- Running out of hard drive space?
- Need the extra security of online storage?
- We’ve rounded up 7 of the best cloud storage solutions for producers!
- Also check out Making Backups For Music Producers (Strategies & Tips)
If you’re anything like me, it gets pretty overwhelming picking and choosing the right company for esoteric tech things like “cloud data storage”.
And it’s no surprise. There are SO many cloud storage options to store our precious audio files on.
While we’re used to having too many options when it comes to synths and samples, let’s face it — we’re really only going to need just one cloud storage service to back up our files.
If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to cloud storage, we’ve put together 7 of the best online storage services for musicians and producers that we could find.
What Is The Best Cloud Storage Service For Producers?
If you’re after extra security and encryption, with an easy-to-use interface, Sync.com is our top pick for the best cloud storage option for music producers. We also love Sync’s ability to add custom branding options for your mixing & mastering clients. IDrive has a 90% sale going at the moment, and is another fantastic option. Elephant Drive is also worth a mention for its simplicity.
So, without further ado, let’s look at the 7 best cloud storage services for music producers.
1. Sync
Sync's encrypted cloud storage platform protects your privacy by ensuring that only you can access your data.
Sync is one of the best cloud storage software options out there if you’re looking for a secure, speedy, and simple backup for your projects. With a strong emphasis on privacy and content protection, this is a great option for those who are concerned about keeping their music files their own.
Features
One of the big differences between Sync and other cloud storage services is the fact that they can’t read or scan your files due to end-to-end encryption. Now we’re not saying that other services are putting you at risk of having your work stolen (and let’s be honest, we’ve all got sessions we’ve realized after revisiting should never see the light of day) but it’s still comforting knowing that this level of security is there.
Simplicity is key with Sync and with a really easy-to-use interface, you’re able to backup and download your files with minimum stress (great if you aren’t familiar with cloud storage).
With a variety of options available you’re able to choose between personal or team plans which can be really helpful if you are collaborating.
A really neat feature is that with a Pro Teams Unlimited Plan, studios and producers can add their own custom branding, so if they have clients that need to listen to tracks they can be onboarded to a custom branded dashboard and login for their clients.
Pricing
For a ‘Personal’ account plan you’ll be charged nothing whilst having access to 5GB of storage which isn’t too bad if your music production files are on the smaller side. However, this may not be the most suitable option if you are going to be backing up multiple files, in which case you can upgrade to the Mini plan ($60 per year with 200GB limit) or a Basic plan ($96 per year with 2TB of storage).
You’ll also have a varying amount of file history and recovery, starting at 30 days on the Personal plan and capping at 180 days on a Basic plan.
As mentioned there are options for teams with varying charges which can be handy for those collaborating and sending audio files to other producers. Plans can be billed monthly or annually.
Check out Sync’s plans over at their website.
2. IDrive
Backup unlimited PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads and Android devices into a single account.
IDrive does just about everything you’d ever need your cloud storage provider to do for you.
All you need to do to use this service is to first create an account and choose between either an IDrive originated and managed key or a private encryption key. The former is usually the default option you’ll find. Choosing to have a private encryption key means that you and only you can access your projects and other backups.
The next step would be to launch the entire application from IDrive’s notification area, as well as access settings and manage the backup schedule.
Features
IDrive is a cloud service that combines storage across laptops, iPads, mobile devices, and Macs. Subscribing gets you a ton of benefits including activity reports and web-based data management.
IDrive cloud storage offers all of the features you’d expect from a cloud-based service. We love the ability to search and retrieve files from the app or from the desktop. You can also retrieve deleted files from the trash for up to 30 days.
IDrive has a mobile app for Android (version 4 and later) and for iOS (version 11 and later). The app allows musicians and other users to back up music and folders from their mobile devices, allowing for easy access to synced account files
Pricing
IDrive is one of the services offering a free plan with up to 5GB of storage. A Personal account (one user and unlimited computers) is available for $69.50 per year with a further upgrade to a Business plan for $99.50 per year which will allow you unlimited users and computers.
They’re also running a 90% off promotion at the time of writing, which is worth mentioning. We’re not sure how long it’ll last though, so apologies if the offer has already expired when you click it!
3. Elephant Drive
ElephantDrive is a complete cloud storage solution, offering secure cloud functionality tightly integrated with leading storage hardware solutions.
As the old saying goes, an elephant never forgets. Elephant Drive is an online cloud storage solution that backs up data to Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android devices. While Elephant Drive isn’t necessarily targeted at musicians and producers, it offers a reliable way to backup your sessions to the cloud.
Features
One of the great features of the Elephant Drive cloud service is the ability to sync across multiple devices meaning you can upload a file at the studio then head home to carry on editing without having to make another transfer. This can also be done across mobile devices so if you’re using a compatible DAW such as Garageband there’s no reason why you can’t carry on your work on the bus home.
Using an encrypted service you can also share your work with others (great for those who collaborate) and you’ll also have the option to recover work and find deleted files.
Pricing
This cloud storage service has some flexible plans for users and initially offers a free account with 2GB of storage space. For paid plans you can store your audio files free for the first 30 days so if you’re worried about hard drive failure then you can try Elephant Drive out without cost.
