What free file-sharing websites are trustworthy and reliable for large audio files?
One of the key parts of the transcription process is getting your recorded dictation file to your typist hassle-free. It sounds easy on paper, but can often be a bit of an annoying procedure. Today the Typing Company takes a closer look at the simplest, easy-to-use free file-sharing sites you can rely on to have you covered.
Why can’t I just email my audio file?
You can, if it’s short! The issue is that an audio file of even a few seconds can be very large. The one constant through all the file types you get on a PC is that the more detail it preserves, the more space it takes up. That’s why text documents can be very small- it’s just letters on a page- but images, video and audio all have to preserve a vast amount of data. And while some smart tricks can reduce this as much as possible, there’s a balance to strike between capturing clear, noise-free audio so your typist can hear it, and keeping the file small.
Most common email hosts cap file size at 25mb, which in audio terms really isn’t a lot. Additionally, even if your file can be sent by email, it’s prone to corruption. Even one small ‘chunk’ of data going adrift or corruption can make your entire file null and void.
Altogether, it’s wiser to look for a dedicated file-sharing site which will host your audio files safely and allow a more reliable transfer.
Are file-sharing services safe to use?
Perhaps, however, you have security concerns using a file-sharing site. That’s a perfectly legitimate question! As always, the answer lies in who you use. Many online file-sharing sites are there not to facilitate business, but to act as ‘fronts’ for swapping pirated materials. These sites are clanky, require convoluted sign ups that are little more than an excuse to data-farm you, and can hardly be considered a safe site to use in your day-to-day business life. The great news is that many others are aimed at legitimate business traffic, and even have security features to ensure your data is seen only by the eyes you intend to see it.
How do file-sharing sites even work?
While each site will work a little differently, the basic idea is the same. On a stable internet connection, you will upload your file to their servers. Your intended recipient will be sent a link to the file, and can download it on their side. No one who does not have this link will be able to access your file, and on some free platforms, the file will also be deleted after a fixed amount of time (be it hours, days or weeks) to clear up space on their servers and help ensure your privacy. If the service you use has this feature (not all do), you should let your intended recipient know to download it before it expires.
The best free file-sharing services for large audio files
Keen to get started? Here’s a few of our favourite file sharing sites for large audio files.
Dropbox
It probably doesn’t surprise you to see this one on our list. Dropbox works a little differently from a traditional file-sharing site. It was one of the first ‘cloud storage’ sites, and works instead by allocating you a permanent space on their servers. For free accounts, that’s 2GB. You can upload anything you wish here, and it will stay until you delete it or set it to expire. If you need additional functionality, they offer paid plans as well.
Dropbox has the advantage of being free, yet from a trusted, business and peer-to-peer focused service. You will need to install the Dropbox software on your PC for ease of use, but it’s reliable and well known.
Google Drive
Google Drive, similar to Dropbox, offers a ton more functionality than just file-sharing, and if you’re simply looking to share your audio files without introducing a whole suite may not be the best option for you. If you already use Google’s tools, however, Drive is a simple to use, intuitive and easy way to upload any file you wish to share. You can set folder permissions to allow a 2nd party permanent access to all files in a folder, or opt to send the links on a case-by-case basis. They’re generous with space and have no upper file size cap, either.
Hightail
Hightail is the service once known as ‘Yousendit’, perhaps the mother of file-sharing sites on the internet. It’s ideal for collaborative group instances like sharing audio files, and can even set up access codes to protect certain documents if you have more than 2 parties in your ‘space’. The only downside is that, despite their generous 2GB space allocation, they’ve recently opted to limit the file size you can share.
MediaFire
MediaFire is super simple to use- just upload and send your link- and will give you up to 10GN of storage. Files up to 4GB can be uploaded, too, which is one of the most generous limits around. It’s easy-to-use, purely web-based on PC and Mac (there are apps for mobile) and intuitive to navigate.
With safe, customer service-focused file-sharing sites available for free, you’ll never have to worry about transferring even the largest audio file to your typist safely. Remember, the experts at the Typing Company are always on hand to help you get the very best transcription experience possible, so don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
