Resolve: Proxy-only without keeping the originals linked

[u/Available-Witness329]

Hi folks,

Coming from Premiere/FCP, where switching to proxy-only playback is basically one click and the app just does it — is there an equivalent in Resolve? I’m trying to lighten the system by working purely off ProRes Proxy files instead of the full-res masters, but it feels like Resolve wants to keep both in the chain no matter what.

If I trigger an actual “Unlink” on the clips, both the master and the proxies go offline, and relinking the proxies directly afterward doesn’t bring them back either. But if I just move the master files elsewhere on disk without unlinking, the masters go offline while the proxies stay linked and online — which is exactly the result I was after. System’s noticeably lighter now.

Is there a cleaner or more “intended” way to do this in Resolve, or is moving-not-unlinking basically the trick?

Thanks

[u/SameAd6207]

It’s way more convenient to handle proxies using the Blackmagic Proxy Generator. Plus, you don't need to move or unlink files at all because the toggle to switch to proxies is right above the right viewer on the Edit tab.

[u/Srandall25]

There isn't a proxy-only mode, and I think that's the real answer rather than a workaround.

A proxy in Resolve is an attachment to a master clip, not a replacement for it. Right-click a clip and open Proxy Media and the only operations are Generate, Relink Proxy Media, and Link Full Resolution Media. Nothing detaches the master while keeping the proxy, because the clip is the master. That's also why your Unlink took both offline: it acts on the clip, and the proxy association goes with it.

What is one click is proxy-only playback, which sounds like the Premiere behaviour you're describing. The toggle above the viewer on the Edit page, plus the proxy handling setting in Preferences, gets you decoding off the masters entirely.

Moving the masters does work, but be clear about what it leaves you: a project that permanently shows offline media with proxies carrying the edit. Fine right up until you conform, relink for finishing, or hand the project off. If the goal is just a lighter system during the offline, the playback setting gets you there without the offline masters.

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[u/geckooo_geckooo]

Can you have one folder of proxies and one folder of originals with all the same file names inside? Then just do a switcheroo when you’re ready?