Send video files to clients, from review cuts to ProRes masters

How big video deliveries really are

Apple’s ProRes white paper gives target data rates that make planning easy. Per hour of footage at 30 frames per second:

A delivery file for the web is far smaller: YouTube recommends 35 to 45 Mbps for 4K SDR uploads at 30 fps, roughly 16 to 20 GB per hour. So a client review cut fits easily on the free plan, a day of 4K ProRes 422 rushes is a Pro job, and most finished masters sit in between. For codec and export tips, see send large video files.

The three transfers of a video project

How to send a review cut and collect feedback

1. 1

   Step 1

   Export a browser-friendly file

   H.264 MP4 plays in every browser. ProRes and some HEVC files may not play in a browser, so keep them for the master.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Upload to Transfr

   Go to transfr.me and drop the file. Add a custom link such as transfr.me/brand-film-v3.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Turn on comments

   Enable comments in the transfer options. Recipients can pause the video and pin a note to that exact moment.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Send to the client

   By email to up to 10 people, or as a link in your own message. Add a password for unreleased work.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Read the notes in context

   Each comment is tied to its timestamp. With a free account, you get an email when one is posted.

Sending rushes to an editor

• Send the folder, not a zip. Card structures (for example a camera’s folder tree) are kept, which some editing software relies on to relink clips. See send a folder without zipping.
• Split by card or by day if a shoot exceeds 100 GB and you are on the free plan; Pro has no size limit.
• Plan the upload. 200 GB takes about 4.5 hours at 100 Mbps and under an hour at 500 Mbps. If the connection drops, Transfr retries the missing parts; if you close the tab, re-adding the same file resumes it.
• Ask for files back with a request. A file request lets the editor or a second camera operator upload to you without an account.

How long will the upload take?

For the big ones, start the upload at the end of the day from a wired connection and let it run overnight; keep the computer awake and the tab open. Your editor gets the link in the morning and can start pulling clips straight away. If your office upload is slow, check why uploads are slow before blaming the service.

Delivering masters and deliverables

Final deliveries are where quality matters most and where messaging apps or platform uploads would re-encode your work. A transfer link delivers the ProRes or DNxHR master byte for byte, alongside cut-downs, captions and thumbnails in one place. Set the expiry to match the client’s schedule (up to 60 days on Pro) and tell them the date in your delivery email. A short list of what is inside (master, cut-downs, captions, with durations and formats) saves a round of questions from the client’s post-production team.

Confidential and embargoed footage

For unreleased campaigns or sensitive interviews, combine a password, a short expiry and a download limit. End-to-end encryption goes further: files are encrypted in your browser before upload, and the key, carried in the link, is never stored on our servers. Note that with encryption on, previews in the browser are limited to files up to 2 GB, so encrypt the master and send the review cut separately. More in secure file transfer.

Working with photographers on the same shoot? Our photographers page covers stills deliveries, and agencies covers team workflows. For quality-safe export settings, read send video without losing quality.

Getting started takes a minute: send your next review cut from the free plan, with comments turned on, and see how the client responds. Move to Pro when a shoot outgrows 100 GB or you want your showreel behind every delivery.