Apple Final Cut Pro X (10.1.2) User Manual
Page 426
Chapter 14
Manage media, libraries, and archives
426
You can create optimized and proxy media during the import process or in the Browser, after the
media has been imported. You can also create a proxy file for a clip using the Info inspector. After
transcoding is complete, the optimized and proxy files are stored in your Final Cut Pro library or
in an external location you define in the Library inspector. For more information, see
on page 434.
To control whether Final Cut Pro displays optimized, proxy, or original media in the Viewer, and
whether video playback is optimized for quality or performance, choose the corresponding
options from the Viewer Options pop-up menu in the upper-right corner of the Viewer. For more
information, see
Control playback quality and performance
on page 85.
Important:
If you use proxy media for playback, make sure to switch back to optimized/original
media before sharing your project. This ensures the highest quality in the exported file. For more
information, see
Share projects, clips, and ranges
on page 400.
Create optimized and proxy files during import
During import, Final Cut Pro either creates an alias file that points to the media file in its original
location, or creates a copy of the original media file. After the files are imported, transcoding,
optimization, and analysis are performed in the background.
1
Do one of the following:
•
To import a file from a compatible file-based recording or storage device, or from your computer:
Connect your device to your computer, turn it on, choose File > Import > Media (or press
Command-I), navigate to and select the media you want to import, and click Import.
•
To import a file from a tape-based camcorder: Connect your device to your computer, turn
on the device, and set it to VTR or VCR mode. Then choose File > Import > Media, and
click Import.
•
To import from an archive: Choose File > Import > Media. Select a camera archive from the list
on the left, click Open Archive and navigate to the files you want to import, and click Import.
For more information, see
on page 23.
2
In the window that appears, choose how you want to organize the imported media in your
library:
•
To add the imported media to an existing event: Select “Add to existing event,” and choose the
event from the pop-up menu.
•
To create a new event: Select “Create new event in,” use the pop-up menu to choose the library
in which you want to create the event, and then type a name (for example, “Chris and Kim
Wedding”) in the text field.
To learn more about events, see
on page 56.
3
Choose a storage location for the media files:
•
To copy the files to the current library: Select “Copy to library” to duplicate the files and place the
copies in the current library storage location. You can set storage locations for each of your
libraries using the Library Properties inspector. For more information, see
on page 434.
•
To link to the files at their current location: Select “Leave files in place.”
Note: If you select this option, Final Cut Pro creates symbolic links (also known as symlinks),
which are special files that point to the media files. If you later copy or move clips between
events, Final Cut Pro copies or moves the symbolic links only (not the source media files). To
replace the symbolic links with the actual source media files, select the events and choose
File > Consolidate Event Files. For more information about files and clips, see
on page 22.
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