Newbie Question About Editing With Proxies

Hi,

I've just started using FCP X 10.1.1. I've imported my MPEG-4 footage and transcoded to proxy media. I am also transcoding to optimised media in the background. When I click on the clips and look at the file type column, it still says the footage is MPEG-4. Also, the editing is herky jerky, leading me to believe that I am editing with the MPEG-4 footage, even though the proxy transcoding has completed. How do I make sure I'm editing with the proxy media and not the original files?

Info shows the original file type. At the bottom of info you should see the available formats. Playback problems are usually drive related. In the upper right of Viewer switch to proxy playback.

Thanks, Tom. That was it. I had to switch to proxy view in the viewer.

The media info tab always shows the original format, even if you have created Proxy or Optimized media.

When you have created Proxy media and you switch to Proxy media in the Viewer you should be able to edit smoothly using the proxies. However, if your system is still creating optimized media in the background this will certainly affect your system's resources, especially on slower systems. For the best editing experience you should only start editing when all background processes are finished.

If there are no background processes running anymore and you still get choppy playback there is indeed something wrong with the drives you are using. It is best to store your Libraries/original media on a fast external drive. But never, ever use USB2 drives for this.

As a sidenote: when you edit with Proxy media there is not really much sense in creating optimized media as well. When you have finished your edit using proxies you simply switch to original media again for exporting.

- Ronny