On-device AI upscaling for proxy exports (1080p to 2K/4K)

[erik-sutton95]

Goal

Add fully on-device AI upscaling for exported proxy clips, turning a fast 1080p camera proxy into a clean 2K or 4K deliverable for rapid social-media turnaround.

Why it matters

Proxy clips are quick to transfer and grade, but their resolution can limit same-day delivery. On-device enhancement could preserve the speed of the proxy workflow while producing a more useful final export without uploading footage to a cloud service.

Proposed experience

• Offer 2K and 4K enhancement when exporting a compatible 1080p proxy
• Run inference locally on supported Apple devices
• Preserve crop, frame rate, audio, metadata, and optional LUT baking
• Show an honest time, battery, heat, and storage estimate before processing
• Support progress, cancellation, and a normal non-upscaled fallback

Success looks like

A user can pull a 1080p proxy from the camera, bake a look, enhance it on-device, and share a credible 2K or 4K social clip from the field.

Open questions

• Which model and quality target balance detail recovery, artifacts, app size, and speed?
• Which Apple devices should expose 4K enhancement?
• Should the feature optimize for full-frame output or common vertical and square social crops?