After we posted the excellent advice given by US post-production studio, Seismic Post Audio, based in Santa Monica, CA, explaining to their clients how they will be responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, a community member reached out to us to ask if we could put an article together covering the various apps and services available for us to work from home. As part of our support for people now working from home here is some advice we hope you will find helpful.
Improving The Acoustics Of Your Temporary Studio
Especially if you haven’t been used to working from home you will probably not have the benefit of working in a dedicated recording space. Many of you will be working in a bedroom, office, cellar, or in spaces that may have to double-up for other uses. In this scenario being able to create permanent isolation is likely to be cost-prohibitive. To help, we have an article in which we look at 5 ways to try and create a much quieter space to record in, that won't break the bank or get you in trouble with your family.
Get your computer out of your recording space
Turn off external drives when you don’t need them
If you can’t move them then improve them
Create Temporary Isolation
Make Good Position Choices
Learn more in our article Working From Home? Then Here Are 5 Cheap Ways To Deal With Noise In Your Home Studio.
Cloud Based File Transfer Services
In May 2019, we took a detailed look at the cloud-based file transfer services, which we have come across as a team, as well as others that have been recommended to us. For each provider we have included some information about the services they provide, a summary of the pricing options and where we have comments and recommendations from users, we included those as well.
Looking at the associated poll results, the market is dominated by 2 players, We Transfer and Dropbox with just under 65% of the votes.
Dropbox
Dropbox is probably one of the most used services. Many of the team use it. For example, Mike uses Dropbox Plus for his business cloud storage backup as well as sending files to clients.
Dropbox Transfer offers ‘WeTransfer’ like services for Dropbox users and for those professionals who share files with clients this is something well worth considering instead of the usual way of sharing Dropbox content.
Comments From Users About Dropbox…
I get files from all kinds of services from clients. But for me and what I use to send back to them is Dropbox. Simple folder on my computer. I can control the folder structure and the sharing; passwords, expiration, etc. Love it.
Dropbox is great, but you should pay for the level above the standard service, especially if you plan on uploading and downloading various projects, that need to be available for any real length of time.
Dropbox is so powerful for use with Pro Tools that I can not imagine working without it. Everybody with shared permissions can open and work within Dropbox. It’s so fun to use in whatever part of the world you are in. The best $99 that you can spend on any cloud service for working with Pro Tools.
It’s pretty good as long as you’re coughing up the dough. But for simply sending a session or some audio files to someone who may not be a paying member or may not even have an account it’s not fun. You can’t just download a folder, you need to download it as a zip file and then unzip. Sometimes you need to add the folder to your Dropbox account and have enough space available in said account just to download the files.
Dropbox because many of my long format clients use it. Files can upload overnight and be available on my audio drive first thing in the morning.
We primarily use Dropbox Enterprise Class for the following reasons:
We can send links to media and allow media to only be heard/seen via on-demand (meaning it cannot be downloaded), or downloadable.
Expiration Dates on Links
Group/Team management/sharing
Ability to designate specific upload links to non-Dropbox account users (such that they don't have to signup for Dropbox at all but still can send me files, including all audio/media formats).
99.9% uptime with backup.
REALLY fast upload/download speeds (average 80-120 Mbps depending on traffic).
WeTransfer
WeTransfer was founded in 2009 and they claim that it is “the simplest way to send big files around the world. We don’t sell data, it’s just not our kind of currency. We don’t look into your files or ideas. No peeping, no snooping, scout’s honor.”
Here are some comments from users…
WeTransfer because you know when your clients download your files.
WeTransfer for at ease of use. It’s especially useful when I'm working at other studios and I'm not credentialed to use their FTP servers.
Even if you use the free service, it puts on a seven-day expiry. So it’s on the client to download the files in time. If not they’ll have to admit to being lazy and delaying things.
WeTransfer is what most production companies send stuff to me by. I don’t use Dropbox as I have various email addresses and permissions become confusing and a pain. WeTransfer allows up to 20GB transfers and is pretty fast.
WeTransfer is great for anything that's under 2GB... especially approvals, dialog/VO recordings. It's super-simple for the clients to use. It's not an endorsement for the service. It's just the one that the majority of the clients are content using without the email that starts "how do I..." or "I can't figure out..." or "where is my..".
I have a lot of clients that will use WeTransfer.
I have a Wetransfer Plus account which works brilliantly for me. I love the fact that my uploads stay in the cloud until I decide I want to get rid of them.
