If you're working with large video files, using proxies is one of the easiest ways to speed up your workflow while making file transfers much more manageable.
This guide explains what proxies are, when to use them, and how our proxy workflow works.
What Are Proxies?
A proxy is a lower-resolution copy of your original footage. It looks almost identical to the original clips, but the file sizes are significantly smaller. Because of this, proxies are much faster to upload, download, and edit.
Think of it like editing with a lightweight placeholder, then swapping everything back to the full-quality files before exporting.
When Should You Use Proxies?
We generally recommend using proxies for projects that contain 200GB or more of footage. At this size, uploading and downloading the original media for every revision can become time-consuming and impractical.
Using proxies can:
- Dramatically reduce upload times
- Speed up downloads
- Make revisions much quicker
- Save bandwidth
- Keep large projects moving efficiently
For smaller projects, it's often just as easy to upload the original footage directly.
How Our Proxy Workflow Works
The process is simple:
Upload Your Proxy Files
Instead of uploading hundreds of gigabytes of original footage, upload the proxy versions to your cloud storage and submit them with your project brief. We'll use these files for the entire editing process.
We Edit Using the Proxies
We'll complete the edit exactly as we would with the original footage. This includes:
- Cutting
- Music
- Motion graphics
- Transitions
- Colour adjustments (where appropriate)
- Subtitles
- Sound design
Everything is built using the proxy media.
Review & Revisions
We'll send you drafts for review as normal. Since everyone is working with smaller files, revisions are often much faster, allowing us to focus on perfecting the edit without repeatedly transferring hundreds of gigabytes of media.
Share the Original Footage
Once you've approved the final edit, we'll need access to the original high-resolution footage. At this stage, simply upload or share the original media if we don't already have access to it. We'll relink the project to these files before creating the final export.
Final Delivery
After the footage has been relinked, we'll export using the original files. This means your final video retains the full quality of your source footage — none of the quality loss associated with the proxy files.
Important Requirements
For the proxy workflow to work correctly:
- Every proxy file must have a matching original file.
- Filenames should remain exactly the same.
- Don't rename files after creating proxies.
- Avoid moving or deleting the original footage until the project has been completed.
- Keep the original footage in a safe location so it can be shared once the edit has been approved.
These simple steps ensure the original footage can be relinked without any issues.
How to Create Proxies in Adobe Premiere Pro
If you're editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, creating proxies is quick and only needs to be done once before uploading your project.
Import Your Footage
Create a new Premiere Pro project and import all of your original media into the Project panel.
Select Your Clips
Select all of the clips you want to create proxies for. You can use:
- Windows:
Ctrl + A - Mac:
Cmd + A
to select every clip in your project.
Create Proxies
Right-click on the selected clips and choose: Proxy → Create Proxies...
Premiere Pro will open the proxy settings window.
Choose Your Proxy Settings
For most projects, we recommend:
- Format: QuickTime
- Preset: Apple ProRes Proxy (Low Resolution)
If file size is a higher priority than editing performance, an H.264 proxy preset is also perfectly acceptable.
Choose Where to Save the Files
Select either:
- Next to Original Media, or
- Custom Location
If you're only uploading proxy files to us, creating a dedicated Proxies folder can make them easier to locate and upload.
Generate the Proxies
Click OK. Premiere Pro will automatically open Adobe Media Encoder and begin creating the proxy files.
Depending on how much footage you have, this may take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Once Media Encoder has finished, your proxies are ready to upload.
Uploading Your Proxy Files
When submitting your project:
- Upload the proxy files rather than the original footage.
- Submit your project brief as normal.
- Keep your original footage safely stored on your computer or external drive.
Once you've approved the final edit, simply share the original media with us so we can relink everything before exporting your finished video.
Will My Final Video Lose Quality?
No. The proxy files are never used for the final export. They're simply lightweight working copies that allow us to edit efficiently.
Once your project is approved, we reconnect everything to the original footage before exporting. Your finished video will therefore be exported at the full quality of your original media.
Is the Proxy Workflow Right for You?
Using proxies isn't necessary for every project, but it's an excellent solution for creators and businesses regularly working with large amounts of footage.
If your projects are 200GB+, the proxy workflow can save hours of uploading and downloading while keeping revisions quick and efficient.
If you're not sure whether proxies are the best option for your project, just ask — we're always happy to recommend the workflow that will make your editing process as smooth as possible.