Different Scratch Disk Per FCP Project

I love FCP Studio and swear by it for most things. I'll cut straight to the point...
I want to be able to set my scratch disk location (capture scratch, render files, audio render files) as a project based setting NOT a system wide setting, and I want FCP to remember this setting for each project.
I am very frustrated with the fact that you can't set the scratch disk to different locations per project, as I am constantly changing the location depending on what I am working on, and sometimes I forget and I'm working off the wrong drive.
Also, sometimes I'm multi-tasking and working on two or more projects for different clients off of different mobile drives. This becomes a big cluster f$!k when I'm forced to render and digitize everything to one drive yet I'm working off of several removable drives that I need to take with me at some point. I need elements for each project to stay on their own drive!
Now, I understand that my need goes outside the real of the normal editor, and may actually cause a larger fundamental back-end issue that I am not aware of, but is it asking too much to have the scratch disk setting a project based setting, and not a system setting?
It seems to me that FCP could just remember where you want to point your files to depending on what project you are working in?
Any ideas? Am I missing an obvious solution? Any 3rd party software out there to help with this?

Matthew Lynn wrote:
... It seems to me that FCP could just remember where you want to point your files to depending on what project you are working in?...
You would think ...
I completely agree and have posted about this on many occasions.
You might find this an interesting read:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10916404#10916404
I absolutely love the ability to set different drives for different file types if we choose.
But it should be a PROJECT setting not a System wide preference.
This thread is just another example of why it should be that way.
Send a suggestion to Apple http://www.apple.com/feedback/finalcutpro.html
Hey, ya never know.
best,
g

Similar Messages

  • Is it Necessary to create a New Folder on my Scratch disk for new project?

    I am using a MACBOOK Pro with a 1tb scratch disk (loud) and am new to FCPS2. Someone told me to make a new folder on the scratch disk and then let the app build the rest of the folders it needs within it..Is there are reason for his? Do I have to build a new folder for every new project? Does media Manger do this?

    Is it better to have
    A) a file for each project, with all the Audio Render, Autosave Vault, Capture Scratch, Render Files,
    Thumbnail Cache and Waveform Cache folders inside each one? For instance, "Ghost Story/Audio
    Render, etc etc" "Music Video/Audio Render, etc etc"
    Caches sholud go on your system drive. Autosave should go anyplace except your system drive so you can recover a project if the system goes down. Media folders go on your media drives.
    B) All of the Audio Render, Capture Scratch, etc folders, with the project-specific folders spread out between all of these?
    They aren't spread out, they're contained within.
    but just wondering if there was a quick answer for this--
    it seems like FCP wants users to do it according to option B,
    but to me option A makes more sense
    That's the trouble the OP was having. Attempting to impose your desires onto FCP is dangerous without thorough grounding in the FCP Way. I think Apple's organization structure is lame, unnecessarily restrictive, and confusing. But all of my attempts to impose my own thinking patterns upon FCP lead directly to disaster.
    bogiesan

  • Where do I set the scratch disk in FCP X?

    I'm new to FCP X. How do I set the location of my scratch disk?

    Thanks, Tom! Found both options there (see Screen Shot).
    Weirdly, though, if I now try and select any of the Events now located in my other hard drive, they do show up in the Film Strip area (to the right of the Event Library), but none of these Events show up in the Time Line window (lower section). The only one that continues to show up in the Time Line window are the Events still located in the startup drive.
    Is there a way to get those Events now in the other HD to show up in the Time Line window?

  • Help Changing Scratch Disk on Existing Project

    I created a project and worked with it, unknowingly, using the default Scratch Disks that Adobe assigns on your C drive in Premiere Pro CS4. Now I want to assign the Scratch Disks to other hard drives in my system. Everytime I do this and close the project and re-open it again, it defaults back to the original default Scratch Disk setup.
    Can anyone tell me how I can get the project to recognize and use my new Scratch Disk setup?
    Thank you.

    What you're doing is the only way.  It should work fine.  I can't think of any reason that it isn't working.

  • Working on a mix on a different computer from the FCP project.

    Hi,
    I'd like to know the best way to work on a different computer with a multitrack project sent from final cut.
    Marking Collect Audio Files will do the trick?
    thanks in advance!

    A third option is having the movie on an iBook or PowerBook and use Firewire Target Disk Mode at school:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh947.html

  • Raid card and scratch disk setup for FCP

    Hi Guys
    Can anybody tell me what is the correct way to set up a raid card and scratch disk for FCP if you have 3 x 2TB internal hard drives, with the OS on HD1 and drives 2 and 3 dedicated for FCP
    Also with this i also have all my documents i.e work stuff, invoices, pictures, music ect from my old windows PC and used to have them stored on HD2 with the Windows 7 OS on HD1 - i have been told that it is fine if i put this on the same drives as FCP is this correct...?
    i only ask this as i have been told how to do it in different ways by 3 people......

