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Using Proxy Files in Selects

Learn how to speed up your edit by importing proxy files into Selects, then relinking to your original camera files in your NLE for the final output.

Written by Nandita Kothari

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:

  1. Create proxy files in your NLE

  2. Import the proxies into Selects

  3. Hand off the topic stringout back to your NLE

  4. 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. Selects analyzes the proxy media and builds your topic stringouts from it.

Adobe Premiere

Step 1: Create proxy files

On import:

  1. Open the Import window in Premiere.

  2. Enable Create Proxies.

  3. Choose a preset (H.264 or ProRes Proxy).

  4. Click Import. Adobe Media Encoder generates the proxies automatically.

After import:

  1. Select clips in the Project panel.

  2. Right-click and choose Proxy > Create Proxies.

  3. 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

  1. Open Selects.

  2. Drag your proxy folder into the Drop files or folder area on the home screen.

  3. Selects analyzes the media.

Step 3: Hand off to Premiere

Selects creates a Premiere project file (.prproj).

  1. In Selects, choose Export > Premiere.

  2. Open the .prproj file in Premiere.

The timeline in Premiere references your proxy media.

Step 4: Relink to original camera files

  1. Select all clips in the Project panel or timeline.

  2. Right-click and choose Link Media.

  3. Navigate to your original camera footage folder.

  4. 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:

  1. Open the Import window in Final Cut Pro.

  2. Under Transcoding, enable Create Proxy Media.

  3. Choose ProRes Proxy or H.264.

After import:

  1. Select clips in the Browser.

  2. Go to File > Transcode Media.

  3. Check Create Proxy Media and click OK.

Step 2: Import proxies into Selects

  1. Open Selects.

  2. Drag your proxy folder into the Drop files or folder area on the home screen.

  3. Selects analyzes the media.

Step 3: Hand off to Final Cut Pro

Selects exports an FCPXML file, which Final Cut Pro reads natively.

  1. In Selects, choose Export > FCPXML.

  2. Open the FCPXML file in Final Cut Pro.

The timeline imports and references your proxy files.

Step 4: Relink to original camera files

  1. Select all clips in the Browser or timeline.

  2. Go to File > Relink Files > Original Media.

  3. 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.

DaVinci Resolve

Step 1: Create proxy files

Option A: Optimized media

  1. Go to Project Settings > Master Settings.

  2. Set the Optimized Media format to ProRes Proxy or DNxHR.

  3. In the Media Pool, right-click your clips and choose Generate Optimized Media.

Option B: Proxy media

  1. Select clips in the Media Pool.

  2. Right-click and choose Generate Proxy Media.

  3. Choose your codec and a destination folder.

Step 2: Import proxies into Selects

  1. Open Selects.

  2. Drag your proxy folder into the Drop files or folder area on the home screen.

  3. Selects analyzes the media.

Step 3: Hand off to DaVinci Resolve

Selects exports a Resolve-compatible XML timeline.

  1. In Selects, choose Export > Resolve XML.

  2. In Resolve, go to File > Import Timeline > Import AAF/EDL/XML.

Resolve imports a proxy-based timeline.

Step 4: Relink to original camera files

  1. Select all clips in the Media Pool.

  2. Right-click and choose Relink Selected Clips.

  3. 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 analyzes whichever files you drag in. The topic stringout and handoff workflow is the same either way.

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 NLE.

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Quick Start Guide for Premiere Assistant
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