What is the fastest way to upload and/or transfer large video files to and from a client?

I do editing work, that basically has me downloading several GB of raw video files (.mov), plus several other "B-Roll" video files, as well as a lot of photos etc.


I complete a daily project for my main client where he sends me the aforementioned files... I edit it all together, and then I upload it back to him.


He sends it all to me in one .zip package that he uploads to his Google Drive account, and sends me a link. The .zip file he sends me is approx. ~2 GB in size every time. When I am finished with my edits. I have a single 1.5-2 GB .mp4 file.


I have been sending it back to him simply by uploading this file to my Google drive and sending him a link to it... just the same as he does.


However... his upload time for the 2 GB .zip file seems to be NOTHING compared to my return upload. Even through the file I upload is almost the exact same size... sometimes it takes 11 min. to upload... but sometimes 6 hours!!!!


It usually takes approx. ~45 min. He, my client... is always chirping about how long it takes for my uploads to become available for him to download the end project. I upgraded my cable to the biggest and fastest internet speeds available... and I live in a metro city... and I have the most popular (Xfinity) ISP.


I've done all the upload/download speed tests, and I do not have some kind of "problem with my internet."


But I still just cannot imagine why this guy's able to upload a 2 GB .mov file in a couple of minutes... while my exact same size file takes me 5-10x longer to upload.


I've tried using iCloud instead of Google Drive. I also tried another service called Mega. Mega... was the fastest... but out was STILL nothing as fas as my client's upload speeds.


Is there some better/faster/more professional way that I can look into? It would have to be a very user friendly method... as my client is not up for a lot of change, and if I had to try to teach him about ftp or using FileZilla or anything like that... I think it would cause his head to burst.


What do you guys think is the "industry standard" way to reliably and quickly send finished .mp4 files of 1080p video to a client?

Posted on Apr 10, 2023 11:55 PM

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Posted on Apr 11, 2023 10:46 AM

A fiber connection with equal upload and download speeds...


The service I use is rated at 500Mbps up and down (but I get a little over 600 because the "last mile" box is in my yard...:P) The last upload I did to YouTube was done before I could switch from the finder back to the browser -- and it was a drag n drop operation from the finder!


Most Xfinity plans have a 10 or 20 Mbps upload unless you're shelling out for one of the gigabit plans - and the the top end plan is $300/mo!! (I think I would only need a 3Gbps "upload" speed only if I were operating a Hosting service.)


A 500 Mbps upload speed is 25 times faster than a 20Mbps upload speed.

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Apr 11, 2023 10:46 AM in response to Dolmetscher

A fiber connection with equal upload and download speeds...


The service I use is rated at 500Mbps up and down (but I get a little over 600 because the "last mile" box is in my yard...:P) The last upload I did to YouTube was done before I could switch from the finder back to the browser -- and it was a drag n drop operation from the finder!


Most Xfinity plans have a 10 or 20 Mbps upload unless you're shelling out for one of the gigabit plans - and the the top end plan is $300/mo!! (I think I would only need a 3Gbps "upload" speed only if I were operating a Hosting service.)


A 500 Mbps upload speed is 25 times faster than a 20Mbps upload speed.

Apr 11, 2023 12:59 PM in response to fox_m

Fox is absolutely correct about upload speeds being different for different providers. A reason I mentioned those file transfer services is they have apps that use UDP for the underlying transfer versus TCP, which requires less handshaking and allows for more of the bandwidth to go to the actual transfer. This can speed up large transfers if your upload speed is constrained.

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What is the fastest way to upload and/or transfer large video files to and from a client?

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