final cut pro will not create proxy media

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final cut pro will not create proxy media

Hi, I'm having an issue creating proxy media in FCP 11.1 (but also in previous version too)

I'm editing mostly 4k files and one 6k file and as the original media playback has been dropping frames and lagging, I've been trying to create proxies, to no avail. I'm editing from / have my library/files etc on an external hard drive, using MacBook pro 15 inch 2018 32gb memory i9 processor, running Sequoia 15.3.2.

I've watched so many youtube videos on importing and transcoding, assuming its an operator error, or something to do with my file management, but nothing seems to work.

I have tried the following:

transcode orignial media (original files in place)

No proxy media listed in available media representations. I've done this a couple of times. FCP creates a proxy file and stores it in the proxy media folder. I try relinking to the proxy media file and still no proxy media visible in the AMR

transcode orignial media (with import setting changed to copy to library)

Nothing happens. The background tasks panel shows that it is transcoding, but once complete, there's still no proxy available. I try transcoding again and the transcode media panel options are greyed out, which indicates the FCP thinks or has created the proxy media, but I just don't know where it is or how to access it.

I delete the files from the library and re-import making sure proxy media is checked- I only do this on the leave in place setting as regenerating the original 4/6k files in the library takes up way too much space. Still no proxy
Created a new library and imported/transcoded files to see if that changes anything. It doesnt
Unistall / reinstall. Still no proxy

I must admit, for some reason it did actually create a proxy one of the times - i cannot remember under what conditions, I've tried so many things - however the proxy file was black. I recall reading a post about this problem that indicated that it was a bug.

If anyone has any suggestions (before I switch to Premier Pro, Lol!) I'd be most appreciative,

Allison

Posted on May 11, 2025 8:29 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Michel Boissonneault

Level 5

4,890 points

May 11, 2025 9:05 PM in response to moinethrust

Hum your external hard drive has not the correct format, you need APFS or MacOs extended, it’s almost full, the converter is another bottleneck for fast data travelling. USB connection for spinning hard drive is too slow for 4K or 6k.

6k ProRes 4444 is pretty demanding on your system.

You can try Blackmagic speed disk test app to test your setup capacity:

https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/blackmagic-disk-speed-test/id425264550?l=fr-CA&mt=12

You can buy a 1To SSD drive like Samsung T7 with USB C for around 150$ can. They are reliable and fast.

Try to create a new library with some clips on your internal drive Macintosh HD just for test purposes and see if you can create proxies.

Michel

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Answer 2

May 11, 2025 9:20 PM in response to moinethrust

Try to create a new library with some clips on your internal drive Macintosh HD just for test purposes and see if you can create proxies before rushing to buy a new SSD drive.

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Answer 3

May 12, 2025 7:14 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom Wolsky wrote:

The proxy option will be grayed out in the dialog window if the original media has an alpha channel. Optimized is still available.

Thank you, Tom. You're right, of course.

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Answer 4

May 11, 2025 8:36 PM in response to moinethrust

Hi(bonjour),

What is you external drive type? What is it’s format? What connection to your MacBook? What original media format?

Michel

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Answer 5

May 15, 2025 6:47 AM in response to moinethrust

moinethrust wrote:

The proRes 4444 file is a 16mm film scan - this is the telecine machine's output

In that case, even if the clips do have an alpha channel, they do not have transparency, it is just that the machine outputs this high quality codec. The four 4's in the name indicate this.

Since any ProRes codec is already appropriate for editing, no optimized media is created; and since it has an Alpha Channel, no proxy is created. This pretty much explains the why.

(You probably had one clip from some other source and that is why proxies were created then).

As Michel recommended, an external SSD is pretty much mandatory. And you will find out that you won't need proxies, anyway, because your Mac and the SSD are plenty fast to deal with the original media.

The existing HD was the bottleneck.

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,777 points

May 12, 2025 6:53 AM in response to Michel Boissonneault

The proxy option will be grayed out in the dialog window if the original media has an alpha channel. Optimized is still available.

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Answer 7

moinethrust Author

Level 1

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May 11, 2025 8:44 PM in response to Michel Boissonneault

Hi Michel, thanks for your reply!

External hard drive is regular external HD (not a ss one). Format is exFat. It's 2TB with 54gb remaining. It's connected into a USB2 to USB3 converter, which then goes into the laptop. Original media is ProRes444.

Many thanks

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Answer 8

moinethrust Author

Level 1

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May 11, 2025 9:05 PM in response to Michel Boissonneault

Ah, yes I have been meaning to get a new one. Perhaps this is the problem with the failed proxy media? In the first instance perhaps I will try transferring my project to a new hard drive and see if that helps.

Thank you for your recommendations, much appreciated!

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Answer 9

moinethrust Author

Level 1

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May 11, 2025 10:17 PM in response to moinethrust

Another thing to mention. Out of curiosity I tried drag and dropping into the timeline the proxy files that FCP has generated and stored when I import on the keep files in place setting - The proxy files from the storage location are black. So FCP can't seem to "see" the proxies it's created, and when I drop them directly into the project timeline, they are black (no image).

I'm wondering if my storage settings a not right. In any case its very strange!

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Answer 10

May 12, 2025 6:33 AM in response to moinethrust

Where your original media come from? Can you play them correctly in QuickTime Player? Why using ProRes 4444? Is it for alpha chanel? I’m not shure that proxy do support alpha… may be other members do.

Michel

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Answer 11

May 12, 2025 6:45 AM in response to Michel Boissonneault

Michel Boissonneault wrote:

Where your original media come from? Can you play them correctly in QuickTime Player? Why using ProRes 4444? Is it for alpha chanel? I’m not shure that proxy do support alpha… may be other members do.

Michel

When creating proxies, the codec options in FCP are "ProRes Proxy" or H264.

Neither of them support alpha channel.

That does not mean that they can't be used, but the results when editing in proxy may not match what you get with original media if this media does have transparency.

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Answer 12

moinethrust Author

Level 1

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May 15, 2025 4:26 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Hiya, thank you for your response. I don't think the clips I'm trying to transcode are alpha channel..? But I couldn't be sure, apologies!

I am in the process of copying my original media and project folders across to a new, mac formatted, SSD hard drive. I don't think this will solve the proxy issue, but it will make editing larger files more manageable.

Still open to ideas about how to resolve this problem.

Many thanks,

Allison

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