Mastering Obsidian Bases: Transform Your Notes into Dynamic Databases

Nick Milo opens the video by painting a vivid picture of the power of instantly filtered notes, saying:

"Imagine having every note you've ever made instantly filtered to show exactly what you need right when you need it." 0

He introduces Obsidian Bases, a new core plugin that transforms any set of notes into a dynamic, customizable database. Unlike other tools like Notion, which fragment databases into separate bases, Obsidian treats your entire vault as one giant database, allowing you to filter and view notes across your whole collection seamlessly.

Key points:

• A base is a foundation or platform for organizing ideas.
• Obsidian Bases lets you create databases from your notes.
• Unlike Notion, Obsidian’s vault is a single, unified database.
• Bases enable instant filtering of notes by properties like collections or ranks.
• Nick will demonstrate three best features and examples of Bases.

This sets the stage for exploring how Bases can revolutionize note organization and retrieval in Obsidian.

---

Nick walks through the initial setup of a Base in Obsidian:

"To accomplish that, let's go down to the gear icon... make sure your version is 1.9.0 or higher." 1:29

He explains that early access requires a Catalyst license but will eventually be public. Using the command palette (Cmd+P or Ctrl+P), you type "Bases" and select "Create new base." This creates a new database view.

He contrasts Obsidian’s approach with Notion’s:

"Notion has all these bases and so you have to make sure that you create a base within that base... Obsidian has one giganto database." 2:21

Nick then demonstrates filtering notes by a property called collection that contains a link to "quotes," reducing 10,000 notes to about 70 relevant ones. He highlights the importance of properties in notes for filtering and sorting.

Key points:

• Ensure Obsidian version 1.9.0+ for Bases.
• Create a new base via command palette.
• Obsidian vault is a single database, unlike Notion’s fragmented bases.
• Filtering by properties (e.g., collection) narrows down notes.
• Properties are essential metadata fields for Bases filtering.

---

Nick identifies the top three features that make Obsidian Bases stand out:

1. Speed

   "When you create a new base... you're actually seeing my entire list of notes... immediately, it's so fast it kind of boggles my mind." 8:33
   He contrasts this with the Dataview plugin, which can slow down or freeze with large vaults. Obsidian Bases is optimized for large datasets, handling tens of thousands of files smoothly.

2. Multiple Views per Base

   "If anyone's familiar with Air Table... you can create multiple views with different filters and switch between them quickly." 10:05
   Nick shows how to create views like "top eight quotes" or "quotes by rank over four," allowing flexible perspectives on the same data.

3. Embeddable Views

   "You can embed a specific view inside any note using standard Obsidian syntax." 11:37
   This lets you insert filtered, customized tables anywhere in your vault, making it easy to integrate database views into your workflow.

Key points:

• Bases are blazing fast, even with huge vaults.
• Multiple filtered views per base enable flexible data exploration.
• Views can be embedded in notes for contextual display.
• These features combine to make Bases a powerful organizational tool.

---

Nick compares Obsidian Bases with the popular third-party Dataview plugin by recreating a "Recently Modified" notes list.

"Currently, the timestamps in Bases look a little clunky... I really don't need the hour, minute, and second of the day." 15:20

He notes that Bases currently shows full folder paths, which can get messy, whereas his Dataview setup displays a cleaner parent folder name and emojis for visual flair.

Key points:

• Bases’ date/time formatting is less flexible than Dataview’s.
• Folder path display in Bases is more verbose and less clean.
• Bases is still early in development; formatting improvements are expected.
• Dataview currently offers more customization for views like recently modified notes.

---

Nick demonstrates how to replicate his Idea Verse Pro project views using Bases.

"I can filter projects by folder names like active, simmering, and sleeping... and switch between views easily." 17:08

He uses folder-based filters to show all projects or just active ones. Although the interface is a bit rough (e.g., truncated file paths), the core functionality is there.

Key points:

• Bases can filter notes by folder names to categorize projects.
• Switching between filtered views is straightforward.
• UI needs polish (e.g., expanding truncated paths).
• Bases can replicate many Dataview use cases out of the box.

