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Create an archive

ArchiveCut creates a separate folder containing trimmed media and rewritten Final Cut Pro XML. It does not change your original library or media. Because trimmed source ranges cannot be recovered, keep irreplaceable originals or turn off trimming for footage you may reuse.

  1. In Final Cut Pro, select the final project for the smallest archive, or select its event to preserve multiple projects and versions.
  2. Choose File > Export XML, then open the exported file in ArchiveCut.
  3. Review the included media, handles, and warnings, then create the archive.
  4. Click Open Archive XML. In Final Cut Pro, choose an existing archive library or click New… to create one.
  5. Open every imported project and check picture, sound, titles, effects, retimes, compound clips, and multicam clips before deleting anything.

Keeping the archive

What to keep depends on your Final Cut Pro import setting:

  • Leave files in place: the archive library links to ArchiveCut’s Media folder. Keep the entire ArchiveCut folder with the library and back up both.
  • Copy to library storage location: set the archive library’s Media location to In Library, then use File > Consolidate Library Media. After verifying and backing up the consolidated library, you can delete the ArchiveCut output folder.

Do not rely on the global import setting alone; Library Properties shows where the media is actually stored. Apple explains import settings and media consolidation.

Keep any required fonts, LUTs, Motion templates, or third-party plug-ins with the archive.

You do not need a separate working library for every production. A practical setup is:

  • One active library, with one event per production.
  • A separate event or backed-up folder for reusable media shared by multiple projects.
  • One archive library per year or season.

When a production is finished, export its event or final project, process it with ArchiveCut, then import the archive XML directly into the existing archive library. Verify the imported projects and back up the archive before removing the original event from the active library.

Remove the original event from inside Final Cut Pro. Do not manually delete shared media in Finder because another project may still use it.