How to get large files from relative strangers without hassle?
March 8, 2010 4:39 PM Subscribe
I need various people to send me largish files (wav files). I have a web site (hosted with Dreamhost) and Expression Engine if either of those helps. More inside the more inside.
These people are musicians who are submitting tracks to me for a various artists compilation I'm making.
I need them to do this with the least amount of hassle--meaning I don't want them to have to install stuff or learn new applications or pay to ship me CDs.
How can I best get the files?
Also, wherever they're uploaded to, the artists shouldn't have access to the other files the other artists have uploaded. It should be a deposit only solution.
Any suggestions?
These people are musicians who are submitting tracks to me for a various artists compilation I'm making.
I need them to do this with the least amount of hassle--meaning I don't want them to have to install stuff or learn new applications or pay to ship me CDs.
How can I best get the files?
Also, wherever they're uploaded to, the artists shouldn't have access to the other files the other artists have uploaded. It should be a deposit only solution.
Any suggestions?
drop.io? I have a paid account that I use to ferry large files around, but you can send up to 100mb password-protected free with no signup. If you do a lot of this sort of thing and have a spare 20 bucks (I think?) a month, you can have a central place to organize everything and take much bigger files, but that might not even be necessary for your needs.
Haha, on preview, what everyone else recommends..
posted by Erasmouse at 4:54 PM on March 8, 2010
Haha, on preview, what everyone else recommends..
posted by Erasmouse at 4:54 PM on March 8, 2010
Response by poster: Hmm. Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Drop.io certainly looks interesting but it doesn't seem to do what it says. I created an account/drop thing and set it so that guests could only ADD files (and didn't check any of the other boxes) and then I logged in as a guest and not only does it let me add files, it lets me see the files others have added, which is definitely not cool.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 5:30 PM on March 8, 2010
Drop.io certainly looks interesting but it doesn't seem to do what it says. I created an account/drop thing and set it so that guests could only ADD files (and didn't check any of the other boxes) and then I logged in as a guest and not only does it let me add files, it lets me see the files others have added, which is definitely not cool.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 5:30 PM on March 8, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks, neustile. That does the trick.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 6:11 PM on March 8, 2010
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 6:11 PM on March 8, 2010
Why can't you just use rapidshare, megaupload or one of the hundreds of alternatives?
posted by turkeyphant at 6:12 PM on March 8, 2010
posted by turkeyphant at 6:12 PM on March 8, 2010
Response by poster: turkeyphant, rapidshare just seems like a service mostly used for sending files illegally (in my mind) and I'm not sure if others see it that way but I don't want to associate this project with it.
lakerk, as I said, drop.io doesn't seem to allow me to restrict guests from accessing the files. I unchecked "view" yet they can still see the files and preview them. That's not something I'm comfortable with.
Soundcloud is doing exactly what I need.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 7:44 PM on March 8, 2010
lakerk, as I said, drop.io doesn't seem to allow me to restrict guests from accessing the files. I unchecked "view" yet they can still see the files and preview them. That's not something I'm comfortable with.
Soundcloud is doing exactly what I need.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 7:44 PM on March 8, 2010
Well, with drop.io its not about a single centralized upload point, its about letting the people who want to send you stuff make their own file drops that they would then send you the URL and password to access. If soundcloud does what you need, though, great!
posted by tjenks at 8:15 PM on March 8, 2010
posted by tjenks at 8:15 PM on March 8, 2010
I am a fan of mediafire. You have to have a free account but it will do the job. Check the file size though.
posted by zaxour at 3:38 AM on March 9, 2010
posted by zaxour at 3:38 AM on March 9, 2010
The whole purpose of rapidshare and similar services like yousendit is to provide a method of sharing large files that is superior than email. If you have qualms with a particular service, there are plenty of alternatives designed for this exact purpose that don't have such a stigma.
It seems to be much quicker and more convenient than the other suggestions, people will probably be familiar with the interface, it's free and there's no issue with uploaders seeing the other files.
posted by turkeyphant at 7:45 AM on March 9, 2010
It seems to be much quicker and more convenient than the other suggestions, people will probably be familiar with the interface, it's free and there's no issue with uploaders seeing the other files.
posted by turkeyphant at 7:45 AM on March 9, 2010
I just discovered that drop.io has an option for hiding the uploaded files from uploaders. Hidden access. "It is an ideal way to collect submissions for a project, run a contest, or do anything else where you need people to be able to add but not view/delete."
posted by moonmilk at 7:29 PM on March 9, 2010
posted by moonmilk at 7:29 PM on March 9, 2010
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posted by tjenks at 4:46 PM on March 8, 2010