---

Nick highlights some other important aspects of Bases:

• Vault-wide Search:

  "Obsidian Bases searches your whole vault... it sidesteps the issue of fragmented databases in Notion." 19:14

• Adjustable Columns:
  Users can add, remove, and reorder columns in the table views.

• Functions and Formulas:

  "There's a huge list of functions... it will allow you to do all sorts of crazy advanced filtering." 19:56
  Nick admits this is beyond his coding skills but sees great potential for advanced users.

• New File Format:
  Bases use a new .base file format that stores filtering and view settings. Nick is not worried about this new format, as it’s just metadata.

• Complementary to Maps of Content:
  Bases won’t replace maps of content but offer another way to analyze and view information.

Key points:

• Bases operate on the entire vault, avoiding fragmentation.
• Columns in Bases are customizable.
• Advanced filtering with formulas is possible but complex.
• Bases use a new file format for configuration.
• Bases complement, not replace, other Obsidian organizational tools.

---

Nick reflects on how Bases change the way we think and work in Obsidian:

• Properties Become Central:

  "If you want to use bases, you're going to have to get very comfortable with Obsidian properties." 22:22
  Properties are metadata fields that enable filtering and sorting.

• Shift in Thinking Style:

  "A database provides an environment that's inherently more structured and intellectually jumpy... excellent for analysis and planning." 23:49
  However, this can come at the cost of freeform, serendipitous note-taking and linking.

• Balance is Key:
  Nick warns against letting database-building consume all your time and creativity.

• AI Integration Uncertain:

  "I don't know how AI will interpret a base... will AI be able to observe the rendered results of a base?" 25:28
  The new format may pose challenges or opportunities for AI-assisted workflows.

Key points:

• Bases elevate the importance of structured properties.
• Using Bases encourages a more architect-like, analytical mindset.
• Freewriting and spontaneous linking remain valuable.
• Users should balance database use with creative note-taking.
• AI’s role with Bases is still unclear but promising.

---

Nick candidly discusses some rough edges in this early release:

• Adding Properties is Not Intuitive:

  "It's hard to figure out how to add properties." 21:22

• No Note Counter:
  Unlike Dataview, Bases don’t show how many notes are in a view, making it harder to gauge scope.

• Formatting and UI Bugs:
  Some display issues and bugs remain, expected to improve with updates.

• Advanced Filtering Requires Coding:
  Formulas and functions are powerful but challenging for non-coders.

Key points:

• User experience for properties needs improvement.
• Lack of note count is inconvenient.
• UI and formatting are still rough.
• Advanced features require coding knowledge.

---

Nick offers practical advice for users eager to try Bases:

"Try one or two bases and try to remake any useful Dataview you might currently have." 29:05

He encourages experimentation but cautions that Bases are still early and evolving. He also clarifies his independence from Obsidian:

"I'm in no way affiliated with Obsidian... I just love the app so much." 28:38

Key points:

• Start small by recreating familiar Dataview queries in Bases.
• Expect rapid iteration and improvements from the Obsidian team.
• Bases require a Catalyst license for early access ($25).
• Nick is an independent enthusiast, not sponsored.

---

Nick closes with a thoughtful quote from Samuel Johnson:

"Knowledge is of two kinds: we know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. Databases then are a solution to find the information we want to be reminded of." 29:17

He emphasizes that good databases can quickly upload a web of related information into our minds, enhancing sensemaking.

"I'm excited to see where we go with Obsidian Bases and how you might use it." 29:49

This encapsulates the promise of Bases as a tool to boost efficient retrieval and analysis without losing the joy of thinking.

---

Summary

Nick Milo’s video is a thorough, hands-on introduction to Obsidian Bases, a powerful new core plugin that transforms your vault into a fast, flexible database. He demonstrates how to create bases, filter notes by properties, and build multiple embeddable views. While Bases currently have some rough edges and a steeper learning curve for advanced filtering, their speed and integration with Obsidian’s unified vault make them a game-changer compared to third-party plugins like Dataview or external tools like Notion.

Nick also thoughtfully discusses the philosophical and practical implications of shifting from freeform note-taking to structured databases, urging users to balance both approaches. He encourages experimentation and patience as the Obsidian team iterates rapidly on this promising feature.

This video is essential viewing for anyone serious about mastering Obsidian’s evolving capabilities for knowledge management and note organization.