Back in the Dark Ages,
when we used to watch TV by candlelight, transferring large digital files meant hand-delivering, or (gasp!) using the postal service to physically send discs or DVDs to the recipient. As technology evolves, the way we share our data evolves, and file transferring has become easier and less time-consuming than ever.
If you ask someone born in this millennium what it means to burn a CD or DVDs, they may ask you for a lighter. A CD or DVD burner is a device used to encode or “burn” information onto a blank disc. They were once standard on all personal computers, but are becoming obsolete thanks to media transfer services.
CDs could store about 700 megabytes of data. DVDs could accommodate 4.7 gigabytes…that’s just not enough storage for most people these days.
Although disc drives were small, they still took up considerable physical space on computers. A standard CD is 4.7 inches in diameter. Compared to the size of laptops these days, that’s relatively big… too big for the modern, slimmer design of computers. For that reason, nearly all manufacturers have already removed the optical drive from computers altogether.
So, what are the best ways to transfer large files?
Looking Up To The Cloud Vs DVDs
You may want to consider using media transfer services to upload your media into the Cloud.
Cloud storage is a way for businesses and consumers to save data securely online so you can access it anytime from any location. You can easily and safely share media stored in the Cloud by granting special permission to the recipient.
Cloud computing services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box come with free basic storage and offer upgraded subscription packages which give you even more storage. Engaging another company to handle the media transfer for you, also means you don’t have to wait and watch files upload. For exceptionally large files, it saves you a huge time investment. The service also usually comes with tech support, which is most beneficial.
Zip It Up
You can make a large file smaller by compressing it into a zipped folder.
In Windows, right-click the file or folder, go down to “send to,” and choose “Compressed (zipped) folder.” This will create a new folder that’s smaller than the original.
For Mac systems, control-click a file (or tap it with two fingers) to bring up the shortcut menu. Choose “Compress” to create a zipped version.
Compressing isn’t for every large file, it just makes it a bit smaller. For example, compressing a 90 MB image file in Windows may only result in a 60 MB zipped file. But it can come in handy if you just need to shave the file down a bit to get under your email sending limit.
Often, this solution is best with data files rather than video content. There’s no way you’re getting a 30-second commercial zipped down small enough to deliver over email.
Go Private
A virtual private network (VPN) protects your identity and browsing activity from hackers, other businesses, government agencies, and snoops.
When connecting to the internet through a VPN, your data and IP address are hidden by a type of virtual tunnel. This keeps others from spying on your online activity.
A VPN also prevents your internet service provider from determining the type of files you share. That means you can avoid some of the restrictions about the size of the files you can upload.
WeTransfer vs DVDs
WeTransfer bills itself as media sharing “at its simplest”.
All you do is type in your email address and the recipient’s email address, add a message, attach the file, and send. The recipient gets an email with a link to download the file, and that’s it. WeTransfer is free for files up to 2GB, and they offer a paid service for files up to 200GB. It may work in a pinch, but you’ve still got to give up your time waiting for the file to upload before it sends. This is highly dependent on the quality of your internet signal, and we all know that varies a lot by location.
ECG Productions
Work with the Professionals
Perhaps the easiest method of media transfer is to leave it up to the professionals.
ECG Productions can take care of all of your video production needs, from developing a concept, to distributing the final product. Our team of seasoned industry pros deliver the best content in the industry all over the globe on a daily basis. Even if you’re just looking for media transfer services so you don’t have to deal with it yourself, we can help. We’ve got fast and reliable speeds to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Contact us today to learn more.