What are proxy files?
Proxy files are lightweight, lower-resolution versions of your original camera files. When you're working with 4K, 6K, or 8K footage, proxies let you edit faster on any machine without waiting for heavy files to process.
The workflow works like this:
Create proxy files in your editing software
Import the proxies into Selects
Hand off your draft back to your editing software
Relink the proxies to your original camera files for finishing
Selects works with proxies from Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
Note: Import only your proxy folder into Selects, not your original camera files. Nothing is analyzed until you ask for it. Once you run analysis, Selects works from the proxy media, see How AI analysis works in Selects.
Adobe Premiere
Step 1: Create proxy files
On import:
Open the Import window in Premiere.
Enable Create Proxies.
Choose a preset (H.264 or ProRes Proxy).
Click Import. Adobe Media Encoder generates the proxies automatically.
After import:
Select clips in the Project panel.
Right-click and choose Proxy > Create Proxies.
Choose your preset and a destination folder.
Premiere attaches the proxies to your clips and tracks the link using filename and metadata.
Step 2: Import proxies into Selects
Open Selects.
On the Home screen, drag your proxy folder in.
Selects creates the project and opens it on the timeline. Your proxies are imported, but nothing is analyzed yet.
Click [Analyze N clips] at the bottom of the Project panel. The [Analyze media for edit] popup opens with every file checked, so uncheck anything you do not want, check the credit estimate, then click [Analyze].
Build your draft. Selects can only hand off drafts. See Quick start: AI video editing from raw footage to first draft.
Step 3: Hand off to Premiere
Selects creates a Premiere project file (.prproj).
In Selects, click [Export] in the top right and choose [Adobe Premiere] under [Handoff to].
Open the .prproj file in Premiere.
The timeline in Premiere references your proxy media.
Step 4: Relink to original camera files
Select all clips in the Project panel or timeline.
Right-click and choose Link Media.
Navigate to your original camera footage folder.
Premiere automatically matches clips using filenames and timecode.
Your edit now references full-quality originals, ready for color grading, effects, and export.
Final Cut Pro
Step 1: Create proxy files
On import:
Open the Import window in Final Cut Pro.
Under Transcoding, enable Create Proxy Media.
Choose ProRes Proxy or H.264.
After import:
Select clips in the Browser.
Go to File > Transcode Media.
Check Create Proxy Media and click OK.
Step 2: Import proxies into Selects
Open Selects.
On the Home screen, drag your proxy folder in.
Selects creates the project and opens it on the timeline. Your proxies are imported, but nothing is analyzed yet.
Click [Analyze N clips] at the bottom of the Project panel. The [Analyze media for edit] popup opens with every file checked, so uncheck anything you do not want, check the credit estimate, then click [Analyze].
Build your draft. Selects can only hand off drafts. See Quick start: AI video editing from raw footage to first draft.
Step 3: Hand off to Final Cut Pro
Selects exports an FCPXML file, which Final Cut Pro reads natively.
In Selects, click [Export] in the top right and choose [Final Cut Pro] under [Handoff to].
In Final Cut Pro, go to File > Import > XML and select the FCPXML file.
The timeline imports and references your proxy files.
Step 4: Relink to original camera files
Select all clips in the Browser or timeline.
Go to File > Relink Files > Original Media.
Choose the folder with your original camera files.
Final Cut Pro automatically matches clips based on filename, metadata, or timecode. Your edit now references native-quality originals.
Note: If you chose [Fix and export] during handoff, those clips point to fixed copies saved next to your proxies, named like filename_fcpfix-1a2b3c4d.mov. Their names no longer match your originals, so relink those clips manually.
DaVinci Resolve
Step 1: Create proxy files
Option A: Optimized media
Go to Project Settings > Master Settings.
Set the Optimized Media format to ProRes Proxy or DNxHR.
In the Media Pool, right-click your clips and choose Generate Optimized Media.
Option B: Proxy media
Select clips in the Media Pool.
Right-click and choose Generate Proxy Media.
Choose your codec and a destination folder.
Step 2: Import proxies into Selects
Open Selects.
On the Home screen, drag your proxy folder in.
Selects creates the project and opens it on the timeline. Your proxies are imported, but nothing is analyzed yet.
Click [Analyze N clips] at the bottom of the Project panel. The [Analyze media for edit] popup opens with every file checked, so uncheck anything you do not want, check the credit estimate, then click [Analyze].
Build your draft. Selects can only hand off drafts. See Quick start: AI video editing from raw footage to first draft.
Step 3: Hand off to DaVinci Resolve
Selects creates a Resolve project file (.drp).
In Selects, click [Export] in the top right and choose [DaVinci Resolve] under [Handoff to].
In Resolve, open the Project Manager, right-click in the project list and choose [Import Project].
Select the .drp file Selects created.
Resolve opens a proxy-based timeline.
Step 4: Relink to original camera files
Select all clips in the Media Pool.
Right-click and choose Relink Selected Clips.
Choose the folder with your original camera files.
Resolve updates the timeline to reference your full-quality sources.
Tip: If you used Optimized Media, disable it before finishing. Go to Playback and turn off Use Optimized Media.
FAQs
Do I have to use proxy files with Selects?
No, you do not have to use proxy files. You can import your original camera files directly. Proxies are recommended when your footage is 4K or higher and you want a faster, smoother editing experience.
Can I import both proxies and original files at the same time?
No. Import either your proxy folder or your original camera files, not both. Selects works from whichever files you import. Analysis, editing, and handoff work the same with either.
What if my proxy filenames do not match the originals?
Premiere, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve all match proxies to originals using filename and timecode. If the filenames differ, the auto-match may not work. In that case, relink the clips manually in your editing software.
Can I import RED .R3D files?
No. Selects skips .R3D files and shows Use a proxy for RED .R3D files. Create proxies in your editing software and import the proxy folder instead. If DaVinci Resolve saved the proxies in folders whose names end in .RDC, remove .RDC from those folder names before you import, or Resolve will not link the media after handoff.