If I delete a video from my computer after I've imported it, will it delete from the video I'm editing?

Question

If I delete a video from my computer after I've imported it, will it delete from the video I'm editing?

I've imported many video clips into a video project I'm currently working on (I'm using Vegas Pro 16). But I want to help clear up some space on my computer, so if I deleted those clips from their original location, would they still remain for me to work with in Vegas?

Thank you!

Answer 1

According to the on-line manual page 57 of this commercial software this is only true if you:

1. have selected the Copy media with project checkbox and
2. Clicked the Save button

for all your projects!

If you forgot to do that with just one, the answer is:

No, deleting the original file will delete it from all of the projects where you did not click that option.

Answer 2

Unlike some other editing tools, Vegas does not convert imported video into its own intermediate format, but works directly with what you have. Importing means Vegas knows about these clips and has built quick-access metadata about them.

Any editing you do is non-destructive as all editing operations are stored in Vegas's own files as a series of commands, but it needs source videos to which it applies these commands.

TLDR: If you delete the source files your Vegas timeline will effectively be destroyed. Of course, videos that you've rendered will remain intact.