event keeps the folder structure" that is the gold of this video. Never knew that. Feel quite silly I never tried. Have watched 100s of hours of how tos on FCP. OK, I need to go back to school now. Thanks Will
Hi Andrew 👋 thanks for watching! So glad you got some value from the video, happy editing 👍😎
Will Chidlow Max overload on info. But one question. If I have regular assets like intro or something do you have those saved in a folder and copy into each new library? I’ve been copying them from one open project to the next. Means having to keep multiple project and libraries open. Ergo the problem you talked about of slowing down the machine. Btw new sub as well. #keepcreating
Hi Andrew, great question, personally i have a folder on my hard drive of my regular assets and i copy them in to the new library at the the start of each new library i create. I'm currently investigating a better way of managing this but at the moment that's the best i have come up with. Of course for regularly used audio it is possible but not for video and images GRRR! Many thanks for the Sub and apologies for my slow reply, for some reason youtube held your comment for review and i didn't spot it straight away 👍
Maaaaaaan....finally I've got it! Was doing it the same wrong way as you did, and now I am doing it the right way as you do!! Thanks bro! Really!
Awesome to hear Tom! Thanks for watching and happy editing! 👍🙏😎
Thank you for creating this! Your video has helped me better understand FCP files much better!
Glad it helped!
This was SO helpful. The way the Library/Event/Project system works is not intuitive (to me, anyway) and I'm in the same shape you were, with stuff all over the place.
Hey! Thanks so much for watching and commenting and I’m super glad you found it useful! It took me ages to get my head around it so you are certainly not alone! Thanks again! 👍
Great explanation for some of the quirky features on Final Cut Pro! We just recently switched over from Adobe Premiere Elements and some things have puzzled me, which is how I found your videos. I will be checking out your editing process too. Thanks for clearing up some of my confusion. 😀
👍🙏🙌🙌💪😎
New to Final Cut. Very helpful thanks.
Thanks for watching Jimmy! Happy editing! 👍🙏😎💪
This was great, extremely helpful.
Awesome to hear! Thanks for watching!
Awesome. Thanks for sharing your workflow
Glad you found it useful! Thanks for watching 👍🙏🙌😎
Excellent video content and delivery. Thanks a bunch
Cheers Curtis! Thanks for watching 👍🙏🙌😎
Do you have a video on backing up? Great video btw. Will be implementing your suggestions. Thanks!
Unfortunately not but I’ll add it to my idea list! Thanks for watching 👍🙏😎
7:06 OMG THIS WAS SO USEFUL (dragging folder into event) and i missed this detail the first time i watched it months ago! I came back to this video for reference and was amazed by how this tip makes my life so much easier and i can't believe i missed this the first time around. wooooow so glad i discovered it! tysm!
Glad you got so much from my content! Happy editing 👍🙏💪👌
Super helpful video. Thanks, Will!
Thanks Rion, glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching and happy editing 👍🙏😎
I did a little different that leave the footage out of library, instead of that, I will render the proxy files for editing. Then I can just take the small proxy final cut library with me in a potable SSD.
After the project is finished, I delete the proxy and rendering files, and then move the original footage into the library as a kept package.
But really good to know that I can organize the files in finder first, didn't know that before.
Cheers.
Thank you so much for this great video. First one that make sense regarding file management in fcpx. 👍🏻👍🏻
Awesome to hear Trond! Thanks for watching and commenting, glad you found the video helpful 👍😎🙌
Very good! I was about 80% where you are after almost a year of using FCPX. Thanks for the final bits of info I needed to get me all the way to fool proof organization. In particular, I love your method for paring down unnecessary footage for storage after the project concludes.
Hi Melanie, thanks for watching and commenting! So pleased you found the video helpful and glad I could fill in a few gaps for you. Happy editing! 👍😎
Thanks for explaining all this in such a short time! Brilliant!
Glad I could help, happy editing! 👍🙌🙏💪😎
Great video, really gave me a good place to start with my own organising.
Glad it was helpful!
This is very helpful. Thank you!
Thanks Will. This was a great video!
