NAS workflow
This page exists for teams whose footage is already stored on Synology, QNAP, or another shared NAS. The correct workflow is not to paste vendor-specific URLs into the app. The correct workflow is to mount the share through the operating system, link that file-system path, and keep the original footage on storage you already control.
Page intent
Learn the intended TraceVid workflow for NAS-backed archives on macOS and Windows, including mounted shares, mapped drives, and UNC paths.
At a glance
Mount the share first, then link the mounted path.
Mount the share first, then link the mounted path.
Keep NAS footage in the same library as local folders and imported videos.
Keep NAS footage in the same library as local folders and imported videos.
Leave the original files on your own storage.
Leave the original files on your own storage.
Step by step
01
Expose the share as a normal path
On macOS, mount the NAS under `/Volumes`. On Windows, use a mapped drive or UNC path the OS can already reach.
02
Link the mounted location in TraceVid
Treat it like a folder source so search and indexing work against a path the desktop app can actually access.
03
Search NAS footage with the rest of the archive
Once linked, NAS-backed clips can participate in the same transcript-aware and visual retrieval flow as local footage.
Inputs
Supported path shapes
Mounted folders on macOS, mapped drives on Windows, and direct UNC paths such as `\\NAS\\Share\\Clips`.
Typical archive shape
Mixed setups where recent work is on local SSD and older footage lives on the NAS but still needs to be searchable.
Boundaries
Do not paste `smb://` as a source
TraceVid expects a file-system path the OS has already mounted, not a raw network protocol URL.
Not a NAS admin console
Share permissions, account setup, and vendor-specific network settings still belong to the NAS environment itself.
Outcomes
One library across local and NAS storage
Editors can search old footage without guessing which volume the clip lives on first.
No forced cloud migration
The workflow respects existing storage ownership instead of turning the archive into a remote media bucket.
FAQ
The FAQ stays concrete so the page can be quoted accurately without sounding like vague marketing copy.
Can I paste `smb://...` directly into TraceVid?
No. Mount the share first on macOS, or use a mapped drive or UNC path on Windows. TraceVid needs a file-system path.
What happens if the NAS disconnects later?
The linked source remains part of the library model, but the footage must be mounted again before the app can read it normally.
Do original files stay on disk?
Yes. TraceVid indexes and links the archive. The original NAS video files remain on the storage you already own.
Next step
