imacdiddi

Q: Optimized vs Proxy vs Original

So I suppose these are the three options I have to create my project. I'm currently using proxy media but the picture seems a bit washed out. I am a little confused what proxy is actually used for. Do producers use proxy to use to edit and somehow switch to optimized once they are finished editing? If so, how do they do this? or,  do they just stick with proxy until the end.

Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Sep 26, 2013 9:57 PM

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Q: Optimized vs Proxy vs Original

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  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Sep 26, 2013 11:14 PM in response to imacdiddi
    Level 7 (32,668 points)
    Video
    Sep 26, 2013 11:14 PM in response to imacdiddi

    imacdiddi wrote:

    …  Do producers use proxy to use to edit and somehow switch to optimized once they are finished editing?…

    Exactly.

    Proxies are about a ¼ of resolution and a very low bit-rate = quality is… meant to show pictures. Not meant for distribution. After edit, you switch-back (cmd-, /cmd-comma) the Project settings to 'use optimized/original', to create a 100% output.

     

    'Optimised' means, codecs like h264 (e.g. from AVCHD) , which are NOT meant for editing, but perfect for playback, get converted into an edit-friendly codec (here:proRes). file-size blows-up dramatically, therefor edit is flawless, stutterfree etc. No 'switching' on export neccessary. Preview in edit shows final pic quality.

     

    Using the 'native' codec asks for tons of computation-power; plus, when you apply any effect, FCPX will convert to proRes anyhow...

     

    Sooo, depends on your personal work-flow preferences, what to do, what to use.

    'Optimised' means lots of conversion once on import; speed ups any steps later.

    'Proxy' is nice for under-powered Macs like mine and/or lack of drive-space (which should NEVER be an issue in movie-making, laptop users)…

  • by imacdiddi,

    imacdiddi imacdiddi Sep 27, 2013 12:50 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 27, 2013 12:50 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Awesome thanks!

     

    some of my clips haven't gone through the optimization only proxy, is this going to be a problem when I want to switch to an optimized copy... or will it optimize everything after im done anyway?

     

    I can see my edited proxy blowing up like a sponge and rendering must be extremely long.

     

    is optimized a bigger size than original?

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Sep 27, 2013 4:32 AM in response to imacdiddi
    Level 7 (32,668 points)
    Video
    Sep 27, 2013 4:32 AM in response to imacdiddi

    imacdiddi wrote:

    … is optimized a bigger size than original?

    sure! 20x - 40x bigger!

     

    read this excellent advice and explanation given by honorable forum-member AppleMan1958

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3941

    … it's about iMovie and AIC, but basicly the same in FCPX, but with 'better' proRes as intermediate…

     

    Again: disk-space shouldn't be no issue in movie making!

    Actual prices: 1TB HDD for ~50€ …

     

    When the project is finished and done, you can easily 'do good house-keeping', and erase all rendered stuff, keeping just the original media and the final Master Export.

    http://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/mac/10.0.6/#ver68a8c250

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Sep 27, 2013 7:01 AM in response to imacdiddi
    Level 6 (11,859 points)
    Sep 27, 2013 7:01 AM in response to imacdiddi

    imacdiddi wrote:

     

    Awesome thanks!

     

    some of my clips haven't gone through the optimization only proxy, is this going to be a problem when I want to switch to an optimized copy... or will it optimize everything after im done anyway?

     

     

    If playback is set to Original/Optimized media in the preferences, FCP X will use optimized media when available for a clip, otherwise it will use the original media (that is one reason why FCP X allows to work with media right away even if it has not finished optimizing).

     

    It will optimize media if and when you tell it to. It can be done when importing, by checking the appropriate box.

    It can be done later: select the clips in the browser, control-click, choose "Transcode media..." and check the appropriate box.

  • by imacdiddi,

    imacdiddi imacdiddi Sep 27, 2013 4:21 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 27, 2013 4:21 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    If I want the best quality for a Youtube upload, is it still neccesary to use original or optimized?

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 27, 2013 6:20 PM in response to imacdiddi
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 27, 2013 6:20 PM in response to imacdiddi

    Use original/optimized for export.