Creator media glossary
What is proxy editing?
Short answer
Editing with lightweight copies (proxies) of your footage that stay linked to the originals, so playback is smooth, while the final export still uses full-quality media.
Key takeaways
- Proxies are lightweight copies of your footage, linked to the originals, that make editing smooth.
- You cut with proxies and export from the originals, so quality is not affected.
- ProRes Proxy or DNxHR LB at half or quarter resolution is the usual choice.
- Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve all create and switch proxies in a few clicks.
Proxy editing explained
Large camera files (4K, RAW, long-GOP HEVC from phones) can stutter on a laptop. An editor generates proxies, smaller or easier-to-decode versions of each clip, and switches between proxy and original with one setting. Edits, effects and grades apply to both because the two are linked.
In DaVinci Resolve you right-click clips in the Media Pool and choose Generate Proxy Media; the resolution (Half, Quarter and so on) and format (ProRes, DNxHR, H.264 or H.265) are set in Project Settings. The Deliver page renders from the originals unless you tick Use proxy media.
Where proxies come from
The idea is older than computers. Film editors cut a cheap workprint and only conformed the camera negative at the end; tape editors did an "offline" edit on low-quality copies and an "online" edit with the masters. Proxy editing is the same split inside one app: light files for cutting, full-quality files for finishing.
How a proxy workflow works
- Create proxies: the editor transcodes each clip to a small, easy-to-decode file and links it to the original by name, timecode and length.
- Edit with proxies switched on: playback, scrubbing and effects run smoothly even on a laptop.
- Switch back to originals for color, sharpness checks and anything that needs full detail.
- Export: the render uses the originals, so the result is full quality.
Proxies vs optimized media vs render cache
| Proxies | Optimized media | Render cache | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Lightweight copies of source clips | High-quality editing copies (DaVinci Resolve) | Pre-rendered timeline sections and effects |
| Used for export | Not by default | Can be, if selected | Can be, if selected |
| Portable to another editor | Yes, with or without originals | Usually no | No |
| Best for | Slow computers, 4K, 8K, RAW, remote teams | Smooth grading of heavy codecs | Heavy effects and titles |
Proxy format choices in DaVinci Resolve
| Goal | Format to choose |
|---|---|
| Smooth playback, keep image quality (for example from RAW) | ProRes 422 HQ or DNxHR HQX |
| Smooth playback on a laptop | ProRes 422 Proxy or a lower DNxHR, at Half or Quarter resolution |
| Send media over the internet | ProRes Proxy, H.264 or H.265 to keep files small |
How to make proxies in other editors
- Premiere Pro: in the Project panel, right-click clips > Proxy > Create Proxies, or tick Create Proxies in Ingest Settings; toggle them with the Toggle Proxies button in the Program Monitor.
- Final Cut Pro: select clips, choose File > Transcode Media > Create proxy media, then choose Proxy Preferred in the viewer's View menu.
- DaVinci Resolve: right-click clips in the Media Pool > Generate Proxy Media, and switch with Playback > Proxy Handling.
Advantages and drawbacks of proxies
Advantages
- Smooth editing of 4K, 8K, RAW and HEVC on modest hardware
- Small files you can send to a remote editor
- No quality loss in the export
- Edit on a laptop, finish on a workstation
Drawbacks
- Takes time and disk space to generate
- Proxies can fail to relink if frame rate, length or audio channels differ
- You must remember to check focus and color on the originals
- Unnecessary when footage already plays smoothly
Common proxy problems
- Proxies will not attach: the proxy must match the original's frame rate, duration and audio channel count, and keep the same aspect ratio.
- Export looks soft: the render used proxies; turn off "use proxy media" in the render settings.
- Color looks different with proxies: LUTs and log conversions are applied to the originals; judge color with proxies off.
- Proxies are huge: choose a smaller resolution (half or quarter) or a lighter codec.
Frequently asked questions
What are proxies in video editing?
Smaller or easier-to-decode copies of your clips that the editor links to the original files. You edit with the proxies for smooth playback and switch back to the originals for color work and export.
Do proxies reduce export quality?
No, as long as the export uses the originals. In DaVinci Resolve the Deliver page renders from the original media by default; it only uses proxies if you tick Use proxy media in the render settings.
How do I make proxies in DaVinci Resolve?
Select clips in the Media Pool, right-click and choose Generate Proxy Media. Set the proxy resolution (Original, Half, Quarter, Eighth, Sixteenth or Choose Automatically) and format in Project Settings first.
What format should proxies be?
An easy-to-decode editing codec such as ProRes 422 Proxy or a DNxHR variant for smooth playback; H.264 or H.265 when the files must be small, for example to send to another editor.
Should I use proxies for 1080p footage?
Only if playback stutters, which can happen with long-GOP HEVC from phones or with many effects. On most current computers 1080p H.264 edits smoothly without them.
What resolution should proxies be?
Half or quarter of the source is common: 4K originals with 1080p or 540p proxies. Keep the same aspect ratio so framing matches.
Let Koldflux pick the settings
Koldflux chooses the codec, container and bitrate for each platform when it exports.
Free tools that use this
Sources and how we checked
- DaVinci Resolve 21 Reference Manual: Using Proxy Media (p. 213-214, 220) (checked 2026-10-05)
- Apple Support: About Apple ProRes (checked 2026-10-05)
Reviewed October 5, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Definitions follow the specifications and platform documentation linked above; platform tables come from the same registry the Koldflux tools use.