Streaming caches part of a file. Pinning and precaching let you decide which files are cached, and when.
What caching is
Every stream is cached. Your app fetches chunks of a file over your connection, and a copy of those chunks is kept locally so playback can continue. Caching is the reason streaming works at all.
What pinning and precaching add
Normal caching happens as you play. Pinning and precaching put you in charge of it.
- Pin: keep the files you choose stored locally, so they stay available
- Precache: fetch the files you will need ahead of time, before you start working
Both are built in Performm. Editfly, which streams media to your timeline, is in beta.
When to use them
Reach for pinning or precaching when streaming on demand is not enough.
- On a slow network, where fetching chunks as you go falters
- With very large RAW files, where you may want the whole file on hand
- For offline work, because a file has to be local before you lose the connection
- Before a remote shoot or a long journey, when you know what you will need
Proxies to edit, high-resolution files to finish
A proxy is a lighter version of a clip that is easy to play. Edit with proxies, then reconform to the high-resolution files when you finish.
You can also skip the proxy for the clips that matter most. Pin or precache the full-resolution files you need so they are local before you start.
Choosing what to pin
You do not need to pin everything. A short list keeps the cache small.
- The sequences you are cutting this week
- Any clip you will scrub or grade repeatedly
- Files you need offline
- Camera originals you plan to conform to
What playback still depends on
Pinning does not make a slow connection fast. Playback depends on your connection and on your storage, including the speed of the drive the cache sits on. What pinning does is move the fetching to before you need the file, so you are not waiting on the network while you work.
Where the cache lives
The cache lives on your machine. Cloud storage works in the browser, and local storage needs the desktop app. Your editing app opens media from a drive on your desktop and does not need to know where the storage is.
What is coming
Block streaming, which shows the first part of a file immediately instead of waiting for the whole file, is coming soon. Camera cards mount through a computer with a card reader.
At a glance
Which approach for which situation
| Situation | Approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Good connection, opening a large file | Stream on demand | Nothing to prepare, chunks arrive as you play |
| Slow network | Pin or precache, or edit with proxies | The fetching happens before you need it |
| Very large RAW files | Pin or precache the full files | You have the whole file on hand |
| Working offline | Pin, precache or sync | The file is local before the connection goes |
| Editing then finishing | Proxies, then reconform to high-resolution | Light files to edit, full quality at the end |
What it means for you
For the creator
Pin the sequence you are cutting and keep working when the connection is poor, or precache before you travel.
For the CFO
You keep the storage you already pay for, and the cache is on the machines you already own. Editfly on your own storage is $15 per TB ($10 annual). Seats follow your plan: Free, Flow or Teams.
For the CEO
A remote team can keep editing when connections vary, without duplicating projects or shipping drives.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between pinning and precaching?
Pinning keeps the files you choose stored locally so they stay available. Precaching fetches files ahead of time, before you start working.
Can I work with high-resolution files?
Yes. Pin or precache the full-resolution files you need, or edit with proxies and reconform. Playback still depends on your connection and your storage.
Will pinning make a slow connection fast?
No. It moves the fetching to before you need the file. Playback depends on your connection and your storage.
Is Editfly available now?
Editfly is in beta. Pinning and precaching are built. Block streaming is coming soon.
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