iMovie Saving Original Media as Alias Files - Consolidate Events Not Working

Question

Level 1

9 points

iMovie Saving Original Media as Alias Files - Consolidate Events Not Working

I am working with iMovie 10.1.11 on a MacBook. All of my original media (right clicked on Library and show contents) is being saved as alias files. iMovie is also automatically creating a folder called “Final Cut Original Media” and saving all of my trimmed files there (not sure why, I don’t use Final Cut). After searching for answers I tried to consolidate my events to change all of the alias files to movie files, but it didn’t seem to change anything.

Anyone know how to save my files to the library instead of creating aliases? Is this a setting on iMovie?

MacBook

Posted on Apr 15, 2020 3:55 PM

Reply

Answer 1

tugboatjane Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 15, 2020 6:35 PM in response to Rich839

Thank you for your reply, hopefully I can make things clearer...I’ll start back at the beginning to give more detail....

All of my files are stored in one location on an external hard drive. I’ve moved my Library to that same hard drive, so I’m working off of that drive instead of my Mac. I’ve imported all of my .mp4 movies into iMovie and sorted into Events. I’ve started a new project and started clipping and editing my movie. Everything is good.

I ran out of space on my external hard drive, so moving everything to a larger hard drive. I copied all of my original media and the project library to the new drive. When I open my Library on the new drive none of my media loads, it shows “missing file” on every clip.

So I dug down as you mentioned to “Show Package Contents”, and found the Original Media folder. When I open it, it shows me a bunch of files that are all aliases. These aliases all reference the original hard drive. My understanding is that these files should be .mp4 files (or another movie format) and should have been copied over when I copied my Library to the new drive (this is how it’s worked in the past for me).

I am not sure why my Project is saving everything as alias files, and I am looking for a fix.

The second part of my question states that all of the movie files that I would expect to be saved under the Original Media file seem to be saving in a new folder called “Final Cut Original Media”.

Reply

Answer 2

Rich839

Level 8

47,742 points

Apr 15, 2020 6:07 PM in response to tugboatjane

I'm not quite understanding your post. Perhaps if we review the basic architecture of iMovie 10 that will make things clearer, and you can explain where in the scheme you feel that things are going wrong. How did you determine that your media in the iMovie library were aliases? When you select a file in the iMovie app and do a File/Reveal in Finder, what shows up?

All media files in the iMovie app itself, the projects and events, are reference files, like aliases. All media files in the iMovie Library are originals. Files imported into iMovie are originals stored in the iMovie Library Original Media folder. When you work with clips in the iMovie app you are working with reference files that point to the originals in the iMovie Library Original Media folder. If you select a clip in an iMovie project timeline, or in the browser screen, and do a File/Reveal in Finder, an Original Media folder will pop up showing as highlighted the clip that you selected.

When you control-click on the iMovie library icon in the Movies folder on your Mac, and select Show Package Contents, you will see a list of folders of your projects and events. If you open one of the folders for a project you will see inside an Original Media folder that contains all of the original media in that project.

So, to help me isolate the issue better would you restate your question within the above framework?

-- Rich

Reply

Answer 3

Rich839

Level 8

47,742 points

Apr 15, 2020 7:14 PM in response to tugboatjane

Before moving your library you should do a File/Consolidate Library Media. That will consolidate all of the original media files into the library. Then when you move your library all of your media will go with it. That might not be what is causing your issue, but it is worth a try.

Also, before moving your library, your external drive should first be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Otherwise data can be lost. If you need to reformat, be aware that reformatting erases all data on the drive, so back up any data that you want to keep.

I have no idea why your files are saving to a folder called “Final Cut Original Media”.

You might want to talk with the savvy techs at Apple Support, who have the capability of remotely accessing your computer, that we are unable to do here. They might be a able to solve the issue.

— Rich

Reply

Answer 4

tugboatjane Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 16, 2020 4:32 AM in response to Rich839

I tried to use the “Consolidate” function, and it did not change any of the alias files, and therefore I still need the original hard drive to access the correct files.

My second hard drive is formatted to OS Extended. My first one is ExFAT, because originally I needed to use it on a PC as well. I’m not sure if there was an issue when I copied the library, but I’ve used this hard drive with previous projects with no issues. When using it on previous projects it was on an older Mac (in which the hard drive crashed).

I can’t find anything online about this “Final Cut” folder, it doesn’t seem like this should be happening. Previous projects on an older Mac, but the same hard drive never created this folder.

Talking to Apple Support will be my next step, just thought I’d throw it out here first and see if anyone had a similar issue and fixed it.

Reply

Answer 5

Rich839

Level 8

47,742 points

Apr 16, 2020 7:25 AM in response to tugboatjane

You might have needed to do the consolidation before moving the library. This is the third drive it has been on and some links might have been broken or data lost in the process. iMovie may not be able to find or read the "Final Cut Original Meda" folder where your original files might be located.

The ExFat format is compatible with both Windows and Mac for most things, but not for an iMovie library. It might appear to work fine with an iMovie library for a time but data can be lost.

Good luck with this. If you have time, please post back with your results from Apple Support. I am very curious as to what could be causing your issue.

-- Rich

Reply

Answer 6

tugboatjane Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 18, 2020 10:40 AM in response to Rich839

I had taken a break from working on this issue and I found a work around yesterday:

I ended up starting a new, blank library on the new external hard drive and started a blank project. I connected both drives and opened both the original library on the old drive and the new library on the new drive. I highlighted and copied my entire timeline on the old project and pasted it into the new one.

I did a File/Consolidate Library on the new library. This worked correctly and consolidated everything into the library (changed all of my Original Media into movie files instead of alias files).

I was then able to disconnect the old hard drive and work directly off of the new one.

So, I didn’t find the real reason it didn’t work the first time. I would guess it either had to do with the fact I originally copied the library without consolidating and that messed things up (the library thought it was consolidated even though it wasn’t). Or something about how I was working with two libraries with the same name (one on each drive). Or it may have had something to do with the format of my older hard drive (ExFAT instead of OS Extended).

Guess I’ll never really know, but at least I found a work around. It did remove all of my events, but I can live with that.

Reply