Compound Clip in Final Cut Pro X: What's Changing and How You Can Adapt

In recent updates to Final Cut Pro X (FCPX), Apple has introduced significant changes that affect how media is handled when consolidating libraries or importing external folders. One of the key changes is the way FCPX handles shared media files, particularly those stored on YouTube.

Consolidating Media: What You Need to Know

When you consolidate media from a library to an external folder, the media is moved, whereas in previous versions, it was copied. This means that if you want to reuse your shared media file outside of FCPX, you'll need to make a copy of it before quitting the application.

The workaround is to export and transcode the media as soon as possible after importing it into FCPX. This ensures that you have a copy of the original file for future use.

New Option for Storing Imported Media

FCPX 10.1.2 introduces a new option for storing imported media in external storage locations. To set up this feature, go to Media and Cache > Storage Locations, then click 'Modify Settings' in the Library Properties menu.

Once you've set up your external storage location(s), you can store your imported media in these folders instead of having it stored within FCPX's internal cache.

Tips for Working with Compound Clips

When working with compound clips, it's essential to keep track of your media files and ensure that you have multiple copies of the original file. This way, you can reuse your shared media files across different platforms, such as YouTube, Vimeo, or Dropbox.

To access your shared YouTube media file, right-click on the Cache file in the 'Shared Items' folder and select 'Show Package Contents.' From there, you can locate and copy the original file for future use.

The changes introduced in FCPX 10.1.2 may take some getting used to, but by understanding how media is handled when consolidating libraries or importing external folders, you'll be better equipped to adapt to these new features. By following the tips outlined above, you can ensure that your compound clips are well-organized and easily accessible across different platforms.

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