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Version: 2.0.0-preview

Proxies

Use this tab to generate and manage proxy media. Proxies are low-resolution copies of heavy video clips that make preview and scrubbing smoother. The preview can use a proxy while you edit, but export always uses the original media.

Tab characteristics​

  • Open by default: No
  • Allow multiple instances: No

How to open​

Open it from the menu bar via View → Tools → Proxies.

How proxies work​

  • Proxies are generated manually from this tab; importing a clip does not create one automatically.
  • Only video clips are proxied; still images and audio are skipped.
  • A proxy is an H.264 (libx264) .mp4 encoded by the FFmpeg extension. Three quality presets are available:
PresetScaleLong edge limit
Half proxy (1/2)50%1920 px
Quarter proxy (1/4)25%1280 px
Eighth proxy (1/8)12.5%960 px
  • The source file's path, size, and modification time form the key for its proxy. If any of them change, the proxy becomes Stale and is treated as missing until you regenerate it. Multiple clips (and multiple projects) that reference the same file share one proxy.
  • A machine-wide shared store holds the proxies (default: the proxies folder in Beutl's home directory). When the store exceeds its size cap, Beutl automatically removes the least-recently-used proxies. See Editor settings to configure the store.

Tab layout​

  • Store metrics (top): project / store / cap usage.
  • Clip list: every eligible video clip in the open project (all scenes), each with:
    • a state pill: Ready / Generating / Stale / Failed / Missing / Partial
    • a quality preset dropdown (initialized from the Default preset setting)
    • Generate / Regenerate / Delete buttons and a progress bar with a cancel button while generating
  • Toolbar: Generate selected / Generate all / Regenerate selected / Delete selected / Delete project proxies / Refresh.

Generate all processes only clips at or above 1920x1080 (or at least 32 MB when the resolution is unknown). For lighter clips, use the per-clip Generate button. If nothing qualifies, a "No clips met the bulk-generation threshold" notice is shown.

warning

The proxy store is shared machine-wide. Delete project proxies also removes proxy files used by other projects that reference the same source files. A confirmation dialog warns about this before deletion.

Proxies in the editor​

  • On the timeline, each clip with proxy state shows a small colored dot in its top-right corner (ready / generating / stale / failed); hover it for details.
  • The Preview source option controls whether the preview uses proxies. Choose Prefer proxy (default) or Force original in Settings → Editor → Proxy media or the editor's Preview Settings tab. The change takes effect on the next frame without reloading the project.
  • When a proxy is missing, stale, or partial, the preview silently falls back to the original media.
  • Export never uses proxies. If an original file is missing at export time, export fails with an error rather than using the proxy as a substitute.

Source​