Quick start
Choose locations
Select or drop a source folder and a separate destination. ProxyForge scans supported media recursively and does not modify originals.
Configure output
Choose codec, frame size, editing application, color handling, and naming—or apply a saved workflow preset.
Check readiness
Review source-file count, estimated output, free space, and the exact recipe before you start or add the job to the queue.
Create or queue
Create immediately or keep multiple jobs in the persistent queue. One to four files can encode concurrently.
Monitor safely
Watch progress, ETA, active workers, encode speed, and free space. Pause when needed or cancel with confirmation.
Review the handoff
Reveal finished proxies in Finder and open the Markdown report or JSON manifest from the completion summary.
Choose the right output
ProRes Proxy 422
Use for smooth editorial playback and broad professional compatibility. ProxyForge writes 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes Proxy with PCM audio. Files are larger than H.264 or HEVC but easier for many NLEs to decode.
H.264 Proxy
Use for compact SDR proxies. H.264 is hardware-accelerated when the Mac exposes the required VideoToolbox encoder. It cannot preserve HDR in ProxyForge; choose Rec.709 conversion for HDR sources.
HEVC Main10 Proxy
Use for compact 10-bit output and HDR-aware workflows. Confirm that the destination NLE and collaborating systems accept HEVC proxy media before a large batch.
Frame size and color
Choose 540p, 720p, 1080p, or 25/50/75/100% of source dimensions. ProxyForge preserves display aspect ratio, emits even dimensions, normalizes square pixels, and never upscales. Preserve Source Color keeps detected color tags; Convert HDR to Rec.709 performs an actual PQ/HLG and wide-gamut conversion to SDR BT.709.
Relinking and naming
Select the Editing Application mode before processing. Each mode applies relink-oriented naming and validates the properties that matter to that workflow:
- Final Cut Pro: uses a relink-friendly suffix and validates frame rate, duration, media type, and audio layout.
- Premiere Pro: uses the exact source basename and strictly validates frame rate, duration, field order, and audio layout.
- DaVinci Resolve: uses the exact source basename and validates source timecode and frame rate.
- General: uses your configured pattern and validates core media properties.
The stock naming pattern is [filename]_PROXY_[resolution]_[codec].[ext]. A pattern must include [filename] and [ext]. Process a representative clip and attach it in the intended NLE before committing a critical production batch.
Queue and automation
Persistent queue
Open Queue from the toolbar to inspect job state, reorder pending work, retry failed or cancelled jobs, and import or export a JSON queue. Jobs that were running when ProxyForge closed recover as pending on the next launch. Exported queues redact security-scoped bookmarks but retain local paths and job settings.
Watch folders
Choose a source and destination in the main window, open Settings → Automation, and add the current source as a watch folder. ProxyForge excludes the destination tree, waits until a file's size and modification date are stable, and prevents duplicate processing. Watch access remains limited to folders you authorized through macOS.
Shortcuts
ProxyForge supplies actions to create proxies from authorized folders, start the pending queue, and scan watch folders. Shortcuts cannot bypass folder authorization. Use Settings → Automation to forget remembered folder access.
Formats and preserved data
ProxyForge scans MOV, MP4, MXF, MKV, and MTS containers. ProRes RAW in MOV is converted locally through macOS AVFoundation before proxy encoding. RED R3D files are detected, listed in the report, and skipped because RED decoding tools are not bundled.
Where the source exposes them, ProxyForge carries forward frame rate, display aspect, field order, timecode, color primaries, transfer function, matrix, range, every audio stream, channel layout, and language tags. Before publishing a final output, it checks duration, dimensions, naming, audio, timecode, color, and other mode-specific conformance rules.
Troubleshooting
The destination says it needs attention
Reconnect the destination volume, confirm the selected folder still exists and is writable, then select it again. The destination cannot be inside the source folder.
Processing paused because space is low
Free space on the destination or select a destination with more capacity. ProxyForge checks estimated space before starting and monitors free space while encoding.
The selected encoder is unavailable
Choose another codec or try on a Mac that exposes the required VideoToolbox capability. ProRes has a bundled LGPL-compatible software fallback; H.264 and HEVC require their validated hardware paths.
A proxy already exists
ProxyForge safely skips existing final outputs instead of overwriting them. Change the naming pattern or destination if you intend to create a distinct proxy version.
A job failed validation
Read the failed-file message in the completion summary, then open the report for source and output metadata plus the exact conformance issue. Retry after correcting the setting, source, or destination problem.
Encoding is slower than expected
Reduce concurrent files when storage or memory is constrained; increase it only when source and destination storage can sustain parallel reads and writes. ProRes favors decode performance over minimum file size.
Frequently asked questions
Does ProxyForge upload my footage?
No. Media inspection, conversion, reports, queue state, presets, and automation run locally. The macOS app contains no analytics or telemetry. See the app privacy policy for the complete boundary.
What are the system requirements?
ProxyForge requires macOS 26.0 or later and supports both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Fast local or directly attached SSD storage is recommended for larger batches.
Can I customize low-level encoder parameters?
ProxyForge exposes the workflow choices that affect editorial use while keeping low-level codec parameters validated and repeatable. Choose codec, seven frame sizes, color policy, NLE mode, naming, saved presets, and one to four workers.
What do reports contain?
The optional Markdown report and JSON manifest record source and proxy paths, codecs, dimensions, frame rate, audio, color, timecode, file sizes, naming, status, and conformance findings. They are written only to the destination you selected.
Contact support
Include enough detail to reproduce the behavior without sending confidential media unless support explicitly requests and you choose to share it.
Please include
- macOS and ProxyForge version numbers
- Source container, codec, dimensions, frame rate, and color format
- Selected codec, size, NLE mode, and color policy
- The exact error text and relevant report section
- Steps that reproduce the issue