# File sharing for video editors

Editors send two very different things: small review copies that clients watch and comment on, and huge masters that must arrive bit-for-bit. Each wants different settings.

_Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/file-sharing-for-video-editors · Updated 2026-10-13_

**Quick answer:** Video editors send review cuts (hundreds of MB) and masters (tens of GB in ProRes). Upload them to Share Large Video Files, up to 20 GB per transfer. For review cuts, tick Client review so the client comments at the exact second and approves; for masters, send a normal link with a download receipt and share the file checksum so the recipient can confirm it arrived intact.

## Files video editors send, and how big they get

| File | Format | Typical size |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Review copy, 10 min 1080p H.264 at 8 Mbps | MP4 | about 600 MB |
| Delivery, 10 min 4K H.264 at 40 Mbps | MP4 | about 2.9 GB |
| Master, 10 min 4K ProRes 422 HQ (707 Mbps) | MOV | about 52 GB |
| Camera originals from a shoot day | MP4, MOV, BRAW, R3D, MXF | 100 GB to over 1 TB |
| Project exchange | XML, AAF, EDL, .prproj, .drp | under 50 MB (no media) |
| Audio stems, 10 min, 24-bit 48 kHz stereo | WAV | about 170 MB per stem |

Video sizes are bitrate × length: for example 707 Mbps × 600 s ÷ 8 = 53,025 MB. See [how big a 10-minute 4K video is](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/how-big-is-a-10-minute-4k-video).

## Can it go by email or chat?

Can you send a 10-minute 4K H.264 delivery file (about 2.9 GB) as an attachment?

| App | Limit | Fits? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gmail | 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| Outlook.com | 20 to 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| WhatsApp (document) | 2 GB per file | No, send a link |
| Telegram | 2 GB per file | No, send a link |
| Facebook Messenger | 100 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Discord (free) | 20 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Slack | 1 GB per file | No, send a link |
| WeTransfer (free) | 3 GB per transfer | Yes |
| **Share Large Video Files** | 20 GB per transfer | Send the link anywhere |

Limits from our [file size limits by app](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/file-size-limits-by-app) table, checked against each service's help pages.

## A workflow that works

1. **Review cut:** export a 1080p H.264 at 8 to 16 Mbps (small, plays everywhere), [upload](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/) it, tick **Client review** and **Email me updates**.
2. The client pauses and comments; each note is pinned to that second. They press **Approve** or **Request changes**.
3. For unreleased work, add **View only (no downloads)** so the cut plays with the viewer's email watermarked over it.
4. **Master:** upload the final file on a normal link with **Email me when it's downloaded**. Make a checksum with the file hash checker and send it with the link.
5. **Handover to another editor:** zip the project file with an XML or AAF, and send the media separately if it is over 20 GB.

## Recommended options

| Option (under More options) | Setting | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Client review | On (review cuts) | Time-coded comments and a recorded approval |
| View only (no downloads) | On for unreleased cuts | The cut plays with a watermark but cannot be saved from the page |
| Who can open the link | Anyone who confirms their email | The watermark and activity log name real people |
| Email me when it's downloaded | On (masters) | Proof of when the delivery was collected |
| Download limits: per person | 2 or 3 (masters) | Stops a link being passed around |
| Brand the download page | Your name and logo | Delivery pages look like your company |

[**Open the upload page with the “Video review” settings on**](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/?for=video-editors): the client confirms their email, comments at the exact second of the cut and approves or asks for changes. 3 downloads each. You can change anything before sending, then press **Save current** next to **Preset** to keep your own version for every project.

## Previews and subtitles

Clients don't need a player that understands HEVC or MKV: the download page makes a playable MP4 copy and a poster frame for the preview, while the download stays your original file. If a client needs the subtitle tracks of an MKV or MP4 as separate SRT files, the free [subtitle extractor](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/extract-subtitles) saves them in your browser without uploading the video.

## Masters over the transfer limit

A 30-minute ProRes 422 HQ 4K master is about 155 GB. If a single file is over 20 GB, either deliver a high-bitrate H.264 or HEVC mezzanine the client can play, or split the file with the split file tool and have the recipient join it; the checksum then proves the joined file is identical. See [sending ProRes files](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-prores-files).

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I get time-coded feedback from a client?

Tick Client review when you upload. The client pauses and comments; each comment is pinned to that second, and you see them all on your Transfers page.

### Will the client see compressed video?

The download is the exact file you uploaded. In view-only mode the browser plays that file with a watermark overlay; nothing is re-encoded.

### How do I prove a master arrived intact?

Make a SHA-256 checksum with the file hash checker, send it with the link, and ask the recipient to compare after downloading.

### Can I stop a review cut from leaking?

Use View only with the watermark and require a confirmed email. No website can block screen recording, but every frame carries the viewer's email and the time.

### What if the client wants to download the approved cut?

Send the final file on a new normal link. A view-only link stays view only.