FCPX eats up my diskspace. Can anyone tell me my ideal workflow?

Question

My specs: - macbook pro, 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 int memory
                   - FCP X
                   - Canon Legria HFS100, settings: 24Mbps, 50i (or better PF25??), 1080i
I'm new here. So please forgive my ignorance on some things. Can anyone set me on the right path to make my import/outputsettings and workflow in FCP X ideal  for my use? I'm making movies of my twin kids and my work as a firefighter mainly. So not professional, but enthousiastic amateur.
=> I should import files from my memory-card into FCPX?  And not work with a usb cable? And in the preferences in FCPX, should I mark 'create Proxy media' or 'create optimised media'?
=> I've chosen to import my Imoviefiles to FCPX on my harddrive. Result: Full ! No more HDDspace to work with. So I would like to work with an external HDD. Which specs should that one have? And how do I export or copy my excisting files to that drive to free up disk space and NOT create bugs in the system?
=> How to clean up or find those large files you do not longer need after completing a project?
=> And finally: To store my movies. Should I 'export movie' and which settings do I take best?
Thanx to help me along!
Peter

Answer 1

Pancenter wrote:
:..If your hard drive fills -all the way- preference files to open programs will not be saved and there's a chance you can corrupt the system drive.
Well, I guess that explains why I booted up after a weekend away and got a "full disk" message I ended up having to do a disk repair for the first time in 4 years (on this comp).  Still not sure why I only had <2g space.  Last I had looked, thot it was over 40 (but still getting crowded).
Peter: Its hard to say what works as far as an external disk size.  Like what to do upon export, it all depends on your needs.  Since we seem to be in the same neighborhood of what we do, I'll tell you my setup (which seemed overkill 4 years ago) and you can figure at least not to do less.
I've gotten along using my 250g system drive working on one project at a time. My input has always been DV -- either from DV tape or AV/DV Converter via the same camera. My projects have mostly been targeted to 1.5 to 2 hr DVDs. 
I have had an external 320g drive for photos, an "abeyance" folder of bits and pieces video files for future projects, and img files of the most recent DVDs.
Processing one project at a time, I have never run out of space on my 250g drive, until I ran into FCPX's duplication of files when "copy" is checked when importing existing files, creation of analyzation and optimization files and,  the humungous render files.
When I moved all FCPX Event and Project files to my "Photo" drive (and deleting duplicated iMovie and FCE files), I ended up with 125g on my system drive, and still have 100g on my "Photo" drive.
Since the majority of my files all start out as SD .dv files (or HD mp4 files), I don't have the needs you will using AVCHD files, so I would say that while 500g should suit your needs, the price difference of a 1TB may make it a no-brainer.
And FW 800, definitely, but I think you already knew that.  RPM?  Since I haven't bought one in 4 years, I dunno what's on the market any more.