Uploaded February 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Proxy files guide for quicker playback and seeking in Shotcut free, portable, lightweight open source video editor.
All you have to do is
1. calculate a quarter or eighth resolution of your original file
render the smaller-resolution (same framerate) version of your video
create a new project file (.mlt) with the large/original video in the timeline and close shotcut
rename the original video file (add "Gone" to the end of the name)
start Shotcut and open the .mlt project, when it asks you to "find" the "missing" file, pick the smaller (proxy) file.
edit your video - do not use size/position filters and save the project and close shotcut
rename the small/proxy file (add "gone" to the end of the name)
start Shotcut and open the " - repaired.mlt" project file, this time "find" the big/original video file
You are done and have successfully made editing your project faster and less laggy!

Aspect ratio calculator: https://andrew.hedges.name/experiments/aspect_ratio/
Calculator: should be in your operating system. Or just use google for math (search "1920/4" without quotes)

Get Handbrake for open source video conversion: youtu.be/RX2Hcxj8YK4
Get Shotcut free portable lightweight video editor (oh and open source too) youtu.be/4d1nH5VLGm8

Shotcut beginner tutorial: youtu.be/pXdgg3mGpec

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PS: "hiw" = Hi! + How?

Clip used in video: youtube.com/watch?v=we7a9ojxsHI licensed under CC-BY 4.0 by Mário J.R. Matos (mariojrmatos) mariojrmatos.com