← GlossaryGlossary

Proxy File

A low-resolution copy of a media file, used for editing performance. DAAAM extracts small preview frames for analysis — not editing proxies, but the stills it reads to understand your footage.

Aerial turquoise ocean
Coast · Open SeaTurquoise ocean meeting the horizon, whitecaps rolling to shore.
Aerial beach houses and pier
Coast · PierBeach houses and a pier reaching into turquoise water.
Coastal sunset from above
Coast · SunsetSoft sunset light over a turquoise bay and sandy beach.
Clifftop lighthouse at sunrise
Coast · SunriseA white lighthouse on a rocky cliff above the ocean at sunrise.

Two types of proxies

Editing proxies are low-resolution video files used during the edit for playback performance. Search previews are still images extracted from the video, representing each shot. DAAAM uses the second type to read your footage.

How DAAAM samples footage

One frame at every shot change. Extra samples on long static shots so nothing important is missed. Small JPEGs — lightweight enough to process quickly. Source files are never modified.

Why still frames?

Reading a video file frame by frame would be slow and expensive. Sampling representative stills lets DAAAM cover every distinct moment without touching your originals.

More terms

CodecThe algorithm that compresses and decompresses video data. For filmmakers, codec choice affects quality, file size, editing performance, and long-term archive compatibility.
Digital Asset Management (DAM)Software for organising, storing, and retrieving media files. For filmmakers, a video-native DAM is the difference between finding a shot and scrubbing for hours.
EXIF DataThe metadata your camera embeds in every photo and video file. Make, model, lens, GPS, ISO, timestamp — the technical fingerprint of every shot you take.
Hybrid SearchCombining meaning-based search with exact-match search to produce better results than either alone. For video footage, this means finding shots by description AND by camera model, place name, or technical specs.