WebDAV
WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) extends standard HTTP with methods like PROPFIND, GET ranges, and PUT, so a remote file server can be mounted as a drive. The operating system sees it as a normal folder, and applications read and write files through it without knowing the network is involved.
For video editing, WebDAV lets you stream the original files from the cloud to your NLE at export time, without downloading the full content to local disk. The NLE sees a drive letter or mount point, reads blocks on demand, and decodes them exactly as if they were local MXFs or R3Ds.
Examples
- •macOS mount_webdav presents a remote URL as /Volumes/MyShare
- •Windows net use maps a drive letter like Z: to a remote file server
- •NextCloud and ownCloud expose user storage as a mountable network drive
In Sanbila
Sanbila streams originals from cloud storage to your NLE through a virtual drive that the NLE reads as a local folder. The protocol details are abstracted from the user, so no manual mount setup is required.
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
Sources
- RFC 4918: HTTP Extensions for WebDAV · IETF
- Map a network drive in Windows · Microsoft
- Connect to a WebDAV server on Mac · Apple