Optimally using proxy media in DaVinci Resolve

In this guide, you will learn how to effectively use Proxy Media in DaVinci Resolve to make your editing process faster and smoother. Especially when working with high-resolution raw footage or long videos, you can benefit from this feature. Let's go through the individual steps together to ensure that you get the most out of your editing.

Main Takeaways

• Proxy Media is useful to ensure smooth playback of 4K content or other large video files.
• To use Proxy Media, make sure you are using DaVinci Resolve 17 and activate the appropriate settings.
• Generating and managing Proxy Media is easy and can significantly improve your workflow.

Step-by-Step Guide

To use Proxy Media in DaVinci Resolve, follow these steps:

1. Prepare DaVinci Resolve

First, ensure that you have the correct version of DaVinci Resolve installed. Proxy Media is a feature only available in DaVinci Resolve 17. If you are using an older version like DaVinci Resolve 16, consider updating to the latest version.

2. Activate Proxy Media

Go to the "Playback" menu and verify that the "Use Proxy Media" option is enabled. This setting is crucial for DaVinci Resolve to automatically access the proxy files during playback.

3. Select Clips

Open your Media Pool and select the clips for which you want to create Proxy Media. You can choose multiple clips to work more efficiently. The selection is important so that DaVinci Resolve knows which files to convert to a proxy format.

4. Generate Proxy Media

After selecting the clips, right-click on one of the selected clips and choose "Generate Proxy Media" from the context menu. This will initiate the process of creating the proxy files. Depending on the length and size of the video material, this process may take some time.

5. Monitor the Process

The generation of Proxy Media is carried out in the background. If you have a small number of clips, this process will be completed relatively quickly. However, with longer videos, it may take some time. Once the proxy files have been successfully created, you can play the clips smoothly without lag.

6. Locate the Proxy Media Storage Location

To find out where your Proxy Media is stored, go to the bottom right and click on the gear icon for "Project Settings". In the "Master Settings", scroll all the way down to "Proxy Generation Location". Here you will see the path where your Proxy Media is stored.

7. Change Storage Location (optional)

If desired, you can change the storage location for the proxy files by clicking on "Browse". It is advisable to regularly clear the folder, especially if you frequently create new Proxy Media. Over time, this storage location can take up a lot of space that you may not need.

8. Link Proxy Media

If you already have Proxy Media from another project or source, you can link them in your current project. Select the clips for which you want to link the Proxy Media, right-click on them, choose the "Link Proxy Media" option, and then navigate to the location of the Proxy Media files.

9. Use the Linked Proxy Media

By linking the proxy media, DaVinci Resolve can use external files and make the editing of your clips more efficient. This allows for smooth editing without compromising your system's performance.

Summary

In this tutorial, you have learned how to effectively use proxy media in DaVinci Resolve to edit your video projects more efficiently. By creating and managing proxy media, you can enhance the performance of the software and significantly ease working with demanding video material.