    Thanks John, although i'm rather embarrassed to admit that I am a complete newbie when it comes to technical/computer hardware terms (i.e. I have no idea about different types of disks, other than a HDD and a SSD, or even what the difference is between your media cache and a scratch disk).
    This means that after reading all the links you so helpfully provided hasn't done much other than making me feel even more stupid!
    The best that I can conclude from what I think that i've understood is that I will use:
    Intel 530 Series 120GB SSD for O/S, Programs (and Pagefile?? No idea what this is, sorry)
    Samsung 840BW 500GB - Scratch Disk (is this the media cache?) and preview
    Seagate Barracuda 3TB HDD - media, projects, and exports
    Please tell me if i've got something around the wrong way....
    Thanks again.

  • Multiple Projects & Scratch Disks?

    When having multiple projects on the go at the same time, how does one seperate scratch disks so all projects save the relevant info to the correct folders without having to change the scratch disk every time I go to a new project?
    Hoping this question makes sense and thanks in advance as always.
    Ali
    G5 Imac   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

    You can't, but each project has its own folder in the
    capture scratch.
    Many thanks Tom.

  • More than 1 set of scratch disks ?

    i want to have more than 1 set of scratch disks in FCP.
    is this possible ?
    i want to have one project on one and then one on another,if so how would i save to each one ?
    thanks
    adam

    I do this regularly as I have 2 additional hard drives in my machine. I set scratch disks on each one (for example name FCP doc on HD-1, FCP doc on HD-2). I have the corresponding FCP project on each HD. When they are long weddings, that helps me keep everything organized.
    The downside is when you start up each project you have to go into FCP System Settings EACH time to make sure the scratch disks are set to the HD you want. A pain if you are switching back and forth between projects quite a bit.
    Actually, each project saves in the scratch disks under its own name, so it is kind of 'what's the point' of putting on different scratch disks? I say that, then I do it Old habits die hard.
    Sharon

  • Optimal Scratch Disk Setting for Notebook/Macbook Pro Users

    After doing a ton of research, I came across THIS guidline for different scratch disk setups but I am still not sure what would be the best setup for me.
    Here is what I am working with for my Current Projects Work Station
    2011 i7 Macbook Pro with SSD as my main drive and 750GB 5400rpm HD in the optical bay.
    OWC Elite Mini and Dual Mini in Raid0 for Media Storage. Both 7200rpm Drives
    Currently I have my scratch disk set to the following:
    SSD: Startup drive, OS, Programs, Project Files and Exports
    750GB HD: Partitioned - 250GB to Backup SSD and 500GB for Photo storage and PP Scratch Disk Video, Audio and Previews
    OWC Minis: Media Storage for Current Projects
    My question is, what can I do to optimize my premiere pro settings?
    Should I move my scratch disk to my external HD since its a faster drive?

    I have a very similar setup but am using a couple pieces of new gear. Wondering if Harm or any of the rest of you have any advice.
    2011 i7 Macbook Pro with 500GB SSD as my main drive and 750GB 5400rpm HD in the optical bay. The SSD is a new
    Samsung Electronics 840 Pro Series 2.5-Inch 512 SATA_6_0_gb Solid State Drive MZ-7PD512BW
    4th-generation 3-Core Samsung MDX Controller  ensures sustained performance under the most punishing conditions
    Backed by an industry-leading five-year limited warranty
    I have various LaCie drives that contain projects, media, exports connected via LaCie Tbolt esata adapter. So these are drives I've had for years that are now running at 3G esata speeds.
    I'm not using the 2nd internal drive for anything since it is 5400rpm. I just use it for backups, photo, music storage.
    So I ususally work small projects with the projects, media, exports, renders all pointing back to the esata connected external LaCies.
    Should I point media cache to the 500GB SSD my internal c drive? The answer to this is still confusing since I've read many conflicting posts in various places.
    Any other suggestions for now with this setup? (External Tbolt connected raid not yet in my budget.)

  • Internal hard drive for use as scratch disk

    Am running OS 10.4.11 on a dual core 2.3 Ghz PowerPC G5. Want to install a 2nd internal hard drive for use as a scratch disk w/ FCP and for my media files, etc. Given that I can only accomodate an SATA I drive w/ 150 Gbps transfer rate what might some decent choices be for a 500 Gb to 1 TB drive suited for video (and a PowerPC G5)? I'll also be adding an external drive for backup if anyone has any suggestions.

    Thanks for the recommendations. I had been looking at the Hitachi CinemaStar series but you have to reset the drive to SATA 1 for use w/ a G5 PowerMac. Resetting the drive, according to Hitachi, can only be done on a PC which I don't have access to. And I think that holds true for all their drives that are not strictly SATA 1.

  • Firewire disk or USB2.0 disk for scratch disk?

