Glossary

Presigned URL

Object storage is private by default, so reaching a file needs authorisation. A presigned URL solves this by encoding a signed, expiring permission directly into a link. The storage service generates it using the account key, and anyone holding the link can read or upload that one object until the link expires, usually within minutes or hours. No long-lived credentials ever leave the server.

This pattern is everywhere in media apps because it is both secure and simple. A backend signs a URL for one clip, hands it to the client, and the client streams or uploads directly to storage without routing the bytes through the app server. Combined with multipart upload, presigned URLs let huge video files move straight between the editor and the storage layer.

Examples

•A backend signs a 50-minute URL so a client can upload one clip
•A presigned link lets an NLE stream a single original without account keys
•A download link expires after an hour, limiting exposure if shared

In Sanbila

Sanbila uses presigned URLs to move your media: the backend signs short-lived links so your machine uploads originals to and streams them from Cloudflare R2 directly, without your storage credentials ever touching the desktop app.

Frequently asked questions

How is Sanbila different from the proxy generator built into my NLE?+

Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro and Avid all generate proxies locally, but they keep the original full-resolution files on the same SSD — so the disk fills up twice. Sanbila stores the originals in the cloud (Cloudflare R2) and keeps only the lightweight proxies on your machine. At export, Smart Relink streams the originals back via a local WebDAV mount, so you finish at full quality without ever downloading the source files.

Does Sanbila work offline?+

Yes for editing — once a proxy is cached on your SSD, you can cut, trim, color and arrange your timeline without an internet connection. You only need network access for the initial import (uploading originals to the cloud) and for the final export (streaming originals back via WebDAV).

How much cloud storage does the free plan include?+

The free plan includes 5 GB of cloud storage and one project, with no credit card required. Paid plans start at $49 per month for 2 TB and 50 projects, going up to 25 TB on the Enterprise plan with overage billing for teams that need more.

What upload speed do I need to use Sanbila?+

Any broadband connection works for the initial upload — Sanbila chunks files into 50 MB parts and uploads in parallel, so a typical 100 Mbps fiber line uploads 1 hour of 4K H.264 footage in about 6 minutes. After upload, day-to-day editing happens on local proxies, so your connection speed only matters again at export time when originals are streamed.

Which video formats does Sanbila support?+

Sanbila handles 22+ formats out of the box: MP4, MOV, MXF, R3D (RED RAW), BRAW (Blackmagic RAW), ARRI proxies, ProRes, DNxHR, DNxHD, H.264, H.265, plus WAV and AAC for audio. Both 4K and 8K sources are supported up to 200 GB per single file (URL imports have no size limit).

Related terms

Object storage

Object storage keeps each file as an object with its own metadata and unique key in a flat namespace, built to scale to billions of items rather than mimic a folder tree.

Cloud storage

Cloud storage holds files on remote servers reached over the internet, providing capacity, redundancy, and access from anywhere without owning physical drives.

Multipart upload

Multipart upload splits a large file into smaller parts that upload independently, often in parallel, then reassembles them into one object in storage.

Sources

Using presigned URLs in Amazon S3 · Amazon Web Services
Cloudflare R2 presigned URLs · Cloudflare