MEDIA NODE SUPPORT!
Use case or problem
I’m new to Obsidian, but VERY excited for OBSIDIAN, except that it has one MAJOR deficiency when it comes to dealing with databases of large Media files! This is a crippling deficiency for me.
I have BIG need to integrate Obsidian Vault with a HUGE database of media files videos, PDFs, Images, MP3’s. Most can be sourced to a URL. I want to make it optional for the user for whether or not they download the local copy, or reference it only as a URL to be obtained JIT from online.
This folder could OPTIONALLY be a SYMLINK folder in my Vault, so that if I need to Move/Reorg/Rename any of the Media files/links from within Obsidian, then Obsidian’s links will remain intact!
I’m maintaining the rest of my Obsidian Vault with GIT, and do not want to put 1 TB of video/PDF/Image content into GIT! I also want to be able to re-organize this database freely (from within Obsidian) and keep my reference links all intact!
I want each media node to have optional Metadata/Properties and Searchable Index (e.g. pages, or time marks), and to have the local copy be “optional”.
Proposed solution
I want to be able to drag either local media files, or a Media file online URL, into Obsidian and have it create a node for it with:
- PROPERTIES: many auto-populated where possible, including the Display Name, URL, MD5, and Meta data from the URL itself. (should be configurable). Also the “iframe code” where applicable.
1b. PLUGIN POPULATION OF PROPERTIES: Specialized parsing where appropriate (could be a custom plugin to do this part) - For example, if I drag in a YouTube URL, it should auto-import the “Channel/Author”, “Date”, and the Description. At future dates, I could have it auto-update these fields in case the author changed the “Description” (e.g.).
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SEARCHABLE INDEX: For each, should provide local indexing framework that can be attached to any media file, for inserting TIME (or PAGE for PDF) markers to videos, so that I can just type the time and a description.. and it creates the clickable link to that time mark in the video (or page link in PDF).
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PREVIEW IMAGE - optional, for each node.
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LOCAL COPY vs. ONLINE/URL - OPTIONAL: Whether Local or not, media nodes will behave the similarly from Obsidian Links (for preview). This provides flexibility if the “Media” folder is to be saved SEPARATE from the rest of the Obsidian content – that each user/Device of this vault can decide whether or not to download the big media content, or just to access it JIT as needed from online. So your phone can have the lightweight/lean version, but heavyweight for your PC. And can be done for ALL, or just some (select by Node or Folder).
Current workaround (optional)
Untenable Workflow:
- Rigid folder/name for each media asset. Can’t change it without breaking links!
- No Meta data per media item! Unless I do something very awkward.
- No ability to decide per user/device whether or not to download various Media items locally! So it will be broken-links when on my phone/tablet, and only look right on my PC!
A nightmare, non-tenable workflow! But it’s what I have to do for now.
Crowd Funding?:
Can we pitch into a pool like “OpenCollective” to get a feature (or plugin) like this implemented? It will open the doors for Obsidian to satisfy a whole new set of potential users - and should be good for existing users too, who want to make Obsidian also help manage their large media assets, such that links can be kept intact!
Related feature requests (optional)
This request is similar to this one:
better-in-file-media-handling/106736/9
#106736#
and this post:
managing-large-files-and-external-resources-in-obsidian-vaults/93829/4
#93829#