I’m a big fan of WeTransfer for sending zipped up sessions and voiceover work. The Plus plan lets you customise the wait screen background. It’s like message-on-hold for file transfers!
Check our article Cloud Based File Transfer Services We Take A Look At Some Of The Best for more details on both Dropbox and WeTransfer including pricing plans as well as details on all the other cloud based transfer services we looked at.
Handling Mix Approvals
Handling mix approvals and sign-offs remotely is not difficult but you need to put some systems in place. Production Expert contributor, Sara Carter runs an online mixing and mastering business Music Mix Pro UK and works with unsigned rock and indie bands from all over the world. Sara shares 5 tips to help you get the best feedback from your online clients.
How Do We Tackle This Tricky Issue?
One way would be to get on the phone or Skype and actually talk about the project but the trouble with this is it can take away the convenience aspect of an online service because we have to go backwards and forwards trying to arrange a mutually convenient time to speak to each other, very often across different time zones.
Even if this can be arranged with minimal fuss, you’ve still got to take time out of your schedule to actually have the conversation, which can go on longer than you’d anticipated, especially when dealing with clients whose first language isn’t your own.
Another way is to sign up to a paid revision tracking service like Bounce Boss, or Filepass to help make the process more streamlined and efficient. But not everyone has the budget to commit to a subscription service like this, especially when just starting out or in the early stages of a business.
So, more often than not, email is the service we default to so it’s worth getting a system in place that will ensure you get quality revision notes that will keep both you and your client happy until the project is complete. Sara then coves these 5 tips in detail before drawing some excellent conclusions
Create An Email Template With Step By Step Instructions
Ask For Audio Examples
Keeping Objectivity
Provide An Audio Glossary
Thinking Outside The Box
Learn more by reading our article 5 Ways To Get The Best Mix Feedback Notes From Your Online Clients
Applications For Client Approval And Revisions
The most frustrating aspect of online collaboration is project management, more often than not it’s organised chaos. Rough mixes get sent via emails, stems via file sharing and storage platforms such as DropBox or WeTransfer, communications are pushed around social media, text messages… it’s a small wonder how we ever get any work signed off using this broad array of platforms.
Some time ago we discovered and started using FrameIO. A tool for video editors which allows sharing of projects and clients to track revisions and comment with timestamped notes directly in the player, Multiple people all seeing the same version with the same feedback allowing clear, realtime communication in a secure environment. At the time we thought it was a pity no such tool existed for audio…
There are now two applications in this area that we want to highlight. Bounce Boss and Filepass.
Bounce Boss
Bounce Boss, is described as “a powerful cloud-based platform that enables users to manage all their collaborators in one place easily keeping track of who has and hasn't seen the latest comments or files in a shared project.”
We had an account in use for a few weeks enabling us to test Bounce Boss in the real-world. Watch our video test of Bounce Boss below to find out how it can aid your studio workflow and to see just how easy it is to properly manage online collaborations.
When we reviewed Bounce Boss In April 2019, monthly subscriptions started at £4 per month for a 2GB storage allowance which should be more than enough space to share a project’s stem folder or to collaborate on a couple of full album projects. However, currently, Bounce Boss is only offering their Pro service which is £29 per month. You can also sign up for a 30-day free trial.
Check out our article New Bounce Boss - Is This The Answer To Your Recording Studio Prayers? Like frame.io For Audio to learn more about Bounce Boss and find out what we think of it.
Filepass
Filepass is another online solution designed specifically for audio professionals to help with the issues which can arise when dealing with Mix revisions and client approvals online.
How Does Filepass Work? - Individual files or folders are shared with clients using a link, no passwords to remember. There is the option to protect work by disabling downloads or adding the option to disable download until outstanding payments are made.
Audio is via streamed lossless WAV files. General feedback or timestamped comments at specific points or covering a range can be made and are displayed as a to do list with checkboxes and the option to comment on comments.
What You Think About Filepass
“I have used Filepass for about 6 months now, absolutely love it. I have asked my clients for feedback as well and so far all of them find it very easy to use and to the point with its features.”
“I’ve been a Filepass user for just under a year and it’s awesome. They’re constantly adding new features to help make the revision process even less painful. My clients love it as well.”
“Filepass is amazing! I've been using it since it first came out and I've never been getting paid so quickly from clients by having the mixes behind a paywall, and also having such accurate notes from the clients. Its been an incredible tool as a small business!”
How Much Does Filepass Cost?