    I heard many times, everyone recommend Firewire for scratch disk if do video editing with FCP on iMac 27 quad-core i7.
    But I feel a bit confused when I use my Sony SDR-12 only with USB2.0 (No Firewire port) to import AVCHD to my iMac. Since it is USB2.0 at the first place while importing, why do I have to upgrade my scratch disk to a higher level Firewire? I assume when manufacture – Sony, etc. default USB2.0 to be their interface, all the other parameters like bit rate etc won’t get any better or worse when I still use USB2.0 scratch disk with FCP.
    Is my assumption all right?
    Or, if I use USB2.0 scratch disk, the quality of my video or processing time will be significantly downgraded then Firewire scratch disk?
    Thanks - Reno

    Consumer drives at places like Costco are cheap for a reason. No-names often have older technology or limited specs that are not readily apparent but will show up in use. Even the big names reduce features or specs to get the price down for big-box retailers.
    You can find good buys at big box stores, but you can do as well or better from places like newegg.com, buy.com, tigerdirect, etc. My personal recommendations are OWC ... and I wouldn't hesitate to get a Lacie d2 Quadra or d2 Quadra Enterprise class drive. And, the vendors StudioX suggested are top notch.
    Your profile says you have a 27" Quad-core, i7 iMac, so you appreciate quality and capabilities. Don't skimp on external FW drives, especially for critical data & uses like video.
    Best way to protect yourself is read reviews before purchasing, regardless of where you purchase.

  • What format should my scratch disk be?

    Hi
    I have just purchased a WD My Book 1TB Firewire 800 hard drive which I want to use as my scratch disk in FCP
    I'm going to wipe it clean first, but just wondering what format I should make it (Mac OS Jornalled etc) Or does it not really matter?
    Thanks

    Doing some more reading, this reference to improving Logic Pro performance...
    " Be sure that any drive you use to record audio is formatted Mac OS Extended. If you are using a dedicated drive or partition for audio recording, it is recommended not to enable journaling. If you are recording to your system drive or partition, then journaling should be enabled." (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3834).
    So all these years of reading and following safety over performance (well, may still be true as I haven't seen what % difference) might have been mislead.

  • Moved scratch disk

    Hi all and Merry Xmas. I moved the scratch disk of a project half finished. It was on my Imac HD, but was getting to full so I moved it to an External HD firewire 800. I have kept the program file on the Imac
    It appears to have worked OK, I have lost a few render files, but I can do them again.
    Now when ever I open the project it places a "Final Cut Express Documents" folder in the Documents folder, the original scratch pad location, there is nothing in the folder, I delete it open the project and it's back.
    Have I missed something in reconnecting the files?

    Don't know, but as you have replaced them and aren't going to change again, it shouldn't matter.
    I assume you should be able to move rendered files over to your new HD when you move the video files, but it's not something I have ever done.
    Incidentally, keep all your Project files on your iMac.
    Message was edited by: Ian R. Brown

  • Save Scratch Disk with Project?

    I have multiple projects on multiple drives, and I hate the fact that every time i open a project I have to make sure that it's set to the proper scratch disk. Is there any way for FCP to remember which disk is associated with which project?

    Aha! The ole' laptop problem. Yes, I can see how that would be an issue. Well, I understand your position now and by now you know that it isn't an implemented procedure in FCP, BUT....
    There is a trick to get FCP to always prompt you for the scratch disk. It may at least help prevent you from forgetting to set it.
    First, rename one of your drives to something unique that you won't be using again (like "Unset Scratch Disk). Open FCP. Set the scratch disk to this drive and close FCP. Rename your drive back to whatever it was originally.
    Now go to where your preferences are located. They can be found in:
    home/library/preferences/com.apple.FinalCutPro.plist
    home/library/preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data/Final Cut Pro 6.0 Prefs
    home/library/preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data/Final Cut Pro Obj Cache
    home/library/preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data/Final Cut Pro Prof Cache
    Select them and hit CMDOPTi (get info for multiple items)
    From the info box, check the locked button to lock the preferences.
    Now, whenever you open FCP, it will always look for "Unset Scratch Disk", and when it can't find it, it'll prompt you to choose a scratch disk. Go ahead and choose what you'll be working on and go to work. When you close FCP it'll try to write that change to your preferences, but because they're locked, it won't be able to. So the next time you open FCP, it'll again ask you where the scratch disk is.
    I realize this sounds drastic. And I personally would get tired of it after the second time it asks me, but it may help you get into the habit of setting your scratch disk when working with different projects. You could always unlock your preferences when you've had enough.
    Anyway, it's just a thought if you're interested. BTW, I always lock my preferences to preserve my settings and I recommend it. Perhaps it may help you just to have them locked to a particular drive so that you always know what they're set to at the beginning of any session.
    Andy

  • Can you save system settings scratch disks locations for each project?

    When you begin a new project in FCE you need to set the System Settings Scratch Disks. Typically you would set a new folder for each project to keep all of your files for each project in one location for that project.
    I have a couple of FCE projects going at the same time. I've set each project with a different system setting scratch disk location. But if I open a project which should have a unique scratch disk location folder that I've already set before for that project, it ignores the setting I set for that project and just shows the scratch disk setting for the last project opened instead. It does not appear to save or remember the unique setting for that project.
    If you have multiple projects going at the same time, is there a way to save the systems settings scratch disk location for each project and have FCE remember that location for each project?

    I turned off the Open Last Project on Application Launch in the User Preferences and it still does not remember the unique scratch disk settings for each project.
    Since it is quite common to be working on multiple projects simultaneously, you would think that there would be a way in which to save the settings for each project to help keep all related files better organized.
    Any other suggestions?

Maybe you are looking for