How do YouTubers send raw footage to their editor?
Direct answer: Share a cloud folder link, one folder per video, rather than emailing files. Google Drive gives 15 GB free and accepts files up to 5 TB; Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB; WeTransfer Free allows 3 GB in any 30 days. I receive footage as a Google Drive or MEGA link.
Google Drive, Dropbox, Frame.io or WeTransfer: what are the limits?
I read each official page on October 15, 2026. Prices are what the page showed that day; check them before you pay, because plans change.
| Tool | Free | Paid (as published) | Limit that matters for footage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | 15 GB per Google account (Google One plans) | More storage through Google One; the page shows the price in your local currency | Files up to 5 TB each (Drive Help) |
| Dropbox | 2 GB (Basic) | Plus $9.99 a month for 2 TB; Standard $15 per user a month | Dropbox Transfer: 2 GB on Basic, 50 GB on Plus, 100 GB on Standard (Dropbox Help) |
| Frame.io | 2 GB, up to 2 members | Pro $15 per member a month (2 TB); Team $25 per member a month (3 TB), plus tax | Built for reviewing cuts with time-stamped notes, not for storing hours of raw footage on the free plan |
| WeTransfer | Up to 10 transfers or 3 GB total in any 30-day rolling window | Starter: 10 transfers or 300 GB in 30 days; Ultimate: up to 1 TB per transfer. The pricing page did not load for me, so no prices here | The free plan is too small for most raw gameplay sessions |
How big is a raw recording?
YouTube recommends 12 Mbps for a finished 1080p video at 60 fps (YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, read October 15, 2026). At that rate one hour is about 5.4 GB (my calculation: 12 megabits × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8). Gameplay recorded for editing is usually set higher than an upload, so a single session can pass WeTransfer's free 3 GB on its own. That is why a shared folder works better than a transfer.
How I receive footage
- One shared folder per video, as a Google Drive or MEGA link. You keep ownership; I only need view and download access.
- Untouched files. The recordings exactly as they came out of OBS or your capture tool, with every separate audio track and the facecam file if it is separate. No trimming or compressing.
- A short brief in the same folder or message: 3 to 5 sentences on tone, what must stay in, what must come out, and a reference video if you have one.
- Questions on Discord. I go through the files and ask anything unclear within a few hours of the upload, so nothing waits until the draft.
You never need to share a password. Folder links cover the footage; if you also want me to upload or schedule, give channel access through YouTube's own permissions.
Which one should you pick?
- You already pay for Google storage or Dropbox: use it. Make one folder per video and share the link.
- You record long sessions every week: pick a plan sized in terabytes (Dropbox Plus 2 TB, or a Google One plan) and delete old raw folders once the video is live and the editor confirms.
- You want to review cuts with time-stamped notes: Frame.io for the drafts, a cloud folder for the raw footage.
- One small file, once: WeTransfer Free is fine under 3 GB.
Recording settings decide how big and how usable the files are: see the OBS settings I ask gaming clients to use and how to record gameplay for your editor.
How it works with me
Send your channel link and a clip. I edit a free 1-minute test on your own footage, and I usually reply within a few hours. No contract: each video is quoted on its own, the first one comes back in 1 to 5 days and the next ones usually in 1 to 2, and every revision comes back within 24 hours. My public record is on YT Jobs: 1,250 videos and 147.6M views.
My price: $55–$150 per finished video depending on complexity; up to $300 for some long or complex edits.
Quick answers
How do YouTubers send raw footage to their editor?
Share a cloud folder link, one folder per video, rather than emailing files. Google Drive gives 15 GB free and accepts files up to 5 TB; Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB; WeTransfer Free allows 3 GB in any 30 days. I receive footage as a Google Drive or MEGA link.
Google Drive, Dropbox or Frame.io for sending footage to an editor?
Google Drive or Dropbox for raw footage: Drive gives 15 GB free and takes files up to 5 TB, Dropbox Plus is $9.99 a month for 2 TB. Frame.io is best for reviewing drafts; its free plan has 2 GB. Prices and limits read October 15, 2026.
Can I send raw footage with WeTransfer?
Only small files on the free plan. WeTransfer Free allows up to 10 transfers or 3 GB total in any 30-day rolling window (help center, read October 15, 2026). One hour of 1080p60 video at 12 Mbps is already about 5.4 GB.
Should I compress my footage before sending it to my editor?
No. Send the files exactly as they were recorded. Compressing or trimming first removes picture and audio detail and context the editor may need, and it cannot be undone.
Do I need to give my editor my Google password?
No. Share a folder link with view and download access for the footage. For uploading or scheduling, add the editor through YouTube's channel permissions instead of sharing a login.