====== Native DaVinci Resolve Proxy Options ======

As DaVinci Resolve progresses, better native workflows come about for working with proxies.

  - With version 18.6 there is now the "Blackmagic Proxy Generator" Application. This has basic options and creates proxies in a subfolder under the folder containing the video files called ''proxies'', and has some watch functionality. Very handy.
  - With version 17 (it might have been earlier) the "Generate Proxies" right-click option was revamped. Still very powerful, and stores proxies in a customisable folder.
  - For many historic versions there has been the right-click option "Generate optimised media", this creates Resolve specific non-compressed files which are optimised for resolve to read. This workflow is largely discouraged as the files aren't portable or reusable.

====== Other Proxy Workflow Options ======

  * Native generation (some cameras and hardware can generate proxies internally)
    * GoPro: https://www.reddit.com/r/gopro/comments/zlu51f/tips_for_using_gopros_lrv_files_as_proxy_in/
      * Set ''PROXY=4''
      * Rename ''.LRV'' files
  * Encode with a script (ffmpeg):
    * https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=133850
    * https://gist.github.com/in03/aea16ddccd04bb178b2ef988b73664b3
  * Encode using third party app, handbrake: https://handbrake.fr/

===== Move & Rename LRV (GoPro) =====

It's now possible to configure a [[https://gopro.github.io/labs/control/extensions/|GoPro to generate DaVinci Resolve compatible proxies]]. If you have an older model, don't want to go down that route, or just have older footage saved... Then use the below technique. Thanks to ''u/Li0n-000'', ''u/exclaimprofitable'' and ''u.PuzzlingDad'' on [[https://www.reddit.com/r/gopro/comments/zlu51f/tips_for_using_gopros_lrv_files_as_proxy_in/|reddit]].

The ''.lrv'' files generated by the GoPro can be used as proxies (wish I'd known this years ago). You just need to rename them and place them in a subfolder. This can be automated by saving the below script and pasting it into the folder and running it.

<file winbatch Migrate_Proxy_Files_LRV_to_MOV.bat>
rename GL*.LRV GX*.MOV

if not exist \proxy\NUL mkdir "proxy\"

move *.MOV proxy\
</file>

===== Using a script =====

I had to adapt this as one of my cameras seemed to cause problems, when DaVinci Resolve was doing the rendering, it would just hand with the remaining time going up and up. This doesn't seem to be a common problem! That being said, here are my notes for the sake of things.

  - Install ''ffmpeg'' (including setting ''PATH''): https://www.wikihow.com/Install-FFmpeg-on-Windows
  - Save scripts from here: https://gist.github.com/in03/aea16ddccd04bb178b2ef988b73664b3
    - Configure ''proxy_path_root'' (about line 35 in ''encode_resolve_proxies.py'', don't forget double slashes to separate directories)
  - Configure ''shell:SendTo'' (Windows key + 'r').

<code winbatch encode_resolve_proxies.bat>
@ECHO OFF

"C:\Program Files\Python310\python" "C:\applications\encode_resolve_proxies\encode_resolve_proxies.py" %*

REM pause
</code>

I had to modify the scripts a little (new python versions perhaps).

====== Links & Info ======


  * https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=133850
    * https://gist.github.com/in03/aea16ddccd04bb178b2ef988b73664b3
  * Compare proxy generation: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=123784
  * Encoding Resolve supported proxies with FFMpeg? https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=133850

===== FAQs for Support and Troubleshooting =====

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=90190#16

===== Copying Required Files (to external HDD) =====

After building up many files on a local machine (particularly with the array of GoPro files for internal proxies/thumbnails) I want to copy everything to an external HDD for working with elsewhere... [[https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy|ROBOCOPY]] can help with that by mirroring directories, but only including requested file types.

<code>
C:\Users\david>ROBOCOPY "<SOURCE>" "<DEST>" *.jpg *.mp4 *.mov /E
</code>

The output will be like
<code>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ROBOCOPY     ::     Robust File Copy for Windows
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Started : <date/time>
   Source : <SOURCE>
     Dest = <DEST>

    Files : *.jpg
            *.mp4
            *.mov

</code>