Proxy user help needed please

Al Min wrote on 8/11/2009, 12:50 PM
I'm just trying to learn about using proxy files for editing and have a few Q's if an expert could answer please.

1 If I create a proxy, do I use Neo Scene first or just import the raw AVCHD files?
2 To convert back for rendering, do I have to go to each individual clip and change
back?
3 Would VAAST Gearshift automate 2 above?

I have experimented a bit with the Proxy Stream script and also tried following VP9's method using the Device Explorer. The playback seems to run smoothly whether I am on original or proxy, and I get confused over whether I am on proxy or original. So here is Q 4

4 How do I know if I am on proxy or original?

Many thanks proxy experts.

Comments

CClub wrote on 8/11/2009, 8:35 PM
More more experienced proxy users than myself could assist further, but until then, I'll start you off:
1) If you use NeoScene, the files created by NeoScene aren't technically "Proxies." They are considered intermediate files, which can then be used going forward and don't have to be replaced back by an original file at a later point. NeoScene will create avi files from your raw AVCHD files, which you can then continue to use and no longer would use the AVCHD files. If using NeoScene, Question 2 would be N/A.
3) If you use Gearshift, you ARE using proxy files, and from what I understand, the answer is Yes... Gearshift does automate Question 2.
4) If using Gearshift proxy files, I'm guessing that somehow Gearshift makes it clear. You would edit with the proxy files, and then complete the next step with Gearshift at the end to bring the original files back in. I guess if you forget where you're at, you could always either Right-click an event to see if the file that the event is referencing is an AVCHD or an AVI.
Al Min wrote on 8/12/2009, 12:41 AM
THanks CC. I was a bit concerned that nobody responded. Can you clarify please:

If I decide to buy Gearshift, do I still need to use NeoScene?

I wondered if there was any advantage in converting AVCHD through NeoScene, then using those NeoScene files in Gearshift. It means rendering twice. I find that NeoScene rendered files still do not play as well as I would like. So thats why I'm considering Gear Shift.
ushere wrote on 8/12/2009, 2:53 AM
another alternative, which i've used with great success to date is to simply drop all my avchd onto the tl - do a real rough cut, then render it out to mxf.

leslie
farss wrote on 8/12/2009, 3:30 AM
1) A proxy file stands in place of the real media. You use the proxy to edit and when you're all done you swap the proxy for the real full res / full qulaity media and render out. A proxy can be quite low quality . low res. e.g. you could use a SD DV proxy to edit a movie shot on 35mm film.

2) An intermediate such as Cineform you use instead of the full res / full quality camera original. You simply edit it and render out from it.

Gearshift lets you quickly and easily swap between the proxy and the real deal. The advantage of this is you can have a quick look see what the final output is going to look like at full res / full quality.

So to answer your question, no, if you're using proxies then you don't need to render to Cineform or any other intermediate codec.

That said I'm wondering if either your system is well under speced for the task or you're expecting too much. Playing out HD with a few FXs added will bog anything down without serious hardware. All Cineform or any intemediate codec can do is ease the pain of decoding the data. Once decoded the amount of CPU needed to render a frame is the same regardless of the source codec.

If what you're wanting is full res / full quality playback at full fps using proxies is not what you want to be even thinking about because by definition a proxy is not full quality / full res.

All that said I'd suggest you try Ushere's suggestion. If you're not happy with how Cineform's codec is performing and you're not happy with how MXF is going for you then you need to think about the whole workflow / expectation issue from the beginning again.

Bob.
Al Min wrote on 8/13/2009, 11:05 AM
This is all good advice. Many thanks to all who contributed.