Optimized Media in DaVinci Resolve: How to Edit Smoothly

Is your timeline in DaVinci Resolve stuttering with 4K, 6K, or H.265 footage? If so, optimized media is often the fastest solution. Resolve creates a copy of your large source files in a codec that’s much lighter to play back, and uses that copy during editing. Your original files remain untouched. In this guide, you’ll learn what optimized media does, how it differs from proxy media, which settings to choose, where the files are saved, and what to do if Resolve refuses to create them.

In a nutshell

• Optimized media is a transcoded version of your original clips into an editing-friendly codec, by default at full resolution. Resolve seamlessly swaps it in for the original.
• Proxy media is a lighter, lower-resolution substitute. It’s a separate system with its own settings and menu.
• You create optimized media in the Media Pool: select clips, right-click, and choose Generate Optimized Media.
• Before your final render, disable the use of optimized media so that Resolve renders from the originals.
• Optimized media requires a lot of fast disk space. A separate NVMe drive for cache and optimized media makes all the difference.

Table of contents

• What exactly optimized media does
• Optimized media and proxy media: the difference
• How to create optimized media
• Enabling and disabling optimized media during editing
• Where Resolve stores optimized media
• Exporting: originals or optimized media?
• Why Resolve Sometimes Doesn’t Create Optimized Media
• Our take on optimized media
• A system that tracks Resolve
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Sources

What exactly Optimized Media does

Cameras often capture video in storage-efficient codecs, such as H.264 and H.265 (HEVC), or in resource-intensive RAW formats. What’s efficient for the memory card is taxing for your computer: with long-GOP codecs, the processor or graphics card has to reconstruct each frame based on previous frames. This makes scrubbing, rewinding, and quick editing sluggish.

Optimized Media solves this by converting your clips to an intraframe codec, where each frame is independent. Think of DNxHR or ProRes. These files are larger, but require much less processing power to play back. Resolve automatically links the optimized version to the original clip. In the Media Pool and on the timeline, you’ll still see your original clip—it just plays back more smoothly.

When does it really help?

• Long-GOP footage from drones, mirrorless cameras, and smartphones (H.264, H.265).
• High resolutions such as 4K, 6K, and 8K, especially with multiple layers on the timeline.
• Heavy RAW formats where your system can’t keep up with debayering in real time.
• Multicam edits, where Resolve has to decode multiple streams simultaneously.

If you’re already working with ProRes or DNxHR directly from your camera or recorder, optimized media won’t offer much of an advantage. That footage is already easy to edit.

Optimized media and proxy media: the difference

Both features ensure smoother playback, but they are two separate systems, each with its own settings. They do not automatically turn each other off. In practice, this often leads to confusion: you turn one off and think you’re watching the originals, while the other is still active.

In addition, there is a third, separate feature: Timeline Proxy Mode. This feature only reduces the playback resolution in the viewer and does not write any files to disk.

A rule of thumb we often share:

1. Do you edit and color grade at a single workstation? Choose optimized media. You’ll retain full image quality in the viewer, which is helpful for color grading.
2. Do you work with multiple editors, a laptop on the go, or a NAS? Choose proxy media. These files have recognizable names and are easier to move around.
3. Are you in a real hurry? Use Timeline Proxy Mode. It requires no preparation, but you’ll see less detail.

How to Create Optimized Media

The process itself is simple. You generate optimized media in the Media Pool, not on the timeline.

1. First, check your settings. Open Project Settings and go to Master Settings. Under the “Optimized Media and Render Cache” section, select your resolution and aspect ratio (see below).
2. Check the storage location. Go to Project Settings and look under “Working Folders” to see where the cache files are saved. It’s best to store them on a fast, separate drive.
3. Go to the Media Pool. Select the clips that play choppily. You can also select an entire bin.
4. Right-click, then select “Generate Optimized Media. ” Resolve displays a progress window showing the remaining time.
5. Let the process finish. You can close the window at any time; clips that are already finished will remain usable.
6. Check the result. In the Playback menu, enable the option to use optimized media and play back your timeline.

A practical tip: It’s best not to make adjustments such as rotations or mirroring in the Inspector before rendering. Users have reported that the rendered media may carry over such adjustments, leading to unexpected results in the viewer. Render first, then edit.

Which resolution and format should you choose?

In the project settings, you specify two things: the resolution and the codec.

Resolution

• Original: full resolution. Best for color correction and assessing sharpness, but also results in the largest file sizes.
• Half: a good middle ground for 4K and 6K footage on an average system.
• Quarter or lower: for 8K or older hardware. Great for editing, less suitable for color grading.

Format

• DNxHR variants (such as LB, SQ, and HQX): work well on Windows and Linux. HQX supports 10-bit, which is what you want if you’re going to color grade.
• ProRes variants (such as Proxy, LT, 422, and 422 HQ): primarily used on macOS.
• Uncompressed: maximum quality, but requires a huge amount of storage. Rarely needed.

If you’re working with 10-bit log footage and want to view optimized media on the Color page, choose a 10-bit codec. An 8-bit codec may show banding that isn’t present in the original.

Optimizing Media Playback and Pausing During Editing

Creating them is one thing; using them is a separate setting. In the Playback menu, you’ll find the option to use optimized media when it’s available. If it’s turned on, Resolve will play the optimized version. If you turn it off, you’ll go back to viewing the original files.

Here’s a handy way to do it:

• While editing: optimized media enabled. You can cut and scrub smoothly.
• When critically assessing sharpness or noise: turnit off briefly so you can evaluate the original. This is especially important if you created “Optimized Media” at a lower resolution.
• Using proxy media? In the same Playback menu, also check the proxy setting. It’s separate from optimized media.
• Want to see which clips have already been optimized? In the Media Pool, enable list view and add the “Optimized Media” column.

