You Should Be Editing with Proxies

If you’ve ever found yourself working with sluggish playback or lagging scrubs, especially when editing high-res footage like 4K, 6K, or even 8K, proxies might just be the secret weapon you’re missing.

Why Edit with Proxies?

Let’s cut to the chase. Working with high-resolution footage is rough on your computer, no matter how much power it’s packing. Proxies—smaller, more manageable versions of your original clips—take the pressure off your system so you can actually enjoy editing without all the stuttering and lag.

Think of proxies like taking the weight off: they’re lighter versions of your files, meaning Premiere doesn’t have to work as hard to process them. You’ll get faster scrubbing, quicker thumbnail loads, and a smoother overall editing experience. And yes, even if your computer is a beast, proxies can still save you time and frustration.

Getting Set Up: Making Proxies in Premiere Pro

Setting up proxies in Premiere Pro isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Organize Your Clips by Aspect Ratio: If you’re dealing with different aspect ratios (say, 4K footage in 16:9 and UHD in 2:1), separate these into bins. This helps you keep track of different proxy settings.

2. Create Proxies in Premiere: Select your clips, right-click, then head to Proxy > Create Proxies. Choose QuickTime format—it’s reliable and compatible. Premiere has built-in presets, but if you’re going custom, set proxies for 16:9 clips at 1920×1080, and 4K files at a half-size proxy like 2048×1080.

3. Choose Where to Save Your Proxies: You can save proxies in the same folder as your original files, or direct them to a dedicated proxy folder in your project file structure.

4. Toggle Between Proxies and Full Res in a Click: Once Premiere generates the proxies, use the Toggle Proxies button in the program monitor to switch between your full-res and proxy files.
   (If you don’t see the button, add it from the button editor in Premiere.)

A Few Proxy Tips You’ll Want to Remember

Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:

• Match the Audio Channels: Your proxies need to have the same number of audio channels as your original files. So, if you’ve got eight channels on the original, make sure your proxies are set up the same. Mismatched channels can break the link to your proxies in Premiere.

• Keep Aspect Ratios Consistent: Don’t let mismatched ratios wreck your footage. If your proxy’s aspect ratio doesn’t match the original, Premiere might stretch, zoom, or add black bars to fit the frame. Trust me, this creates a mess when you start adding motion effects later on.

Advanced Move: Creating Proxies with EditReady

If you’re looking for an even more streamlined proxy workflow, you might want to try EditReady. It’s a quick, drag-and-drop transcoding app that’s perfect for creating proxies outside of Premiere.

1. Use Custom Presets in EditReady: Load your footage, set up a custom 1080p proxy preset (ProRes 422 Proxy with uncompressed PCM audio), and you’re good to go. This app’s a real time-saver if you work with footage from multiple cameras and want to create proxies quickly.

2. Maintain Aspect Ratio with Ease: EditReady takes care of aspect ratio scaling automatically, so one preset can handle multiple frame sizes without stretching your footage.

3. Link Back in Premiere: Once EditReady has processed your files, head back to Premiere and use Attach Proxies to link them to your original clips. Now, all your proxies will be attached in one quick step.

Wrap Up: Proxies Save You Time and Keep Editing Fun

Proxies are about speed and flexibility. You’re making your workflow smoother, and your editing experience better, which ultimately lets you focus on the creative part. Go ahead and try proxies in your next project—you might wonder how you ever edited without them.

Want more?  Check out Frame.io’s Proxy Workflow Guide.