Technical Guide: Accessing Your Recording Library on Mobile Devices guide illustration
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Technical Guide: Accessing Your Recording Library on Mobile Devices

Table of Contents

Once your high-volume storage is full of recordings, you don’t want to be tied to your desk to watch them. You can access your entire CaptureGem library from a phone, tablet, or VR headset using network sharing or media server software.

1) LAN Sharing: Direct File Access (SMB)

The simplest way to view files on your home network is using SMB (Server Message Block), which is built into Windows and macOS.

  • Windows: Right-click your recordings folder > Properties > Sharing > Share. Give your user “Read” access.
  • Mobile Access: Use a file explorer app like Files (iOS) or Solid Explorer (Android).
  • Steps:
    1. Open the app and select “Add Network Location” or “Connect to Server.”
    2. Enter your recording computer’s local IP (e.g., 192.168.1.50).
    3. Log in with your computer’s username and password.

2) Media Servers: Plex or Jellyfin (Best UI)

For a “Netflix-style” experience with thumbnails and easy resume, use a dedicated media server. Jellyfin is highly recommended as it is free, open-source, and privacy-focused.

  1. Install: Install the Jellyfin server on your recording machine.
  2. Add Library: Point it to your CaptureGem recordings root folder.
  3. Client App: Install the Jellyfin app on your phone or smart TV.
  4. Hardware Acceleration: If your server machine has a GPU, enable hardware transcoding to ensure smooth playback on mobile networks.

3) Cloud Sync: Accessing Favorites Anywhere

If you want to view specific “favorites” while away from your home network, use a sync tool like OneDrive, Dropbox, or Rclone.

  • Workflow: Set your “Archive” or “Favorites” path in CaptureGem to a folder inside your sync directory.
  • Offline Viewing: Mark those folders as “Available Offline” in the mobile app before you leave home.

4) Immersive Access: VR Headsets (Meta Quest)

To watch VR Metadata recordings on a Quest 2/3 without copying them to the headset’s limited storage:

  • SKYBOX VR / HereSphere: Both players support SMB and DLNA.
  • Optimization: Ensure your headset is on a 5GHz or 6GHz Wi-Fi band to handle the high bitrate of VR MP4s.

Summary

Use SMB for quick local checks, Jellyfin for a polished library UI, and Cloud Sync for offline mobility. This keeps your main recording machine as the single source of truth while giving you freedom of playback.

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