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49Final Cut Pro User Guide
6. Use the settings on the right side of the Media Import window to choose how you want
to organize the imported media in your library:
• Add the imported clips to an existing event: Select “Add to existing event,” then
choose the event from the pop-up menu.
• Create a new event: Select “Create new event in,” use the pop-up menu to choose
the library in which you want to create the event, then type a name for the event (for
example, “Chris and Kim Wedding”) in the text field.
To learn more about events, see
Intro to libraries in Final Cut Pro.
7. Choose a storage location for the media files:
• Copy the files to the current library: Select “Copy to library” to duplicate the files
and place the copies in the current library storage location. For information about
setting the storage location for a library, see
Set storage locations in Final Cut Pro.
Note: The name of this option changes to “Copy to library storage location: location
name” when the current library is set to an external storage location.
• Link to the files at their current location: Select “Leave files in place.”
Note: If you select this option, Final Cut Pro creates symbolic links (also known as
symlinks), which are special files that point to the media files. If you later copy or
move clips between events, only the symbolic links are copied or moved (not the
source media files). To replace the symbolic links with the actual source media files,
select the events and choose File > Consolidate Event Files. For more information
about files and clips, see Media files and clips in Final Cut Pro.
8. If you want to organize your media, override automatic role assignment, create
optimized or proxy media, analyze the video, or analyze the audio, select the relevant
checkboxes in the Keywords, Audio Roles, Transcoding, and Analyze sections.
If you don’t set Final Cut Pro to analyze your media during the import process, you can
analyze it later in the browser.
9. When you’re ready to import, click Import Selected or Import All.
The Import button changes its name based on your clip selection. By default, the Media
Import window closes when you click Import. You can begin working with your clips in
the browser. Your media is imported in the background.
If you selected any options in the previous step, the files are transcoded and optimized
when the import is complete. You can view the progress of the import and other
background tasks in the Background Tasks window.
If you imported media from an external device and you chose to have Final Cut Pro copy
the media files to the library file (rather than just link to them in their original location),
you can disconnect the device when the background tasks are completed.