Cheers Dave, happy editing 👍🙏😎
Thanks for sharing this; I’m a small (but growing!) RUclipsr moving to FCPX from iMovie and this has helped massively. Also explains why my 4K iMac is so laggy and sounds like a hovercraft - it ain’t the heat, it’s the library, lol. Cheers, Peter 👍👍
Hey Peter! Thanks for watching and commenting, so glad you found the video helpful, yep FCPX is certainly quite a step up from iMovie but the fundamentals are the same so I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun with it. Video editing is so labor intensive for any computer so keeping files minimised and tidy makes a big difference. Out of interest are you using proxy media? If you are working with 4K footage then I would highly recommend using proxy files to edit, it will speed up your workflow no end! 👍👌😎
Will Chidlow Thanks Will! Yeah, FCPX is familiar coming from iMovie, but different in all kinds of ways, lol. Wish they’d kept the keyboard shortcuts more constant... No, not using 4K footage just 1080p, though 4K is something I’d like to play with once I’m more comfortable with FCPX. And I’d have to check the settings to see if I’m using proxy media, tbh! 😬
Even if you are using 1080 footage you will find that proxy media speeds things up a lot whilst editing, it basically creates small low quality versions of all your footage which helps with lag and render times. Once you’ve finished your edit you can simply export using original media and voila! Good luck with all the shortcuts, hopefully my channel can help you on your journey 👍
Great help as I try to organize all the data!
Glad to help Sheryl! Thanks so much for watching and commenting 👍
Love it. Thank you!
Awesome! Thanks for watching 👍🙏😎
Very helpful, especially creating a "Project" event. Thanks!
Thanks Joshua, happy editing! 👍🙏😎
I definitely put all my RUclips videos in a single library, and my processing speed has been SLOW and I'm only on my third video. I'm hoping that spreading things out to different libraries really helps speed things up. Thanks for the video!
Glad it was helpful 👍🙏😎
NOTED!!! it helps a lot mate !! thx for sharing !!
Thanks Joe 👍🙏😎
Thank you for the help! Dig the purple light and matching intro vid montage.
Thanks Teresa! Yeah my office is a much nicer place to work now I have the coloured lights, perfect for late night editing sessions! 👌thanks for watching and commenting and glad you found the video helpful 👍🙌
I’m going through this right now. Creating and understanding how the library files works. I deleted some finished projects in a compilation library and am now trying to reclaim them. Frustrating. Thanks, your videos are helpful.
Hopefully you managed to retrieve your projects?! 😬 check your backups, they have saved me many times!
Great video! Really helped.
Awesome to hear!👍🙏😎
Thank you! I thought I was the only one spun around by FCP categories.
Haha nope you are not alone! Happy editing and thanks for watching 👍🙏😎👌
Hey Will, this was the best video ever, you helped me so much! I've just started making videos and I was already making a complete MESS - thank so much, I love the way you explain things - can't help but subscribe!
Thanks Franzs! Glad you enjoyed 👍🙏😎
Will, thank you so much for this! I definitely have been keeping everything in the same library (my default as a photographer-it didn't occur to me to do anything else!), and I was starting to run out of hard drive space -I just got 250 gb back from your tips near the end and my computer is (and therefore I am) SO much happier! Thank you thank you thank you!
Hi Paige, so that’s so great to hear! Glad I could help! It took me ages to figure this out too. Thanks so much for watching 👍🙏😎
Thank you SO SO MUCH!! I usually create fan vids using an older version of Final Cut Pro, but during Covid-19, because of being at home all the time I thought it’d be a good idea to upgrade (for my birthday) and to learn this new software. Needless to say I was completely lost!!! So thanks again for this solution xoxo
You are very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like a great use of the time, thanks for watching and happy editing 👍🙏😎
I’ve managed to delete my projects and all back up files * *Bursts into tears!* * I imagine that all editors know my pain - My intentions were good... I was trying to free up some space... but it’s gone, I even rung Apple and they told me it was irreversible. Anyhoo..... I was wondering if you could help me. What is the best way to keep space freed up for fcpx (A course of action that will not lead to losing all my carefully sculpted hours of work! Lol) I have all my footage on my external hard drive, USB connected. If I edit straight from those Files instead of dragging everything onto the MacBook would that help or hinder? Help me, Will Chidlow, You’re my only hope! 🥺♥️❤️
Very, very helpful. Thank you for sharing.
You're very welcome!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Your file structure makes a lot of sense and I will start using that on an external hard drive which will hopefully allow me to switch between desktop and laptop when needed. I think I understood 90% of your explanation, so I will come back and re-watch for the bits that my brain couldn't handle 🤣. Thanks again and keep up the good work. You get a 👍 from me :)
Hey 👋 thanks so much! Glad I could help a bit. Hopefully you can get everything how you want it 👍👍
Thanks Will 👍
Dude...excellent advice on FCPX file organization. I've been editing a long time and LOVE FCPX but recently it's been a little glitchy and my desktop getting too hot. You made me totally rethink how I'm organizing my files into a library for each rather than a big library with projects inside. Makes a ton of sense.
