# How do I access the file being recorded? **URL:** \ **Category:** Wowza Streaming Engine\ **Tags:** wowza-streaming-server-java-api, recording\ **Created:** [April 12, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/how-do-i-access-the-file-being-recorded/93141 "2021-04-12T05:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shemar\_Cox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shemar\_Cox](https://community.wowza.com/u/Shemar_Cox)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/how-do-i-access-the-file-being-recorded/93141/1 "2021-04-12T05:56:16Z")
Hi, I’m recording a video that is streaming. During recording, mp4 files and tmp files are created and saved, but they are not accessible. I’m going to save one file per day. We would like to provide the images of the user’s desired interval by extracting them from the original video, but the file being stored is inaccessible. I’ve also thought of using Wowza’s Recording option to save files every few minutes and then consolidate them and provide them, but it’s not ideal. I was just looking at the Wowza official document, and I saw a feature called nDVR. (Can I record a video and watch it at the same time?) Can I use that feature to implement what I want? Are these features available as developer trial licenses? Or is there another good way to access the live storage file being recorded? I need your help. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![video\_streaming](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/22d042/32.png) [@video\_streaming](https://community.wowza.com/u/video_streaming)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/how-do-i-access-the-file-being-recorded/93141/2 "2021-04-12T17:36:06Z")
Here is some info for you @Shemar_Cox: _Your free Engine trial includes:_ - Windows, Mac, or Linux install. - Transcoder, **nDVR** , and more. - REST and Java API access. - StreamLock-provisioned SSL certificate for HTTPS and WebRTC steaming - 3 inbound / 10 outbound connections. nDVR in Wowza Streaming Engine lets you record a live stream while simultaneously allowing viewers to play or pause the live stream, rewind to a previously recorded point, and resume viewing at the current live point when playing streams on any device or player that support the HLS and MPEG-DASH protocols. Custom configuration enables you to control the archive strategy and availability of your recorded streams. Here is a doc that discusses archive strategy and has some frequently asked DVR questions as well. > **[Get started with nDVR](https://www.wowza.com/docs/wowza-ndvr-quick-start-guide#archiveStrategy)** > > Understand important streaming concepts, configuration requirements, and best practices for using nDVR in Wowza Streaming Engine. * * * You may find this recent video tutorial useful where a Wowza engineer shows you how to extract and modify a DVR recording. > **[Wowza Streaming Engine DVR Clip Extraction API | Video](https://www.wowza.com/blog/using-the-wowza-streaming-engine-dvr-clip-extraction-api)** > > Learn how to use the Wowza Streaming Engine DVR Clip Extraction API to manage nDVR stores, convert nDVR stores to MP4 files, and manage the conversion cache in this helpful video tutorial. LASTLY- We have several nDVR articles for you to review in our docs, but if you’d like assistance in setting this up or have questions on how to get it to work for your specific needs, a wowza engineer will work directly with you through a [support ticket](https://www.wowza.com/support/open-ticket), even if you’re on an Engine trial license. ---
**Author:** ![Connessione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Connessione](https://community.wowza.com/u/Connessione)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/how-do-i-access-the-file-being-recorded/93141/3 "2021-08-13T16:20:56Z")
You cannot access a file from normal recording because the file headers have not been written. It’s ever you will be able to access the file as it is being written… However if you want to extract images you can also look at ffmpeg. You can read the live stream and generate images by time in parallel to the recording. ---
**Author:** ![Connessione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Connessione](https://community.wowza.com/u/Connessione)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/how-do-i-access-the-file-being-recorded/93141/4 "2021-08-16T00:03:13Z")
Correction: You cannot access a file in a normal recording because the file headers have not been written. If it is a DVR then you cans access the file as it is being written. However if you want to extract images you can also look at ffmpeg. You can read the live stream and generate images by time in parallel to the recording.