When TechOps transcodes a video to make a proxy we're changing it from the format it arrived in from the client into another format (and this could involve changing the file type/wrapper, the video codec, the audio codec, resolution, bitrate, any or every aspect of the original video). The most frequent 

Typically, it means we're shrinking the file down to a reasonable file size for production staff to use. Vantage does this automatically for videos we receive from clients via Captionmax's Media Shuttle. Any client videos over 1 GB in file size that are uploaded to us via Media Shuttle are automatically transcoded in order to make them friendlier to work with for production.​

We shrink them because large files take longer to download for production and function slower in software. ​Captionmax's internal proxies are designated by a _[XXX] suffix appended to the end of the file, before the file extension.

File names that look like this: Video.mp4, are original client videos.

File names that look like this: Video_[Vi 25 Proxy].mp4, are proxies automatically created by Vantage and the Vi 25 (or 23.98 or 29.97 etc) refers to the framerate, in this case 25fps. 

File names that look like this: Some Video_[PROXY].mp4, are proxies that were manually created by someone in TechOps, generally because the automated transcode failed or someone asked us to make them a proxy because they had an issue with the original video. Occasionally we might also add descriptors to the suffix such as LAS for a Spanish Audio Proxy, or Complete/Full for proxies where we stitched together multiple clips into a single video... here's looking at you, Bachelor Nation.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bracketed proxy suffixes should never be considered part of the file name when saving project files or final files. Always remove the _[XXX] when saving files, and save them per production file naming practices. If you're ever unsure about file names with regards to production files, ask your supervisor and/or the Project Manager for guidance.​

Files over a certain size threshold (usually masters for A&E and the like, which are more than 30 GB) always get manually transcoded.  TechOps moves the giant original video over to a computer designated for that task, we open it in software, maybe tweak the audio because their masters are a little janky, add a timecode, wait for it to export, then move the little proxy back into the ingest workflow. Those giant originals will not be available anywhere in Media Shuttle due to space concerns, so if there's an issue with the proxy you'll need to contact us.

And if you're wondering how long does it take to make a proxy...

The amount of time it takes something to automatically transcode depends on a lot of factors. Video size and file type are factors, but so is the amount of ingest traffic.  Vantage can only transcode a few videos simultaneously, so if a ton of videos come through at the same time, sometimes a video gets stuck at the end of a queue of transcodes. It can take up to an hour if things are really busy and the video you're waiting on is large.

The length of time to generate a manual proxies also varies according mainly to file size, but also to TechOps availability. If we're relatively free we can generally make you a transcode within half an hour. We cannot control export time for Manual OR Automated transcodes so we appreciate your patience when we're making a proxy for you!

See the page on How to Read Intake Notifications for more info on the automated proxies Vantage produces.