Which proxy setting to use and why?

[1jhill]

So when doing 4K editing my system needs to use a proxy (as probably most people) but one thing that isn’t clear is there any advantage to using one quality proxy setting vs another. For example one higher quality 16:9 format like 1080p vs a lower quality one. Should a system use the highest quality proxy it can or just use the lowest for fastest editing? I haven’t really found information on what and why you should use what proxy so I’ve just stuck with the default but my system can handle 1080p so I’m not sure if I should or if it even matter.

[Ken Berry]

Personally, I don't think it really matters. The objective of using proxy files is simply to get around a home computer's inability to play and edit a VS project smoothly or without jerkiness and other aberrations. So in that sense, using the low quality video proxy will achieve that, and allow fast editing too. But if your computer is up to it, then using a 1080P proxy would be equally acceptable -- and might even allow you to see some defects in the project which might otherwise be hidden in a lower quality proxy -- though such defects would only be fairly subtle ones.

[RickMen]

I have set my proxy settings to SD, for the sole reason that I find it's quicker to generate the proxy files than if it were set to HD/FHD. This speeds up my workflow process allowing me to get to the editing stage quicker and doesn't impact the rendering process.