Filepass is a subscription service. There are three plans: Hobbyist, which for $8 per month gives you 256 GB of storage and a 1GB per month upload limit. Next, there is Part-time, which for $19 per month gives you 256 GB of storage and a 10GB per month upload limit. Finally, there is Pro, which for $39 per month gives you 512 GB of storage and no upload limit.
Tech Suggestions For Working Remotely
There are two ways this can work. One is applications like Bounce Boss and Filepass and the other is live streaming the output from your DAW over the internet to your client and we are going to highlight 2 services LISTENTO from AudioMovers and Source-Live from Source Elements.
Live Streaming - LISTENTO
The LISTENTO plug-in from AudioMovers enables users to stream low latency live audio from any DAW to web browsers. Typical applications range from referencing mixes on different WiFi playback systems through to client collaboration approval sessions over the web. Although LISTENTO is a free plugin you need to have a valid subscription to Audiomovers to transmit mixes from DAW which is available from $3.99 per week to $99.99 per year. The good news is that you do not need an account or subscription is for listening back to web streaming. Its only the person sending the audio that needs to be paying for an AudioMovers account.
You can learn more from Dan’s review Streaming Mixes From Pro Tools To Web Browsers Using LISTENTO From Audiomovers.
More recently, James Ivey has started using LISTENTO when collaborating with Paul Drew. James takes up the story…
Paul had agreed to a Skype call to go over what he felt the song required from the drum part and I would DropBox him a rough mix of some of the better takes. That was the idea until I remembered Dan’s Listento review and thought if this could be used for Paul to provide me with near real-time feedback on what I was recording for the project.
James was able to set it up with a latency of 1 second to get as near real-time as the tech would allow. They had a Skype call open so they could talk to each other between takes and they think they could have solved the creative side of internet collaboration with Listento and Skype.
You can learn more from James’ article There Is Much More To On-Line Collaboration Than Simply File Sharing - Here Is A Smart Tip For Production Over The Internet In Real Time.
Live Streaming - Source-Live
With Source-Live you can stream your timeline video with high-quality audio, using external devices or entirely in the box using their built-in screengrab functionality.
It also includes Per-Stream authentication for world-wide-web security and accountability, which means you can stream commercially sensitive content securely over the internet and it works with any DAW, not just Pro Tools.
Source-Live allows you to stream your audio from your DAW to multiple simultaneous listeners. The really clever bit is that you can stream along with an HD video representation (Pro version only) in perfect sync.
With Source-Live there is no more bouncing QuickTime movies out from Pro Tools, uploading to an FTP site, sending clients an email link, waiting for them to download the video and emailing comments back.
The software uses AAC/MP4 encoding & 24bit audio. Once you have started your audio DAW (supporting AAX, RTAS, AU or VST - so that includes Pro Tools, Nuendo, Logic and Studio One), you email your remote listener with your gateway link, so that they can connect to the stream in real-time (anywhere) using nothing more than a browser, if you prefer you can use media players such as QuickTime and VLC, or via a free iOS app.
The kind of applications you can use Source-Live for is if you need to send HD video with synced audio for client review then you can use Source-Live with the Source-Live Gateway or their Source-Live players for macOS and iOS
Check out our test and review of Source-Live…
Source Elements have 2 related products in this area, Source-Live Basic and Source-Live Pro. Below is a table showing the different features and pricing for each product.
Source-Live Notes
There is a fully-featured 15-day trial version available
The Source-Live Pro subscription is available at $45 per month with a one-time $75 set-up fee.
If you are re-subscribing and your previous subscription lasted at least 4 months, the setup fee will be waived.
Cancel at any time, no obligation.
Except for subscription and rental licenses, Full licenses are perpetual and non-expiring and you have no further obligation to pay support or upgrade fees except where you want those services.
More details from Source Elements
Suggestions For Collaboration Tools
Just because you are away from the studio, it doesn’t mean that near-real-time collaboration isn’t possible. In this section, we are going to highlight at 4 solutions for you to look at.
Source-Connect Now, which just requires a Chrome browser to work
ConnectionOpen - The new kid on the block, which is the only one of these tools we haven’t tried for ourselves yet.
Avid Cloud Collaboration built into Pro Tools
Source Connect - which can lock two Pro Tools systems together over the internet to within 1/4 of a frame.
Source-Connect Now
Source-Connect Now is a free high-quality, bi-directional streaming in your Chrome web browser, that we have been using for many years as part of our podcast workflow. It has been designed for musicians, radio stations, voice talent, studios, podcasters, film-makers and more.
