Large file transfer
Also known as: send large video files, file transfer service
Services and methods for sending multi-gigabyte video files when email attachments, chat apps and social platforms refuse or compress them.
Updated
What it means
Raw action footage is big. An hour of 4K from an action camera can reach tens of gigabytes, as the Gigabytes per hour figures show, far past what email allows and more than most messaging apps accept. To get a session to a friend, an editor or a teammate, you need another route.
Those routes fall into three groups: link-based transfer services, shared cloud folders and physical media. What they share is that the original file arrives intact, unlike chat apps that quietly re-encode video and lower its Bitrate. For editing, that difference matters more than speed.
How it works in practice
For one-off sends, a transfer service uploads your files and emails a download link that expires after some days. Shared cloud folders suit ongoing groups but bring their own limits; a popular public link can run into Drive's download quota. Upload over a wired or strong connection and keep the camera's folder structure.
Drone pilots often move clips to a phone first through QuickTransfer or the DJI Fly app; from there, send the originals, not the cached previews. For very large archives, an External drive handed over in person is still the quickest and most reliable option.
What to watch out for
Zipping video saves almost no space, since it is already compressed, and one corrupted archive can take every clip with it. Send folders or individual files instead, and compare sizes or a checksum after download. Mobile data caps catch people out as well, so wait for a solid Wi-Fi connection before sending a whole card.
Watch what the receiving side does with the file. Some apps convert video on import, others strip Rotation metadata or rename clips. Expiring links are another trap: if the recipient downloads late, the files are gone, so confirm they arrived before deleting your copy.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip can replace one of those sends: instead of passing raw files to an editor, you upload them from your computer in the browser and get one finished highlight back, downloaded as 4K and 1080p files through a time-limited link. Upload the original camera files, not copies compressed by a chat app.