Producing a show by dragging video into an old FCPx movie file?

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Level 1

4 points

Producing a show by dragging video into an old FCPx movie file?

forgive my inability to properly describe my situation... but, here it goes...

I have a podcast with video/video elements, that releases episodes twice a month. There's a lot to the video side of things. There's a ticker, sponsor graphics, segment specific video lead-ins, segment specific music, etc.

So, what I'm hoping to do is to use a show as a template (in this example we'll call it Show A). This is a completed show, where all of the elements I need are added into the timeline.

Now, it's been my experience, that if I use Show A as a template, where I can drag new video/audio and images over old ones... the file size grows insanely large.

I've tried deleting generated files, deleting older videos to leave the latest... nothing really seems to work.

So, I need some help. Is there a way for me to achieve this template like status without having file sizes explode in size?

TIA!!

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Apr 10, 2025 11:31 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

terryb

Level 4

3,340 points

Apr 10, 2025 11:42 AM in response to tsand72

Turn off background rendering. If you have an effect-heavy section that is difficult to play in real-time and is affecting your ability to edit, render just that section.

Learn about FCP's media management options and see if "Leave files in place" on import is appropriate for your workflow. Using "Copy to library" duplicates the media into the library.

Import settings in Final Cut Pro for Mac - Apple Support

Intro to importing media in Final Cut Pro for Mac - Apple Support

https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/docs/Media_Management.pdf

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Answer 2

Apr 10, 2025 11:08 PM in response to terryb

terryb wrote:

Is the library itself growing? If so, that could indicate that you've got background rendering enabled and cache files are being generated. Removing the cache only helps temporarily because with that setting enabled, FCP will dutifully start regenerating them. It could also mean you've got Leave files in place enabled for imports, which duplicates your media into the library. I mentioned both of these in my earlier reply. Check your settings and report back.

You of course meant the opposite. "Leave files in place" avoids duplication.

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,777 points

Apr 10, 2025 11:45 AM in response to tsand72

What files are exploding in size? The library bundle? For this type of production I’d suggest using a single library and keeping all the media, original clips and render files and other cache outside the library bundle.

To use the template select the project and use the duplicate as snapshot function. Open the original project and make the changes you want. The snapshot will remain as it was.

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Answer 4

terryb

Level 4

3,340 points

Apr 10, 2025 4:36 PM in response to tsand72

Is the library itself growing? If so, that could indicate that you've got background rendering enabled and cache files are being generated. Removing the cache only helps temporarily because with that setting enabled, FCP will dutifully start regenerating them. It could also mean you've got Leave files in place enabled for imports, which duplicates your media into the library. I mentioned both of these in my earlier reply. Check your settings and report back.

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