With Source-Connect Now, all accounts will be able to connect two people at broadcast-quality 128kbps - for free. For premium features including conferencing up to 10 people. Pricing will start out as low as $8 a month, with a middle tier around $24 a month. There is no need to purchase additional links because once they start charging, guest accounts will always free.
That said, if you want to hook Source-Connect Now into your DAW, Source Elements recommend their own Source-Nexus Basic plugin which costs $125. Alternatively, you can just a separate machine, or loopback the audio from the browser but it will depend on the host audio features in your computer. Source-Nexus Basic simplifies the workflow.
You can also use Source-Connect Now as a way for clients to listento a mix without them needing to install any software.
Check out more about Source-Connect Now and how we use for our podcast in our article Using Source-Connect Now - The "Client" Perspective
ConnectionOpen
This is a relatively new product in this area, which the manufacturers describe as “Skype For Pro Audio Users”. ConnectionOpen comes in three forms,
A standalone app for Windows or macOS which looks very similar to any video chat application with an audio recording option as well as the usual video window.
As a plugin in AAX, VST and AU formats, which enables you to route audio in and out of your favourite DAW.
As a free iPad app which you can get from Apple’s App Store.
The manufacturers recommend ConnectionOpen for a number of applications…
Voice Artists. Audition, perform and record fantastic quality audio for clients anywhere in the world, as if you were in the same room. It’s simple to set up and you can start a new session in seconds, perfect for those last-minute edits or pick-ups.
Podcasters - Tired of laggy, low-quality Skype audio? With ConnectionOpen you can remotely record your co-hosts and interview guests without reducing them to robots. Lower latency means a more natural conversation flow, so there are no awkward pauses caused by delay.
Studio Connection - Open is a convenient and cost-effective alternative to ISDN and Source Connect. They claim that ConnectionOpen is “the only solution which uses 100% uncompressed audio from start to finish.”
When it comes to pricing then it starts from $10 for a 24-hour pass, then there is a basic package for $25 per month with unlimited use, free 14-day trial and 4 day passes. Finally, there is a Pro package for $100 per month which gives you unlimited use, free 14-day trial and 20 day passes.
This is a tutorial to help you learn how to get started with ConnectionOpen on Windows.
This is a tutorial to help you learn how to get started with ConnectionOpen on macOS.
Pro Tools Cloud Collaboration
Cloud collaboration enables users of Pro Tools 12.5 the ability to work on projects together with other Pro Tools users around the world offering a set of integrated tools for sharing all or some of your Pro Tools session so other people can add their own parts or mix tracks.
In this video demonstration Pro Tools Expert team members Dan Cooper, James Ivey and Russ Hughes test the collaboration feature introduced in Pro Tools 12.5. Watch the video to see how they create a Pro Tools Cloud Collaboration Project and share their tracks all within Pro Tools 12.5.
Source-Connect
In this video, Mike Thornton links up with Source Element's Rebekah Wilson and they discuss and demonstrate how Source Connect can lock two Pro Tools systems together over the internet to within 1/4 of a frame. Source Elements, the makers of Source-Connect also have a feature where you can replace the AAC files with the original WAV files.
Source Elements describe Source-Connect as an “industry-standard ISDN replacement with a deep feature-set for all your remote audio recording and monitoring needs.”
The kind of tasks you can use Source-Connect for are; if you need to record talent remotely, you can use Source-Connect Pro in the studio and Source-Connect Standard at the talent’s end.
If you need to send 5.1 or 7.1 audio in sync with local video then you can use Source-Connect X Pro at both ends in conjunction with the built-in Remote Transport Sync or use the Source LTC plugin for SMPTE/MID DAW sync.
Source-Connect is available in 3 versions: Standard, Pro and Pro X. Choose your version based on the feature-set you need. Check out this table to see which works best for you…
Source-Connect Notes
Source-Connect Standard subscriptions are available at $35 per month with an initial $75 set-up fee.
If you are re-subscribing and your previous subscription lasted at least 4 months, the setup fee will be waived. Cancel at any time, no obligation.
Except for subscription and rental licenses, Full licenses are perpetual and non-expiring and you have no further obligation to pay support or upgrade fees except where you want those services.
Source-Stream services are currently only for macOS and require a current Support contract from Source Elements.
More details from Source Elements
We Hope This Helps
There you have it, a selection of tools and workflows to help those of us who are suddenly having to work from home and need to get up to speed with different workflows and tools very quickly. If you have any suggestions then please add them to the comments below.