Using Object Mount with Avid Media Composer

This guide walks through how to use Object Mount with Avid Media Composer, including key setup considerations and workflow tips to ensure smooth media management when working with cloud-mounted storage.

Recommended Setup

Avid Media Composer expects all media to reside on high-performance, locally mounted storage paths. Object Mount allows you to treat object storage as a native volume, but there are a few important things to keep in mind:

1. Mount to a simple, short file path

   • Avid prefers media directories without long paths or special characters
   • Example: D:\Avid_Mount or /Volumes/AvidMedia

2. Do not place Avid project or bin files in the mounted volume

   • Save your .avb, .avp, and .avf files to a local disk
   • Use Object Mount for read access to media assets (e.g., linked clips, raw footage)

3. Use AMA (Link to Media) instead of Import

   • Go to File > Input > Link to Media
   • Browse to your Object Mount volume and select your media
   • Do not use Import, as this attempts to copy files locally and may introduce delays or unexpected results

Media and Performance Tips

To ensure a smooth editing experience:

• Enable Object Mount caching in the Preferences tab

• Store data and metadata cache on a fast internal SSD

• If you’re working with large high-resolution files (4K, RAW), enable the following:

  • Set CUNO_OPTIONS = -filePrefetch as a custom environment variable
  • Increase S3 connection pool size in Advanced Settings (e.g., 150–200)
  • Use Avid’s Background Bin Saving to reduce interruptions

• Avoid background virus scanning or indexing on the mounted path (especially on Windows)

Proxy & Optimized Workflows

Avid’s DNxHR and DNxHD proxy workflows are recommended when editing from cloud storage:

• Transcode linked media to proxy formats into local drives
• Use Relink or Consolidate when you're ready to finalise offline-to-online workflows
• Use Media Tool to manage and track linked vs transcoded files

Monitoring Performance

Transfers via Object Mount may not show progress in Avid’s interface, so we suggest:

• On macOS: Open Activity Monitor > Network
• On Windows: Use Task Manager > Performance > Network
• For detailed diagnostics, set the Object Mount log level to debug or trace in Preferences

Known Considerations

• Avid doesn’t natively understand cloud latency — playback may stutter if accessing untranscoded high-resolution files over slower connections
• Ensure the mount path is stable and doesn’t unmount or disconnect mid-session
• POSIX mode can help with permission-sensitive environments, but is not required for typical read workflows

Summary

Avid Media Composer can work effectively with Object Mount when media is linked (not imported) and cache settings are optimised. Local project files, proxy workflows, and sensible mount paths all contribute to a faster, more reliable experience.

For help tuning your Avid workflow with Object Mount, contact our support team — we’re happy to assist.