smart proxy - file managment

[Ilene]

I don't typically use SMART PROXY

I have VS X8, X9 and X10 installed ( and for various reasons, I'm happy they all co-exist on my computer)

I never ticked "enable smart proxy" on X10 and that is the version I use the most.

I noticed that in Documents\Corel\18 folder that there is a folder called SmartProxy that is quite large -- over 30GB. The same folder does not exist in Documents\Corel\19 or 20

I wanted to free up the space and either move or delete the folder. Before I do.. wanted to check on the forum for those w a better understanding of how this works, how it might impact any project "created in 8 and opened on 10?" Would there be an impact?? Or can I just delete this folder. NOt worried about longer editing times, as it would be unlikely that I would be rendering one of these older projects again.

I guess I could just move it or name the folder "old" for a while and see if there was an impact, but thought I would ask here.

thanks
Ilene

[TonyP]

That seems strange. I am guessing you checked to see if you have SmartProxy checked already..... I have it pointed to another drive and location myself.
I would rename the folder myself just to see what happens, but make sure you created a replacement folder and monitor it.
Since I really don't use Proxies like you, I really don't see how removing those files will affect working on a project.... but that's just a guess on my part.

[Ilene]

It’s checked in VS 8, which I really dont use anymore

It’s not checked in 9 or 10, hence there is no smart proxy folder in documents\corel

I don’t use proxies either... altho i guess I did when I was using vsx8. Its a lot of sata so i would love to dump!
Trying to get a better handle on whats being saved in that folder.

[TonyP]

Rename that folder and create another one with the same name.
Then open the projects you have been working on.
If it were "me", I would delete it. But I do things sometimes that I shouldn't do.......

[Ilene]

I just named it old. I will see if its needed and if not will delete. I assume if its needed it wont find the location or wil create a new folder. Thanks!

[Davidk]

Smart proxy is a way of ensuring that response to an HD clip during edit mode is reasonable.
Over the versions of VS you cite, the program has certainly grown. In X8, the ultimate downloadables were about 3.6Gb. In X10, they are about 5.2Gb. Most of that is in extra features, all integrated, and require processor grunt to use without a user noticing. And if you check the system requirements, the grunt in processor capacity has just about doubled between versions in consequence.

On my PC, with an i3 dual core 3.7Ghz cpu and 8Gb RAM, there was enough grunt to not need smart proxy on HD clips when editing with X9. Came X10, and edit response was so slow that smart proxy became mandatory rather than something I could use if I chose. Smart proxy (SP) creates lower resolution files to use in the edit timeline. Anything you do there gets applied to the original clips during rendering. And the SP files have to be stored somewhere. Hence the SP folder. You set up SP in the settings/preferences/performance tab, including when to use (a resolution threshold, not needed if you have just DVD-quality files) and where to store them. On installation there are default values indicated but you have to enable (tick the box) it.

Your PC spec looks like it might have enough grunt not to need SP with X10. And that C: drive folder looks like it might be a default SP folder - if you still have X8 installed you can check that. And you can delete it. If you are using X10 and project files that either don't have HD clips in them, or any HD clips are such that VS doesn't need SP given the grunt of your PC, then deleting the folder won't really be noticed. I've done this, for just the reason you asked about. And later came to regret it - see next para.

However, if you later load an older vsp into X10 that has HD clips and needs the SP files, and they are not there, you are going to find out what slow response to editing is all about. Without any warning (VS only auto creates SP files the first time). After that, if the vsp says load the SP file and it's not there, then it loads the HD clip. When you realise what has happened you will have to manually enable SP and re-create the SP file: right click the file, chose from the context menu and wait while it does the SP thing.

If you have plenty of spare unused HDD space, my suggestion would be to leave it alone (don't delete the folder). However, you might want to think about re-locating the folder and contents to another drive/folder - cluttering up the C drive with video data that the OS never directly uses has always seemed undesirable to me. If you do, make sure you adjust the SP settings in VS to suit. If you have a laptop/slab PC,and uncluttering the only hard drive you have has become an administrative need, then consider getting and using an externally connected usb drive (1Tb for about $90) and putting the SP folder and similar VS files there.

[Ilene]

Thank you so much for such a thorough and clear explaination! I think I will just relocate the folder and see... i have a smallish C drive, as it is a solid state drive and lots od external storage space for data files. I do try to keep the C drive relatively clean. This way I can always bring it back if I need to.

Thanka again!