Is there any point making proxies for 1080p files?

S,

I'm fairly new to PP CC and very new to creating proxies.

It can be confusing and there are a number of strategies you can deploy in having them assist your workflow. You are wise to come and ask questions.

Creating proxies is nothing new to editing, so it's not much to worry about. Back in the day, we often "digitized" video at various resolutions for editing purposes, then reconnecting to high quality "online" source tapes in the finishing process. This is pretty much what you will be doing with proxies. I look at it as spending valuable time to create a smoother editing session for you and your computer equipment.

I'm fairly new to PP CC and very new to creating proxies. I recently recorded some 4K footage on a GH4 and will be editing with other footage, the majority of which is shot in 1080p. I have set my timeline to 1080p as that is what I will exporting in, I only filmed in 4K with the idea of scaling it down later anyway.

I see. So you did not intend to reposition this 4K footage in a 1080p frame? That's good info. I would simply transcode that footage to an "editing friendly" intermediate codec (ProRes, DNxHR/HD, Cineform) as a first step. After transcoding the 4K to performant 1080p files, it is time to ask yourself which route you will be heading down for further ingest and whether you need proxies for these files or not.

1. These GH4 clips now exist as intermediate codec 1080p files.
2. For the best possible workflow, you should further ingest other files to be precisely the same as the new GH4 clips.
   • If you control the shoot, you may want to invest in camera gear can record clips directly to intermediate/"smart rendering" codecs.
   • External recorders like Atomos Ninja Blade, etc., are popular for this reason.

• With these intermediate codec files, it's possible that a mid-level computer can handle an average edit session with transcoded clips that can be used for high-quality output. Fractional playback resolutions can really assist you here.
• If you do not have a very powerful computer (for example, these transcoded files have poor performance) and/or you wish to create additional files for portable use (you have a laptop, for example, and wish to store and work with more lightweight files), I would additionally create low-resolution proxies for those purposes.
• It is also important to consider your export options here, and whether investing the time for a "smart rendering" workflow is worthwhile or not. Since you already have clips in an intermediate "smart rendering" codec, it makes a lot of sense to consider this advantage.

I have my ingest settings to create proxies automatically for me when I import. I've been doing this for the 4K footage which is fine and then I imported a load of 1080p stuff without thinking and also created proxies, which isn't a problem, but my question is - Is there any point making proxies of 1080p footage?

Yes, if the footage is difficult to edit with, especially if it's H.264 or H.265 footage. Many cameras shoot great footage that looks beautiful but is very difficult for Premiere Pro and your computer to decode. For better performance during the edit session, I like to spend the time to transcode and/or create proxies. As an editor, I really appreciate a smooth experience while editing.

Further to this question, can I change my ingest settings mid project to just import regularly?

Sure. Just uncheck the box for Ingest in the Media Browser. That should work. If it were me, I might consider leaving it checked to maintain my smart rendering workflow, though. Up to you.

And one more for luck, if I move the location of the proxies - so they're collated in another subfolder - will PP CC still know where they are and link them to the original files when I come to export?

Yes, you can always relink your proxies.

Hope this info helped you. Come on back with any questions.

Thanks,
Kevin