File sizes are exploding, and with that comes the challenge of how to still send them in a quick, secure manner. In that sense, figuring out how to send large videos can seem like an almost impossible task. This is a significant pain point for freelancers, hobbyist video editors, post-production houses, and broadcasters alike as workflows continually adapt to digitization.
A recent 4K Shooters article points out that a single hour of 4K footage is a whopping 318 GB, and those file sizes don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Therefore, we have to learn to adapt to changing times and burgeoning file sizes.
4 Proven Methods: How to Send Large Files
Method 1: MASV Accelerated Cloud Solution
Method 2: Accelerated UDP Solutions (Aspera, Signiant, File Catalyst)
Method 3: Shipping a Hard Drive
Method 4: Cloud Solutions (WeTransfer, Dropbox)
So, how do you collaborate on projects with geographically distant partners? Alternatively, what do you do when a client asks for some of their raw footage? Having a filesharing system in place that’s not only future-proofed for larger sizes but also security, user-friendliness and seamless operation is critical.
In this handy guide, we’ll help you figure out how to deliver video files that are time-sensitive and larger than 20 gigabytes. You might be surprised to learn that there are several suitable options to choose from.
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Method 1: MASV Accelerated Cloud Solution
A quick and easy way on how to send large videos is with an accelerated cloud solution like MASV – file transfer solution. All you need is an internet connection.
This is a great option when you don’t have time for restrictions and need the fastest, most resilient solution. MASV was built specifically for video and post-production professionals who need to send huge videos under a deadline. MASV sends videos as fast as your internet connection can handle and at prices comparable to shipping hard drives—without the associated risks (or trips to FedEx)!
As an accelerated cloud solution, MASV doesn’t require specialized software and can send files quicker than most competitors. It’s also user-friendly and allows you to send as much data as needed without any file size or bandwidth roadblocks.
Billing is straightforward at just $0.25 USD per gigabyte in a pay-as-you-go model, which also includes 10 days of storage for your delivery. We chose pay-as-you-go over subscription after talking with businesses in the media and entertainment space. Their insights were invaluable, informing us that their business is usually project-based and monthly transfer volume tends to fluctuate drastically from month to month. MASV is fast and efficient through the use of our patented, cloud-based TCP acceleration technology, which ensures the product requires no technical expertise or hardware/software installation.
In tests comparing MASV to UDP solutions like Aspera, we typically transfer at 90 percent of your internet connection’s speed, which is only roughly 10 percent slower than what you would see with UDP options. This was an intentional trade-off, implemented to make our service much easier to use and set up than any number of UDP counterparts. MASV still requires you to have a decent internet connection, as we can’t send data faster than the amount of bandwidth you have available, but this applies to all standard and non-standard solutions in the industry.
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Method 2: Accelerated UDP Solutions (Aspera, Signiant, File Catalyst)
User Datagram Protocol, UDP for short, is ideal for low-latency, simplified transmissions with minimal risk of data loss. You benefit from faster sends without the need to wait on receiver agreements. The leaders in the UDP accelerated transfer space are Aspera, Signiant, and File Catalyst. UDP solutions can be both point to point, which requires an on-premise server, or through the cloud (Aspera Cloud), which is more like a SaaS offering.
How Does This Technology Work?
This technology works by creating a new protocol to transfer data over the internet that can send at very high speeds. Most online file transfer tools are built on top of the TCP protocol, but there’s a catch—it was designed to share bandwidth, which means it is generally quite slow.
By adding software to the sender’s device and controlling the software on that of the receiver, UDP solutions can override the default behavior of the internet. In short, speeds aren’t throttled, meaning you can send files as fast as your internet connection can handle.
For example, with UDP solutions utilizing a 1 Gbps upload speed, you will get close to 1 Gbps. Keep in mind if you or your recipient do not have a fast upload/download speed such as 20 Mbps or less (you can find out by having them run this test https://www.speedtest.net/) you are still only capable of sending data at 20 Mbps, even with these tools. We always recommend using a wired network, and if wifi is the only option, make sure you use the correct wifi channel to maximize performance. Here’s how you can find the best wifi channel for your router.
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Method 3: Shipping a Hard Drive
As Andrew Tanenbaum once said, “Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.” You might not be shipping tapes anymore, but the message still rings true for hard drives. If you are trying to carry out a time-sensitive delivery of video files and either yourself or your recipient doesn’t have enough bandwidth, the best option is to ship the data on a hard drive through a local courier or shipping provider like FedEx.
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Method 4: Cloud Solutions
Another option is to send data via one of several cloud-based sharing services. Best of all, many people – including your clients – are familiar with services like Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc. These are effective at migrating large data libraries to the cloud, making that data available for others to download. Permissions can also be set up so only the intended individuals can access or download certain files. Cloud sharing is also very affordable compared to the other solutions in this list. Dropbox, for example, will set you back around $11 USD per month and enable you to transfer up to 1 terabyte of data with no file size limits.
Cloud Sharing Tools
The biggest issue with these services is when it comes to very large files (20GB+). Cloud sharing tools were designed for documents, photo sharing, and compressed video – not uncompressed video footage that takes up a lot of space. With that in mind, these services are typically up to 10 times slower than UDP-based or accelerated cloud options. So, if your delivery is not time-sensitive and you don’t care whether a transfer takes one or one dozen hours, cloud sharing is a viable option.
WeTransfer
Another notable mention in this category is WeTransfer, which has a well-designed product that is simple to use. WeTransfer is focused on serving creatives and therefore very affordable. The only issue for video editors is the file size limits; WeTransfer lets you send deliveries under 2GB for free, and their paid version allows you to send files up to 20GB for around $10 USD per month. This is a great option for deliveries that fit within those file size restrictions but isn’t ideal to send large video files over 20GB in size.
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There you have it, four great methods for sending large video files! If the final option interests you, note that MASV offers a 7-day free trial where you can try sending 100 GB of free data during that period. Sign up below and get started today, and happy transferring! For all other details on MASV, feel free to get in touch with our team. Looking forward to helping you join the digital revolution!
Happy Transferring!
MASV is an accelerated file transfer service that specializes in sending large video files over the internet as a replacement to shipping hard drives with FedEx. This review is intended to fairly explain the different methods available for transferring large files and the considerations for each vendor in the space. We have tested and benchmarked each tool as well as conducted many surveys with videographers around the world to understand the pros and cons of each solution which is shared with you above.
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What are the best ways to send large videos?
A quick and easy way to send large videos is with an accelerated cloud solution like MASV. All you need is an internet connection, and it requires no additional software or setup. With MASV, you can send truly massive videos, because there is no file size limit.
What is the maximum size limit for sending large videos with MASV?
MASV has no size limits for sending large videos. We know the media and entertainment industry moves the world’s largest file sets. MASV supports virtually infinite file and package sizes. From gigabytes to terabytes, and beyond, MASV can handle it. That’s because we designed MASV from the ground up, using state-of-the-art cloud and software-defined WAN technology to ensure maximum flexibility, capacity, and performance, whether you’re sending files locally or across the world.