Proxy file
Modern cameras produce footage at bitrates that strain most laptops: 4K H.264 at 100 Mbps, 6K BRAW at 500 Mbps, 8K R3D at gigabit speeds. Editing natively on these files leads to dropped frames and long renders. A proxy is a smaller alternative, usually H.264 or ProRes Proxy at 720p or 1080p, that behaves identically in a timeline but weighs 10 to 50 times less.
NLEs like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer all support proxy workflows natively. The editor cuts on proxies, then re-links to the original files for final export, keeping the finished output at full resolution.
Examples
- •A 4K Sony FX6 clip at 100 Mbps becomes a 720p H.264 proxy at 15 Mbps
- •A 6K Blackmagic BRAW clip at constant quality 3:1 becomes a 1080p ProRes Proxy
- •An 8K RED R3D file becomes a 1080p DNxHR LB proxy for Avid
In Sanbila
Sanbila generates proxies on our servers (no local CPU cost), places them in a Virtual Folder your NLE treats as regular media, and streams the original files back only at export via Smart Relink.
Frequently asked questions
How is Sanbila different from the proxy generator built into my NLE?+
Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro and Avid all generate proxies locally, but they keep the original full-resolution files on the same SSD — so the disk fills up twice. Sanbila stores the originals in the cloud (Cloudflare R2) and keeps only the lightweight proxies on your machine. At export, Smart Relink streams the originals back via a local WebDAV mount, so you finish at full quality without ever downloading the source files.
Does Sanbila work offline?+
Yes for editing — once a proxy is cached on your SSD, you can cut, trim, color and arrange your timeline without an internet connection. You only need network access for the initial import (uploading originals to the cloud) and for the final export (streaming originals back via WebDAV).
How much cloud storage does the free plan include?+
The free plan includes 5 GB of cloud storage and one project, with no credit card required. Paid plans start at $49 per month for 2 TB and 50 projects, going up to 25 TB on the Enterprise plan with overage billing for teams that need more.
What upload speed do I need to use Sanbila?+
Any broadband connection works for the initial upload — Sanbila chunks files into 50 MB parts and uploads in parallel, so a typical 100 Mbps fiber line uploads 1 hour of 4K H.264 footage in about 6 minutes. After upload, day-to-day editing happens on local proxies, so your connection speed only matters again at export time when originals are streamed.
Which video formats does Sanbila support?+
Sanbila handles 22+ formats out of the box: MP4, MOV, MXF, R3D (RED RAW), BRAW (Blackmagic RAW), ARRI proxies, ProRes, DNxHR, DNxHD, H.264, H.265, plus WAV and AAC for audio. Both 4K and 8K sources are supported up to 200 GB per single file (URL imports have no size limit).
Related terms
Sources
- Working with proxies in Premiere Pro · Adobe
- Apple ProRes white paper · Apple
- Avid DNxHR and DNxHD codec family · Avid
- DaVinci Resolve documentation · Blackmagic Design