How can I collaborate DaVinci Resolve Studio 16 between macOS and Windows in QTS 4.4.3?

This tutorial explains the process of creating a multi-user collaborative online editing environment using DaVinci Resolve Studio 16 and your QNAP NAS. The collaboration features covered in this tutorial are not supported by the free version of DaVinci Resolve Studio.

Network Topography

Configuring the NAS

Before configuring DaVinci Studio, you’ll need to prepare your QNAP NAS to host the collaborative environment.

Creating a Shared Folder

The first task is to create an empty folder on the NAS. This folder is used by the PostgreSQL container to store the DaVinci database. Storing the database like this will allow data retention even if the container is removed. The PostgreSQL container can only mount empty folders.

1. Log in to QTS.
2. Open File Station.
3. Click .
4. Select Shared Folder.
   
   A shared folder is created.
5. Navigate to the created folder.
6. Click .
7. Select Folder.
   
   An empty folder is created.

Installing Container Station

1. Log in to QTS.
2. Open App Center.
3. Search for Container Station.
4. Click Install.
   App Center installs Container Station.
   

Installing the PostgreSQL container

1. Go to Container Station > Create.
2. Locate the search bar.
3. Enter postgresql.
4. Go to the Docker Hub tab.
   
5. Locate the official postgres container.
   
6. Click Install.
   The Select Install Version window opens.
   
7. Select version 9.5.4.
8. Click Next.
   The Create Container window opens.
9. Configure the PostgreSQL container settings.
10. Click Advanced Settings.
    
11. Configure port forwarding.
    1. Go to Network > Port Forwarding.
    2. Click Add.
    3. Set the Host port to 5432.
    4. Set the Container port to 5432.
       
12. Configure shared folders.
    1. Go to Shared Folders > Volume from host.
    2. Click Add.
    3. Set Volume from host.
       1. Identify an empty folder.
       2. Enter the path to the folder.
    4. Set Mount Point.
       1. Enter /var/lib/postgresql/data
    5. Select Read.
    6. Select Write.
13. Click Create.
    
14. Review the container settings.
15. Click OK.
    Container Station creates the container.
    
    

The PostgreSQL container is now running. You can check the status or further configure the container from the Overview page.

Modifying the pg_hba.conf file & postgresql.conf file

Allowing SSH connections

1. Go to Control Panel > Network & File Services > Telnet / SSH.
   
2. Select Allow SSH connection.
3. Set the port to 22.
4. Click Apply.
   

Modifying the pg_hba.conf file

This process will walk you through the process of modifying your pg_hba.conf file to allow external TCP/IP connections.

1. Establish an SSH connection with the NAS.
   1. Log on to your MacOS device.
   2. Open theterminal
   3. Enter the following command.
      ssh admin@<YOUR_NAS_IP>
   4. Enter the NAS admin password.
2. Locate the pg_hba.conf file.
   1. Enter the following command.
      find / -name pg_hba.conf
   2. Note the returned path.
3. Open the file.
   1. Enter the following command.
      cat <RETURNED PATH TO FILE>
4. Modify the file.
   1. Enter the following command.
      echo "host all all <YOUR NAS IP>/<NETWORK SEGMENT> trust" >
      <RETURNED PATH TO FILE>
   If for example, your NAS and computer operate on a network segment of 172.17.x.x., you might need to enterecho "host all all 172.17.0.1/16 trust"
   DaVinci Resolve Studio does not allow the use of an md5 or password for security. If you have a private network, this should not be an issue.
5. Verify the modification.
   1. Enter the following command.
      cat <RETURNED PATH TO FILE>

Modifying the postgresql.conf file

This process will walk you through how to modify the listening address of your postgresql.conf file to listen to an external IP address, instead of just a localhost IP address.

1. Establish an SSH connection with the NAS.
   1. Log on to your MacOS device.
   2. Open theterminal
   3. Enter the following command.
      ssh admin@<YOUR_NAS_IP>
   4. Enter the NAS admin password.
2. Locate the pg_hba.conf file.
   1. Enter the following command.
      find / -name postgresql.conf
   2. Note the returned path.
3. Open the file.
   1. Enter the following command.
      cat <RETURNED PATH TO FILE>
4. Modify the file.
   1. Enter the following command.
      echo "listen_addresses = '*' " >>
      <RETURNED PATH TO FILE>
5. Verify the modification.
   1. Enter the following command.
      cat <RETURNED PATH TO FILE>

You must restart your NAS to finalize the modifications.

