problems transferring FCP Quicktime file to external HD at DVinfo.net

Brendan Donohue · May 15th, 2008, 11:42 AM

Okay, so I exported a project from FCP as a Quicktime.mov, full quality. I saved the file to my desktop and it is approx. 9gb in size. When I try to drag it into my external HD it will begin transferring and then give me an error message everytime! I have 12gb of space on the external drive, do I need more of a buffer or something to transfer a 9gb file..frustrating, I've never had this issue before! please advise!

also, if yer feelin frisky out there!! could someone walk me through the process of transferring an FCP project to an external hard drive?

thanks in advance,
brendan

Mike Peter Reed · May 15th, 2008, 11:50 AM

What is the external drive partition formatted as? If it's FAT32 then there is a filesize limit of 4GB I think.

Brendan Donohue · May 15th, 2008, 11:58 AM

I don't have the drive in front of me right now, but I'm pretty sure it's FAT32 format. Does the 4gb limit pertain to individual files, because I have definitely transferred 20gb+ 'folders' of files to and from this hard drive.

Aric Mannion · May 15th, 2008, 01:42 PM

Each file needs to be under 4 gigs. If you capture a larger file, I've noticed FCP splits it into multiple files, that can't be opened, but are used a resources for you clip to work.
Also, usually a "quicktime conversion" video, even as "best" is not really the best quality. It is still compressing it, and you may be better off exporting a "quicktime" self contained, if you want an uncompressed video.

Shaun Roemich · May 15th, 2008, 03:13 PM

Assuming your external drives will only be used on a Mac, they really should be HFS+ formatted. FAT32 is for cross compatibility only and will also slow throughput on a Mac, if I'm not mistaken. For example my "Memory Stick" I maintain in FAT32 for transferring files back and forth, cross platform. But all my drives are HFS+.

Brendan Donohue · May 15th, 2008, 03:51 PM

hey shaun, I use this particular hardrive for pc and mac file transfer. I've never had this type of problem...

Shaun Roemich · May 15th, 2008, 04:01 PM

It is the FAT 32 file size issue that's causing you grief. In FCP in the future, you may want to check the "Limit File size to" check box in the Log & Capture window and enter a value smaller than 4096 MB. That will help for future captures and will split files up as they approach the 4GB limit.

Brendan Donohue · May 16th, 2008, 06:56 AM

update: I took the original 9gb file and re-imported to FCP and then did a quicktime movie export directly to the external drive, not the desktop. As mentioned, FCP split the original file into 4 files, one of which, references all the files..interesting, but it worked and now I can free up the space on my internal HD..thanx for you responses

Shaun Roemich · May 16th, 2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brendan Donohue

update: I took the original 9gb file and re-imported to FCP and then did a quicktime movie export directly to the external drive, not the desktop. As mentioned, FCP split the original file into 4 files, one of which, references all the files..interesting, but it worked and now I can free up the space on my internal HD..thanx for you responses

Keep in mind that FCP will not be able to re-link to this footage through the Relink Media command as it is no longer one physical file.

Brendan Donohue · May 16th, 2008, 12:10 PM

understood, I no longer have a need for the original project, just needed that quicktime file of all the raw footage I had captured and edited..for dvd..

May 15th, 2008, 11:42 AM	#1
Brendan Donohue Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 161	problems transferring FCP Quicktime file to external HD Okay, so I exported a project from FCP as a Quicktime.mov, full quality. I saved the file to my desktop and it is approx. 9gb in size. When I try to drag it into my external HD it will begin transferring and then give me an error message everytime! I have 12gb of space on the external drive, do I need more of a buffer or something to transfer a 9gb file..frustrating, I've never had this issue before! please advise! also, if yer feelin frisky out there!! could someone walk me through the process of transferring an FCP project to an external hard drive? thanks in advance, brendan

May 15th, 2008, 11:50 AM	#2
Mike Peter Reed Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hants, UK Posts: 185	What is the external drive partition formatted as? If it's FAT32 then there is a filesize limit of 4GB I think. __________________ ---8<---

May 15th, 2008, 03:13 PM	#5
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Assuming your external drives will only be used on a Mac, they really should be HFS+ formatted. FAT32 is for cross compatibility only and will also slow throughput on a Mac, if I'm not mistaken. For example my "Memory Stick" I maintain in FAT32 for transferring files back and forth, cross platform. But all my drives are HFS+. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

May 15th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#7
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	It is the FAT 32 file size issue that's causing you grief. In FCP in the future, you may want to check the "Limit File size to" check box in the Log & Capture window and enter a value smaller than 4096 MB. That will help for future captures and will split files up as they approach the 4GB limit. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

May 15th, 2008, 11:58 AM	#3
Brendan Donohue Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 161	I don't have the drive in front of me right now, but I'm pretty sure it's FAT32 format. Does the 4gb limit pertain to individual files, because I have definitely transferred 20gb+ 'folders' of files to and from this hard drive.

May 15th, 2008, 01:42 PM	#4
Aric Mannion Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 616	Each file needs to be under 4 gigs. If you capture a larger file, I've noticed FCP splits it into multiple files, that can't be opened, but are used a resources for you clip to work. Also, usually a "quicktime conversion" video, even as "best" is not really the best quality. It is still compressing it, and you may be better off exporting a "quicktime" self contained, if you want an uncompressed video.

May 15th, 2008, 03:51 PM	#6
Brendan Donohue Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 161	hey shaun, I use this particular hardrive for pc and mac file transfer. I've never had this type of problem...

May 16th, 2008, 06:56 AM	#8
Brendan Donohue Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 161	update: I took the original 9gb file and re-imported to FCP and then did a quicktime movie export directly to the external drive, not the desktop. As mentioned, FCP split the original file into 4 files, one of which, references all the files..interesting, but it worked and now I can free up the space on my internal HD..thanx for you responses

May 16th, 2008, 12:10 PM	#10
Brendan Donohue Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 161	understood, I no longer have a need for the original project, just needed that quicktime file of all the raw footage I had captured and edited..for dvd..