What are the pros and cons of using proxy media?

If you're editing proxy video, and playback is set to proxy so that you're working with proxy files, and you export that, it doesn't matter what quality you export to, even ProRes 4444, it will be a giant file of blown up proxy media, i.e. really bad video. If you want full quality you have to switch playback to original or optimized video before you export.

In most cases I don't see the benefit of working with proxy files as you have to import originals as well as proxies. The only time it may be of benefit is if your hard drives aren't fast enough for optimized media or your computer is so underpowered that it cannot process interframe compressed media in realtime without dropping frames.

"...you have to import originals as well as proxies."

Not really. FCPX creates a small 4kb link to the original media. Granted, the originals have to exist somewhere; at export time, FCPX uses the originals, nobody said otherwise.

A proxy project exports to full high resolution when you switch playback accordingly at export time.

Pros: Better performance during editing, project portability. There will be a performance gain on all machines. Whether it is significant enough warrant its use depends on the machine and needs and preference of the user.

Cons: Final export takes a little or a lot longer, depending on how much rendering needs to be done, as has been discussed.

Some will see the benefit, some won't. It's there if you want it. Nothing to get in a bunch over.

Jeaux,

Jeaux wrote:

A proxy project exports to full high resolution when you switch playback accordingly at export time.

Did you happen to do an A-B test on this? I've read in different threads (some here, some at different FCP-X forums) that if the drive with the original media is connected, it's not necessary to change the Playback settings. In fact, "the Playback settings should have nothing to do with export settings". Just curious.

(By the way, I checked to see if you had an email address or some way to contact you outside the forum, as I seem to be unintentionally jumping in other people's threads to talk with you. I don't have a public address availabe here either as I'm a bit paranoid about personal info, but if you want to email me, you can go here and use the contact form and I will respond with my "real" email address-

http://www.harmonicalessons.com/contact.html )

Thanks,

Dave

Dave, my test demonstrated to me that switching to original media playback setting is necessary to invoke rendering of effects, etc., of the original media in preparation for exporting to high-resolution. Exporting straight from proxy playback exports the proxy clips. In proxy mode rendering is done on the proxy files themselves, which accounts for the increase in speed and performance. When you're ready to export to a high-resolution movie, high-resolution rendering must take place with the original media. This almost takes longer to explain than to perform, heh. Switching to original media playback takes but a couple of seconds.

The advantage of proxy projects is on the editing end. You pay for it on the export end, although in my experience the price is trivial. There's no free lunch, but in my experience, proxy mode provides a nice little discount.

A case can be made that the advantage of using proxy for increased speed and performance on an adequately spec'd machine is trivial as well.

My 266ghz, 8mb mini handles optimized ProRes media beautifully, with a fair number of effects, corrections, etc. I haven’t had a serious hitch yet. In fact I don’t understand why folks with big light-dimming Mac Pros are having problems. But I’m a speed/efficiency freak, always looking for an edge, and everything is faster, including rendering, in proxy mode. I understand the trade offs and am willing to defer high-res processing til export, where I can turn my attention elsewhere. In the end, it’s a matter of emphasis and working style.

I'll e you at your website...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3713466?answerId=17593935022#17593935022

Here you'll find some results of experiments on the PR Proxy-PR422 reconnect/render subject. Cheers