Mapping Shared Folders to Your Workstation

After configuring the NAS, you’re ready to map the shared folder to your workstations as a network drive. This will allow you to access the folder from within Davinci Resolve Studio 16.

Mapping Network Drives on macOS

1. Log in to macOS.
2. Go to Finder > Go > Connect to Server.
   
   The Connect to Server window opens.
3. Enter smb://<YOUR NAS IP ADDRESS>
4. Click Connect.
   A login window opens.
5. Enter your QNAP NAS admin username.
6. Enter your QNAP NAS admin password.
   
7. Click Connect.
   A folder selection window opens.
8. Select the shared DaVinci database folder.
   
9. Click OK.
   macOS maps the shared folder.

Mapping Network Drives on Windows 10

1. Log in to Windows 10.
2. Open an Explorer window.
3. Connect to the NAS.
   1. Enter \\<YOUR NAS IP ADDRESS>.
   2. A login window opens.
   3. Enter your QNAP NAS admin username.
   4. Enter your QNAP NAS admin password.
   5. Click OK.
      
      Windows connects to the NAS.
4. Right-click on the shared DaVinci database folder.
5. Select Map Network Drive.
   The Map Network Drive window opens.
   
6. Click Finish.
   Windows 10 maps the shared folder.

Configuring DaVinci Resolve Studio 16

Now that the shared folders are mapped to your workstations, you’re ready to configure DaVinci Resolve Studio. The first step is to create a database in the PostgreSQL container you created earlier.

Creating a New DaVinci Database

1. Open DaVinci Resolve.
2. Click New Database.
   
   The New Database window opens.
3. Click Create.
4. Enter a database name.
5. Set the location to your NAS IP address.
6. Click Create.
   
   DaVinci creates the new database.

Creating a New DaVinci Project

1. Select the created PostgreSQL database.
2. Click New Project.
   The Create New Project window opens.
3. Enter a project name.
4. Click Create.
   DaVinci creates the new project.
   

Configuring DaVinci Project Settings

1. Open the previously created project.
2. Go to File > Project Settings.
   
   The Project Settings window opens.
3. Go to Master Settings.
4. Configure the Working Folders.
   
   1. Set the Cache Files location to the NAS folder.
   2. Set the Gallery Stills location to the NAS folder.
5. Go to Capture and Playback.
6. Configure the Capture settings.
   1. Set the Save Clips location to the NAS folder.
      
7. Click Save.
   A confirmation window opens.
8. Click Update.
   

Optional: Configuring the Mapped Mount setting

If your DaVinci environment uses both Mac and Windows workstations, you’ll need to perform additional steps to ensure the shared environment operates correctly. If you don’t use both Windows and Mac workstations, this step is not required.

Configuring the Mapped Mount Setting on macOS

1. Open DaVinci Resolve Studio.
2. Go to DaVinci Resolve > Preferences.
   
   The Preferences window opens.
3. Go to Media Storage.
4. Click Add.
5. Set the Mount location to the macOS mapped network drive(/Volumes/Davinci).
6. Set the Mapped Mount location to the Windows mapped network drive (X:\).
   
7. Clic Sakve.
   The Preferences window closes.
8. Go to File > Enable Collaboration.
   

Configuring the Mapped Mount Setting on Windows 10

1. Open DaVinci Resolve Studio.
2. Click New Database > Connect.
3. Select PostgreSQL.
   The New Database window opens.
4. Configure the database settings.
   1. Specify a name for the database
   2. Under Location, specify the IP address of the NAS.
5. Click Add.
   
6. Go to Preferences.
   The Preferences window opens.
7. Go to Media Storage.
8. Click Add.
9. Set the Mount location to the Windows mapped network drive (X:\).
10. Set the Mapped Mount location to the macOS mapped network drive (/Volumes/Davinci).
    
11. Click Save.
    The Preferences window closes.