"Red Error" when importing video files

Question

Hello, I tried importing video files (.MOV) into Final Cut Pro X but this "red file error" just comes out and I don't know what to do.  I even tried importing my video clip from my iSight camera but it just shows that red error. I feel like every video file imported gets "redded". I don't know how to solve this problem. Thank you all!
- MT
P.S. Final Cut Pro X 10.0.3

Answer 1

You have "Proxy media" selected under Preferences->Playback, but you are not creating proxy media for your clips on import. That's why you get the red clips.
This is easy to solve. Either:
1) Create the proxy media for your clips, by control-clicking, and choosing "Transcode Media..." and checking the box for proxy media;
or
2) Choose "Original/Optimized media" in Preferences->Playback.
Proxy media uses less disk space and is easier to handle than either the original or optimized media, but is of lower quality; but you can do all the editing in proxy, and then just before you are done, switch again to original/optimized. This way you get lower overhead when editing, and still get the better quality result.
This may be even more relevant for older, less powerful macs, or when you need to use an internal drive, or a slow usb drive with FCP X. If you have a fast mac and a fast drive, you can work away without transcoding, for the most part (multicam clips and other heavier edits may still warrant a transcode).