Where Resolve stores optimized media

Optimized media is stored in Resolve’s cache folder, in a subfolder named ” OptimizedMedia ” within the “CacheClip” folder. The files are not assigned a readable clip name but rather a number. This makes it difficult to manually determine which file belongs to which clip.

Starting with version 17, optimized media are shared across projects within the same database. If you use the same clips in multiple projects, you only need to optimize them once. This saves processing time and disk space. It also means that in this situation, you’ll need to clean up the files yourself by removing them from the CacheClip/OptimizedMedia folder.

Smart Storage Management

Optimized media in DNxHR HQX or ProRes 422 HQ at full resolution can quickly take up many times the space of your original H.265 files. Plan for that in advance. Here are a few guidelines:

• Use a separate, fast drive. An NVMe SSD for cache and optimized media keeps your system drive free and delivers the throughput required for multiple streams.
• Separate source media and cache. A common approach we see: source media and proxies on a NAS, cache and optimized media locally on NVMe. This way, you share what needs to be shared while keeping playback fast.
• Clean up regularly. Once a project is complete, you no longer need the optimized media. You can always regenerate them.
• Keep space free. A full drive is one of the most common reasons why generation stops halfway through.

You can read more about disk partitioning in our guide to storage for studio computers.

Export: originals or optimized media?

This is the question editors ask most often right before the deadline. The advice is clear: disable optimized media before your final render. Otherwise, you run the risk of Resolve using the optimized version instead of your original files.

Therefore, before exporting, check the following:

1. In the Playback menu, disable the use of optimized media.
2. Also make sure that proxy media is not enabled.
3. On the Deliver page, under the advanced render settings, check to see if the box next to “Use optimized media” or “Use cached images” is checked. Turn that off if you want the highest quality from the originals.
4. Render a short clip as a test and compare it to the original, especially for your first project using this workflow.

If you’ve created optimized media at full resolution using a 10-bit codec, the difference in quality is minimal. But at half or quarter resolution, or with an 8-bit codec, you’ll definitely notice the difference in your export.

Why Resolve Sometimes Doesn’t Create Optimized Media

Is the option grayed out, does the process stop halfway through, or do you not notice any difference in playback? If so, go through this list.

If you keep running into problems, check your hardware as well. A graphics card with insufficient memory or a system that can’t decode H.265 using hardware acceleration will make the rendering process slow and prone to errors. Our article on hassle-free video editing goes into more detail about stability.

Our Perspective on Optimized Media

Optimized Media is a smart feature, and we’re happy to recommend it. But in practice, we also see how much time editors spend waiting for transcodes, managing cache folders, and figuring out which playback setting is currently active.

That’s why, when putting together a video system, we always consider the entire workflow. A powerful graphics card with sufficient memory, a processor that efficiently decodes your camera codecs, and a dedicated NVMe drive for caching and optimized media ensure that you’ll be able to edit directly from your source files much more often. And when you do optimize, the process is faster and more stable.

We build custom studio PCs, focusing on stability and a configuration that suits your software and equipment. You’ll receive personalized support from our experts. That way, you can spend your time editing instead of waiting.

Harold

A system that tracks Resolve

Optimized media helps a system that’s just falling short. If you want your timeline to run smoothly even with heavy 4K and 6K footage, it all starts with the right hardware. Our DaVinci Resolve computers are built specifically for this kind of work. We tailor the configuration to your footage, including storage for cache and optimized media.

Our custom-built studio PCs start at €1,099. If you’re looking for a powerful starting point, check out the Tower of Power Gold ULTRA 7. If you’d like to figure out what you need first, read our DaVinci Resolve PC specifications or the hardware requirements for Resolve. If you’re editing with audio, we also offer audio interfaces and studio monitors. For more tips on your daily workflow, check out our video editing workflow tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is optimized media the same as proxy media?

No. Optimized media is a transcoded version of the footage in a codec that’s easy to edit, set to full resolution by default, and linked to your Resolve database. Proxy media is a lighter, lower-resolution copy that’s easier to share with other systems. Both are configured separately and can be enabled or disabled individually.

Does Resolve use the original files when exporting?

To be on the safe side, disable the use of optimized media and proxy media before rendering. Also, check the advanced settings on the Deliver page. That way, you can be sure your export comes from the original files.

What format should I choose for optimized media?

On Windows, DNxHR is the standard choice; on macOS, it’s ProRes. If you’re going to color grade, choose a 10-bit format such as DNxHR HQX or ProRes 422 HQ. For editing only, a lighter format at half resolution is sufficient.

Is DaVinci Resolve CPU-intensive or GPU-intensive?

Both, but Resolve relies heavily on the graphics card for playback, effects, and color correction. The processor handles much of the decoding, especially with long-GOP codecs that lack hardware support. A well-balanced system with fast storage delivers the best results.

Is it safe to delete optimized media?

Yes. Your original files always remain intact, so you won’t lose anything. Delete the files from the CacheClip/OptimizedMedia folder when you no longer need them. You can always regenerate them later.

Sources

• DaVinci Resolve 17 New Features Guide, Blackmagic Design
• How to Set Up a Proxy Workflow in DaVinci Resolve, Cutback
• Resolve Proxies, Frame.io Workflow Guide
• Blackmagic Forum: Optimized Media and Inspector Adjustments
• Blackmagic Forum: Cache and Optimized Media Storage

Recommendations

• DaVinci Resolve PC Specifications: What You Really Need
• Video Editing Workflow Tips: Efficient Workflows for Creative Professionals
• Video Editing Setup Advice: A Complete Guide to Fast, Accurate NLE Workflows
• Resolve Hardware Requirements: What Your System Really Needs