Appreciating the Arts

Posted on: 28 July 2017

A common question about DaVinci Resolve 12.5 is if it is possible to use the software to edit your entire project from start to finish. Even though DaVinci Resolve is known as a color corrector, you can actually use the program for editorial purposes. However, you'll want to make sure your media is optimized for the best results during playback while editing.

Know About Proxy Media

You may have the camera original footage loaded on your computer, but DaVinci Resolve may have problems playing it back. The frame rate will not be silky smooth, and you'll find it to be a struggle just to scrub through the media in your timeline at a fast pace. This is especially true when working with 4K or 6K media shot on some of the high end cameras available today.

Thankfully, you don't have to edit with the camera original footage. DaVinci Resolve 12.5 allows you to make proxy media files for editing purposes. These files are brand new files that will take up additional space on your hard drive, but are at a lower quality that is optimized for playback on your computer.

Creating proxy media does not destroy the camera original footage you have loaded onto your computer. It is a non-destructive process that will leave those files alone so you can use them later.

Create Optimized Media Files

Other video editing software refers to these lower quality files as proxy media, but DaVinci Resolve 12.5 calls it by a different name known as "Optimized Media". You can create these files directly in the software, so you won't have to resort to going through Adobe Media Encoder or similar encoding software.

While in your media pool, simply right click on the files you want to optimize and select "Generate Optimized Media". It will take your computer some time to process these new files, but when it is finished, you will have that silky smooth playback that you need.

Switch Back To Original Media

There will come a time where you need to switch back to your camera original media. This will most likely be when you move on to the color correcting stage and need the full resolution of the video files. To switch the media back, go to the "Playback" menu and deselect "Use Optimized Media If Available." By converting the footage with DaVinci Resolve 12.5 you'll have the seamless ability to switch back and forth between the camera original and proxy media files.

Seek out training on how to use DaVinci Resolve 12.5 for more tips on how to use the software.