Proxy Media
Low-resolution copies of footage used for editing, replaced by the originals for final rendering.
Measured in
px
In depth
Proxies let a modest computer edit demanding footage smoothly, because the timeline plays small, lightly compressed files while the project keeps its links to the originals. Switching back before export restores full quality. Many cameras now record proxies simultaneously, removing the transcoding step entirely.
Examples in practice
A laptop edits 8K footage smoothly using 1080p proxies, relinking to the originals only at export.