Also watched your Proxy Media video too - hadn't played with that, but may start.
Appreciate you!
Thanks Kevin! It’s comments like this that make my day! Thanks for watching and commenting and happy editing 👍🙏😎
Spot on sir. I’m a newbie just starting up and though final cut is not in budget at present, I’ve taken the plunge with Mac and so iMovie is my option at present. This has been a big bugbear in my progression and your guidelines are starting to clear up a lot for me along with the great staff in Apple shops. So glad I came across this and subbed. Many thx. Just what I needed to start with an initial ‘template’ of sorts.
Thank you Steve 🙌 so pleased you found the video helpful. I started with iMovie myself and found the learning curve when upgrading pretty daunting but actually it was all pretty easy once I got started. Once you get started with FCPX don’t hesitate to drop me some questions, I’m always adding video ideas to my list! Thanks for watching and commenting and welcome to the channel! 😎🙌👍🙏
Super helpful!!! Thanks will. I'm just getting into fcpx and the terminology and file management is just not as intuitive as one would hope. But, this really cleared things up. I'm going to do exactly this.
Awesome stuff. Yeah it isn’t that intuitive to begin with. Glad I could help and thanks for watching! 👍👌🙏😎
Great advice for newcomers and clearly explained. Similar to mine also with the exception the my Library is on a a different HD to the original rushes as simple redundancy.
Thanks for watching! Also great addition having the extra redundancy. Happy editing! 👍🙏🙌👌
Wow! I’m editing with Final Cut pro x almost 5 years now but today I’ve learned easy and simple way organizing files Thanks i appreciated and i ve subcribed you aswel.
Awesome to hear! Thanks so much for watching! 👍
Thanks for the workflow!
My pleasure!
A very helpful video and answered a couple of queries that I had
Thanks Jonathon, Glad to help! 👍🙏😎
Excellent tutorial. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
@@WillChidlow FCPx has a steep learning curve for beginners like me, but a lot of RUclips videos go over some things too quickly. Showing every step clearly is very important. That's why I found this video helpful. My brother-in-law has been mentoring me and a few days earlier, he reviewed all this with me. Your instructions were very consistent with his, so this is a very good reference resource for me. Thanks.
Great useful video!!
Thank you very much!
Now i can sleep well...
🙏💪
sweet dreams!!
God bless you! This video was so helpful and you made it really easy to understand how to declutter my fcp files and library!
Thanks Lauren! So glad you found the tutorial helpful 💪 happy editing and thanks for watching 😎👍
This is such a great video super helpful!! would you be able to do a video on smart collections ?
So great. Thank you for being so relatable and clear. You really helped me!
Awesome to hear! Thanks for watching 👍🙏😎
This is great! I've used fcpx for years and it never occurred to me to create a separate event for projects. You've just gotten a new subscriber!
Awesome to hear! Thanks for watching and happy editing 👍🙏😎
Wish I'd known at the start to create a new library for each new video output when I started.
Great that you know now though Darren, thanks for watching 👍👌😎
Fantastic you save my day🙂🙂
Great to hear! 👍🙏😎
This was very helpful. Thanks very much
Glad it was helpful! thanks Ryan
Very helpful thanks , I’m just taking the leap of faith into fcpx after 12 years of fcp 6 (gulp), I believe you can make a template smart folder on a mac which you could copy for every new project which has the hierarchy you made in the intro
Thanks for watching Tarquin, yes you are quite right, I made another video suggesting just that. Thanks so much 👍👍💪🙌🙏
Great Video this will surely help me keep my files and projects organized thank you.
That’s great news! Thanks for watching 👍👌😎
This guy rocks!! Love his videos.
Thanks so much!
Just the video I needed, answered all my questions, thanks
Cheers Solomon! Happy editing! 👍🙏😎💪
Absolutely brilliant! I have such a hard time having all my footage in one folder from multiple cameras. Especially since I haven't done it that often but find myself using multiple cameras more of a necessity these days. I just shot some drone footage with 4 cameras including the drone footage. I was dreading the editing process trying to match up footage. I'm glad I found your video. thank you.
Happy to help Mark 👍🙏😎