Get Organized in Final Cut Pro: Libraries, Events, and Projects 

If you’re starting out in Final Cut Pro, you may find yourself staring at the interface and wondering what on earth Libraries, Events, and Projects are there for. You might even decide to adopt the “push every button and hope for the best” approach. While that’s certainly entertaining, it can lead to missing media, confused timelines, and the occasional urge to repeatedly poke the Escape key. 

Let’s take a calmer approach and go through each piece step by step, so you can actually edit your videos without losing track of your footage.

Libraries: The Big Container

An FCP Library is the top-level element in Final Cut Pro. It holds all your media and editing decisions. You can rename the default “Untitled” Library the moment you open Final Cut Pro, or create a new one from scratch if you already know you’ll be handling a large number of files.

Creating and Managing FCP Libraries

• Create or Open: Go to File > New > Library to make a fresh one, or File > Open Library to bring an existing one into view.
• Rename and Move: Single-click the name of a Library in the sidebar to rename it. You can also move or copy entire Libraries between drives if you need to switch computers or share projects.

When you have multiple Libraries open, you’ll see them listed in the sidebar. This allows you to drag FCP Events and Projects between them, or even merge them if you’re feeling like setting Final Cut Pro organization as your main life goal.

Events: Subfolders with Actual Footage

Inside each Library, you’ll find Events. These are essentially subfolders for categorizing your media. By default, an Event is named after the date of its creation, but you can rename it to something less mysterious if you prefer.

If you’re working on a travel vlog, for instance, you might create separate Events for “Drone Shots,” “Interviews,” and “B-Roll.” This structure keeps you from accidentally burying your best footage under 50 random cat videos — unless cat videos are your main gig, in which case, enjoy your unlimited feline B-Roll.

Projects: Where You Actually Edit

Projects are your timelines. When you create a Project, you’re making a space where you’ll piece together clips, trim awkward pauses, and add transitions that are hopefully subtler than the ones used in early-2000s PowerPoint slideshows.

A single Event can hold multiple Projects, so you could have a main edit, a highlight reel, and a behind-the-scenes cut all stored neatly in the same Event.

Copying Events and Projects Between Libraries

If you need to merge or split Libraries, or just borrow some footage from one project for another, simply drag the Event or Project icon from one Library to another in the sidebar.

Final Cut will ask whether to copy the original media, create proxies, or just reference the existing files:

• Copy Original Media if you want a fully self-contained duplication.
• Copy Proxy Media if you’re sending it to someone who already has the originals.
• No Media if the person you’re sending it to definitely has all the files already on their system.

Choose carefully — accidentally duplicating terabytes of 4K video can be a fun way to fill your hard drive, but probably isn’t recommended if your project is on a tight deadline.

Some Practical Tips

• Create multiple Events to keep large shoots structured. One for interviews, one for B-roll, one for drone footage, etc.
• Use keyword collections to further categorize clips within an Event. Searching by keyword is much faster than scrolling through hundreds of thumbnails.
• Close old Libraries you don’t need to speed up loading times and reduce visual clutter in the sidebar.
• Regularly review your Events for unused clips or outdated Projects. Decluttering every few sessions keeps your Libraries from ballooning in size and ensures you’re not inadvertently storing gigs of unnecessary footage.