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FCP X taking up computer space

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norgeanders
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 367
Hey guys so this might sound like a stupid question and might be answered before and if that is the case please just give me the link and let this thread die.

Question: I love to make edits but dont do it very often but i notice that it takes up a shit ton of space on my computer when i do, I just want to know what you guys do to prevent your computer from filling up like that.

BTW: I have a mbp and have upgraded ram to 16gb and have standard 500gb hdd

Thanks A lot!
Jul 26 2013 3:59PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,947
External drives, keep all your movie files on that and it will free up a bunch of space on your HD. The program itself only takes up like 5gb...
Jul 26 2013 4:05PM
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norgeanders
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 367
ok but dont you have to upload the files into fcp?
Jul 26 2013 4:06PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,947
It doesn't matter, you can do it from an external drive.
Jul 26 2013 4:09PM
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norgeanders
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 367
yea I understand that but ive noticed that when im making a new project it takes up a lot of space do you just make the project and save it on the external hard drive or?
Jul 26 2013 4:13PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,947
Not exactly sure what you're talking about. A project files doesn't contain any data, its just the frame in which you put files into.
Jul 26 2013 4:21PM
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norgeanders
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 367
for instance this is one event that im making right now and its taking up 100gb!!
Click for larger image
Jul 26 2013 4:29PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,947
Just put that file/folder on an external drive.

It appears fcpx does what imovie does and self-contains everything in a project file (super fucking stupid) so you just need to save your projects on an external drive.
Jul 26 2013 4:34PM
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norgeanders
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 367
ok i think i get it, so will everything on my external hd show up in fcp when i use it? and any reccomendations for an external hd for a starter like me i only have about 50gb of video now
Jul 26 2013 4:41PM
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norgeanders
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 367
but it seems like since fcp wants to transcode everything and what not it takes up a lot more space??
Jul 26 2013 4:43PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,947
You probably can change that, I dont use fcpx so I cant help you there.


As for an external, check out a lacie d2. Even though you only have 50gb of video, it sounds like fcpx is transcoding so you probably have 300-400gb of stuff? A 1tb external is like $100 its a good investment.
Jul 26 2013 4:45PM
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norgeanders
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 367
alright i think i pretty much understand whats going on, thanks for the help and ill look into getting a hard and damn those Lacie HD are expensive!
Jul 26 2013 4:51PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
LaCie D2's are expensive for various reasons:

Design.
Build quality.
Connectivity, ability to daisychain:

Click for larger image

Cables: they actually ship every cable you need and they are not thin and flimsy but fat and sturdy.
Warranty


I have 10 of them and apart from the '05 power supply that was a bit iffy they all still work perfectly.
Jul 26 2013 5:14PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,947
You could go cheaper like a WD my book, but the cheaper the drive the lower the quality usually.
Jul 26 2013 5:16PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
This might not do anything, but try hiding the video files before you save the project. I know it makes a difference in PS, so it might do something, IDK. Let me know if it does anyway.
Jul 26 2013 6:10PM
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