Proxy Edit in Premiere Pro CC (2018)

4K footage has become standard as cameras get cheaper and more capable. The problem is that editing 4K in real time requires serious hardware. A lot of computers struggle with it, especially when you start stacking effects like blur, stabilization, or color grading. Each frame takes seconds to render, and the editing process grinds to a halt.

Proxy editing solves this completely. You tell Premiere Pro to automatically create smaller, lower-resolution copies of your footage when you import it. You edit using these lightweight proxy files, and then when you export the final video, Premiere Pro swaps in the original full-resolution footage. You get smooth editing without sacrificing any quality in the final product.

This tutorial covers how to set up automatic proxy creation on import. If you have already imported your footage and want to create proxies after the fact, check out how to create proxies on imported footage.

How to Set Up Proxy Editing on Import

Configuring the Project

1. Create a new project in Premiere Pro. In the New Project dialog, look for the Ingest Settings section.
2. Check the Ingest checkbox to enable automatic ingest processing.
3. In the dropdown next to Ingest, select Create Proxies.
4. For the Preset, choose 1280x720 GoPro CineForm or a similar 720p preset. This creates proxy files at 720p resolution, which is more than enough for editing and keeps the files small.
5. Set the Proxy Destination to Same as Project (or choose a specific folder if you prefer).
6. Click OK to create the project.

Importing Footage

7. Go to the Media Browser panel and navigate to your 4K footage.
8. Right click and select Import. Adobe Media Encoder will open automatically in the background and begin creating proxy files for each clip.
9. You can continue setting up your project while Media Encoder works. The proxy files will be named with a “proxy” suffix and linked to the original files automatically.

Toggling Between Proxy and Full Resolution

10. Once the proxies are created, drag your footage onto the timeline and start editing as normal.
11. If playback is still lagging, make sure proxies are enabled. Look for the Toggle Proxies button in the Program Monitor toolbar. If you don’t see it, click the plus icon (+) at the bottom right of the monitor and drag the Toggle Proxies button into the toolbar.
12. When the toggle button is highlighted, you are editing with proxies (smooth playback). When it is off, you are viewing the full-resolution originals.

Exporting the Final Video

13. When you are done editing, go to File > Export > Media and export as usual. Premiere Pro automatically uses the original full-resolution footage for the export, regardless of whether proxies are toggled on or off. You do not need to do anything special.

Tips

• Proxies are automatic. Once set up, every clip you import into this project will have proxies created. You don’t have to think about it.
• Use 720p proxies for most work. Going higher than 720p for proxy files defeats the purpose. The whole point is that they are small and fast.
• Check your disk space. Proxy files take up additional storage. For a large project with hours of 4K footage, the proxy files can add up. Use an external drive if needed.
• Proxies work with effects. Color grading, blur, transitions, everything you apply while editing with proxies will carry over perfectly to the full-resolution export.
• Team editing. If you are sharing a project with someone on a slower machine, they can use the proxy files while you work with the originals. Both editors see the same timeline.

That is how you set up proxy editing in Premiere Pro. It is one of the most impactful workflow improvements you can make if you work with high-resolution footage regularly.