What do you use to transfer large files?

[Hot pocket]

Hey guys and gals(if you are here)

I am curious to know what file sharing media you use when working or sending tracks to others?

I have used the microsoft beta thing and I guess it was okay but now I can't seem to find it. I am working on some music for a guy in Georgia and I don't have the time to mail it. Besides if I did mail it, it would still be a couple of dayz.

So what do you use or know about when you have let's say maybe 4-6gigs of song you have to send off?

Thanks
Hot pocket

[DT Chris]

Try an online file storage service. Just upload your files, and have someone else download it. Google "online file storage transfer".

[Gitarted]

There's http://www.yousendit.com/

[Hot pocket]

Originally Posted by Gitarted

There's http://www.yousendit.com/

With you send it, about how long does it take to upload and send?
The reason I ask is because I am trying Pando now, and it has taken a full day to upload less than a gig of sound. The microsoft beta version was very quick and allowed me to do folders and not just files, but it was only a limited beta test. And yes I am using D.S.L. (But I think I am going to go to fios, it blazes D.S.L.)

[brandondrury]

Wow, 4GB is a lot to upload. Hmm. I've never tried to send that much online.

If it was me, I'd make sure I wasn't sending anything unnecessary.

Regardless of whether you use P2P, a server, etc your internet connection still has to upload 4GB of data. That is a big chunk!

Other than internet, mail is the only alternative I know.

I'd experiment with different file compression. I'd try .rar or .gzip to see if they can knock the file size down.

Brandon

[Baron]

Dude
If the receiver of the files has their system on all the time, have you considered doing an ftp directly?
I have seen it done from NY to Sydney with little drama, and with files of this size and larger. I don't know the actual ins and outs but big studios seem to do it all the time. I was present when ten gigs came through in a couple of hours.
Maybe a networking forum guru could give you a heads up.
If you work it out, why not bring us all up to speed.

Cheers

Baron

[Hot pocket]

I teach martial arts here in texas and a new student signed up who just so happens to work for a company called http://filesanywhere.com
I only found that out because he sent me an email.

Any way they have a 10 day free trial and I did it.
It took about 1hour and 1/2 to load the folder this song was only 2gig,
(I should have compressed it, but I didn't) and it allows my clients or partners to down load from there site.
So basically it's just a files transfer, but I am waiting to here from my client in Georgia to see if he recieved it. On my end it was good.

So if any are looking, you might try them.
Now if I can only find out how to do streaming remote studio sessions. That way I don't have to send files.

Thanks for your help, I am a newbie here but so far you guys seem to be pretty cool.
Hot Pocket

[Jroye82]

I always request a firewire hard drive when I do mixes for people out of state. its just easier that way.

I can mix up the sessions save everything and they can see what I did and how it went down. I can put any sample I used on the hardrive as well.

they cover shipping to me and i cover it to them.

For some reason I hate upload big audio files to the net - I sware everytime to tranfer it from one place to the next that the sound quality just gets worse. Maybe its just me tho.

[Hot pocket]

Originally Posted by Jroye82

I always request a firewire hard drive when I do mixes for people out of state. its just easier that way.

I can mix up the sessions save everything and they can see what I did and how it went down. I can put any sample I used on the hardrive as well.

they cover shipping to me and i cover it to them.

For some reason I hate upload big audio files to the net - I sware everytime to tranfer it from one place to the next that the sound quality just gets worse. Maybe its just me tho.

That is an option, probably not my first though? For instance in this case I am not sending to a studio, I am sending to a vocalist who is going to the studio. I would trust a studio with my drive quicker than I would an "artist"

Also you ask for the firewire drives, which tells me that you might be using PT same DAW situation.

I have a PT rig but I don't even touch it as a matter of fact it's an Mbox. I use SX3 and C4 (I have used everything worth mentioning and the Stienberg stuff works for me smoothly).

Sending my drive is one way. But cost in shipping +time to go someplace and ship...it just dosen't work for me.
I am sending off a piece to black lion to be modded, it was supposed to go out today, and got put off for tomorrow..."I hope"

i.e. when it comes to shipping...I suck!

Thanks for the input.

HP

[Archetype]

This is where my IT Skills can come in

The options so far pretty much narrow it down.

1. use an online file storage system - Can be expensive, and you dont always get the ammount of space you need, 4 gigs is alot, but trying dealing with a 2 hour movie... thats HUGE!

2. external drives/files via post - DVD's can be great for this. low cost. disposable. however limited to 4.5gigs (forget the exact amount) and needs a DVD drive, although most good PC's will have one. External harddrives are best. however most of the larger ones use a normal hard drive which contains moving parts. and i NEVER trust them in the mail for a reason! If one arm bends and touches a platter its good bye data. Hope you had a backup.

3. Direct FTP - This is my method! It allows you to just share your project folder and clients can take whats needed. if there is updates like a new project file for a second mix then they can just download that rather than the whole thing.

The main drawback to FTP is you need to leave your PC online (do NOT use this if on dialup!!!) but it will allow the full speed of your internet connection.

The actual setup is really easy! Windows 2000 and XP PC's already have an FTP server available, just go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > Windows Components, and its under the Internet Information Services section.

Once installed just go to administrative tools and change the folder it uses.
You need to add a windows user account on the PC to allow someone access. and make sure all accounts have passwords!

I could maybe put together a guide on this if you guys want, should only take 30 mins to setup and its always there.

But regardless of the method. ALWAYS check the media (DVD, hard drive, or downloaded files) with a GOOD virus scanner, and preferably on another PC than your studio one!

I cant tell you how many people i have seen trying to record on PC's full of Spyware and Virus' and wondered why it cant cope!

If anyone has any questions feel free to ask.
I would like to think i can offer some help