What are proxies in a digital cinema workflow and why are they used?

• A. Lower-resolution copies of footage used to speed up editing on less powerful systems; replaced with full-resolution media for final render.
• B. Lower-resolution copies are used to speed up editing.
• C. Proxies are used to improve audio fidelity.
• D. Proxies replace the camera files in the final deliverable.

Answer: (A)

Proxies are lower-resolution copies of the original camera footage that editors use to keep editing fast and responsive on systems that can’t smoothly handle high-resolution media. By working with these smaller files, you can scrub, cut, and grade more quickly without lag. When the edit is finished, the project relinks to the full-resolution camera files so the final render uses the highest quality material. Proxies don’t change audio fidelity, and they aren’t meant to replace the camera files in the final deliverable—they’re a temporary editing aid that is swapped out for the final export.