Video footage helps keep records of our special events. It's also an invaluable invention in the media and entertainment industry.
However, one major challenge videographers, video footage editors, and media professionals with tight production budgets and time-critical projects face is how to deal with large raw footage files.
Do you want to learn how to send raw files online? Keep reading.
How Can I Send Raw Video Files?
This question is often asked by media professionals, videographers, and video directors since they need to find out how to send their huge raw files online. Using a traditional external drive is not an option for them since it involves hand-to-hand delivery. Besides, it’s not convenient to move around with an external storage drive due to its cumbersome size. Plus, you risk losing all the files due to a hard drive error or malware infection, rendering all your hard work futile.
Luckily, there are other ways to send raw files online. We've compiled practical guides and things you need to consider before sending your raw files online below:
1. What is your file’s size?
Regardless of the quality, video shooting produces large raw files. So, it’s best to estimate how much footage you'd generate each day before the shoot starts. Depending on the frame rate, length, and video format, you can generate several outputs.
If you’re an experienced videographer, estimating your footage shouldn’t be a problem. Otherwise, it’s best to estimate your footage output with a video file size calculator.
Many online file transfer options have specified data upload limits, so you need the estimate to select an appropriate tool.
2. What are your transfer options?
Usually, you have three primary ways to deliver a large file (greater than 20GB). They include the following:
- You can copy the file to an external storage device and ship it to your destination through the mail system.
- You can copy the file to a hard drive and deliver it in person or use a courier service.
- Lastly, you can send the file online through a file-sharing tool.
The last option outweighs the others in terms of time and cost-effectiveness. If you want to send your large raw files to multiple destinations, the smartest thing to do is to send them online. Using a courier service or the mailing system has more risks than you can imagine. For instance, you could lose your data if the hard drive gets damaged during transportation. Traffic is also another factor that discourages using these options; it could lead to unnecessary delays. Besides, you can’t guarantee the safety and integrity of your data with those services.
3. How many recipients do you want to send your raw footage to?
This is another essential factor to consider before choosing an online file transfer tool. The mailing system and courier services can’t be much of a help here, especially if your recipients are in different parts of the world. They are not value for money.
Conversely, with an online file-sharing option, you can send your raw footage files to several recipients at once with little or no extra effort and at less cost. This factor will also help determine your online file transfer tool choice.
4. What are your and your recipient’s internet connection speeds?
Upload and download speeds matter a lot when sending data online. They are essential in deciding what online transfer tool will suit your needs. You can convert your transfer speed into time estimates when you understand how many megabytes per second your internet connection can support.
With most online file-sharing services, you need to complete the file upload before your recipients can download your data. In that case, the entire transfer process will be longer than necessary. Choosing an online sharing tool that supports simultaneous uploads and downloads will be the best option.
Also, many file transfer tools corrupt your files or restart all over again due to power outages or internet connection interruptions. It’s best to choose online sharing options that are not affected by such conditions.
That’s about all you need to consider before selecting an appropriate online transfer option.
Fortunately, you can transfer raw footage files using an online file transfer service such as FileWhopper. This is the most convenient and effective option if you and your recipient have enough bandwidth. It’s the least prone to delays.
If your internet connection is not that reliable, you need not worry. FileWhopper has a tiny desktop app that can resume your transfer from where it stopped once your connection is re-established. This means you don’t have to worry about interruptions and excessive bandwidth usage.
Here are the things you get to enjoy when using FileWhopper:
No file transfer limits
Many file transfer services impose file transfer limits and only let you send large amounts of data in batches. But in FileWhopper, there are no such limits; you can send files of 100GB, 500GB, 1TB, and even 10TB in size. What’s more, you can send multiple raw footage files at once as a folder.
No need to start from scratch
Unlike when using many other online file-sharing tools, you need not worry about starting all over again or your files getting corrupted if your internet connection drops during the transfer process. A power outage is not a problem too. Your transfer continues from where it left off once you restore power or your internet connection.
This is all possible because FileWhopper saves your upload or download progress on its servers while maintaining your files' integrity.
High-speed data transfer
FileWhopper employs cutting-edge multi-threaded data transfer technology to ensure you send or download your raw footage files in the least possible time. That does not eliminate the fact that your internet connection speed plays a huge role in determining your transfer speed.
However, the process will proceed faster than expected due to multiple servers working concurrently to get the job done.
Simultaneous uploads and downloads
Another unique feature of this file-sharing service is that your recipient does not have to wait until you complete the file upload before they can start downloading your data. This is possible because FileWhopper generates a download link and password once you initiate the upload process. That eliminates the waiting time common to most other online file transfer tools, helping your recipient access your data as soon as possible.
Security
Security is a major concern when it comes to online data transfer. It discourages many people from entrusting their sensitive data to a third party. However, this is where FileWhopper stands out among other data transfer services.
The service uses military-grade zero-knowledge encryption to protect its users' data. It encrypts any file you upload and generates a password and download link, giving you and your recipient exclusive access to it. Even the FileWhopper team does not have access to the password, and it's not saved on the servers. So, if anyone were to intercept your files, the encryption renders them useless without the decryption key.
No space wastage
The service uses a small desktop app to provide seamless, safe, and straightforward transfers. Plus, the app self-destructs once the upload or download process completes, meaning you do not have to delete it manually once you are done with the transfer.
Flexible pricing
Do you avoid online transfer services due to their pricey monthly and annual subscriptions? If yes, you need not worry about that when using FileWhopper. The tool employs a pay-as-you-go model, which means you only get to pay for the files and folders you send.
Conclusion
As a video footage editor or media person, the guide above is all you need to send your large raw footage.
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