There are 3 paid plans: The Home, Business, and Enterprise plan, with each priced at $10, $20, and $30 per month respectively.
The home plan offers a competitive maximum storage of 15,000GB with the business plan capping at 50,000GB. The Enterprise Plan offers unlimited storage with a maximum file size of 200GB.
The downside with Elephant Drive is the home plan offers a maximum file size of 2GB meaning those music producers creating large files may need to upgrade their plan. There are also limits on the number of devices that can be used for each plan, but these start at 10 for the home plan which is likely more than enough (unless you’re collaborating with an orchestra!).
Head to Elephant Drive’s website for more information.
4. Splice
Start creating with Splice. Preview and download millions of royalty-free samples from top producers, artists, and sound designers. Available on desktop, web, and mobile.
- Endless royalty-free samples
- Pay monthly
Splice is one of the leading music platforms and offers access to millions of royalty-free samples, audio files, loops, and presets for music makers of all genres.
Aside from being a useful tool for music producers it also comes with some great cloud storage options.
Features
This reliable cloud storage platform is a great way to archive project files, as it not only backs up projects and data, but also has its own version control that allows you to go back to older files when needed.
Splice also offers plenty of royalty-free samples, from loops to one-shots and beats which gives a huge added benefit when it comes to making music. It’s fair to say this is what they are best known for, and you will be blown away by the amount of content available here.
Splice also gives you the option to purchase plugins or take advantage of the more cost-effective ‘rent to own’ scheme which means you can use the full version of a plugin on a subscription basis – paying it off until it’s yours (think of it as hire purchase but with software!).
In terms of backups, however, Splice is easily one of the best cloud storage providers offering an unlimited amount of storage meaning you can upload as many finalmix.v1, finalmix.v1.2, finalmix.v.1.3 files as you please.
Pricing
The great thing about Splice is their cloud storage is completely free. However their samples are based on credits, and each plan offers a differing amount of credits starting at $7.99 per month increasing to a maximum of $29.99.
For more information on Splice, their plans, costs, and sample libraries head to their website.
(To learn more about the other content available on Splice, check out Loopcloud VS Splice (Comparison & Which To Get))
5. Carbonite
Get automatic cloud backup for all the files and data on your computer for as little as $6 a month.
It can be unnerving sending your files off into the ether and hoping they are still there when you go back to check, but Carbonite is really on the ball when it comes to protecting your work and also keeping you protected from viruses and ransomware, which is why they are easily one of the best backup solutions.
Features
Available on both Windows and Mac, Carbonite offers cloud storage and also functions that can scan your external hard drive for files that aren’t backed up online and will then back them up for you.
With varying price plans, you’ll be able to start by protecting your home computer through several units and servers (possibly not essential for the average music maker but a good option nonetheless).
Carbonite offers a free trial to get you started and can offer further protection in the form of the Carbonite Safe backup plan.
Pricing
As with most cloud storage options, there are varying prices. You can protect 1 to 3 computers from $6 per month which includes encryption, external hard drive backup, customer support, and automatic cloud backup. Their top tier is billed from $50 a month however this includes special servers that we imagine are probably not essential for backing up your session files.
Check out their prices and Carbonite Safe directly on their site.
6. Tresorit
Tresorit is the ultra-secure place in the cloud to store, sync, and share files within your organization and with external partners.
Tresorit is a multi-award-winning, Swiss-based cloud storage company. With options starting at 1TB of storage this is a great option for those needing to store large files.
Features
One of our favorite aspects of Tresorit is the ability to access across multiple devices, which is great for those who make music on the go or want to listen to their music files away from the studio.
Subscribing gives you access to some reassuring features such s 24/7 security support and the ability to remotely wipe your files in case of theft.
A unique function is the Outlook plugin which allows you to send 5GB of encrypted files and the version history backup will allow you to dig out your old files should you need them.
Pricing
Prices start at around $10 per month, although you will get the plan slightly cheaper if you pay your premium annually. A standard account will offer a maximum of 5GB per file size whilst the top Enterprise account offers a 20GB cap on file size. All account types offer collaborative functions and customer support.
Head over to Tresorit for more information.
7. Dropbox
From photos and videos to presentations and tax paperwork, Dropbox Basic helps you keep all your most important – and irreplaceable – files safe.
Dropbox is a household name when it comes to cloud storage and is known for its reliable service which offers both personal and business plans.
Features
Dropbox has a really easy-to-use interface allowing you to upload, email, and share files with a few clicks.
Dropbox is far too familiar to us all to not make the list. Chances are, you already use Dropbox but may never have considered it for backing up your projects. If you have a large amount of data to back up, such as huge WAV files and sample libraries, Dropbox may be the most affordable option for you. Once logged into Dropbox you can easily access your files and folders through the web, desktop, or smartphone app.
It is a reliable and solid service to sync your music files and store them as well, with enhanced collaboration features that make for a great work experience. While it’s hardly aimed at music producers, Dropbox does offer some other valuable services such as digital signatures, which can be really handy for any business matters. You can also listen to wav and mp3 files directly via Dropbox – no need to download and open in another app.
Pricing
A basic free Dropbox plan is available but does come with limitations, such as a 2GB maximum storage amount which might not be enough for some music producers. For around $8 a month you’ll be able to upgrade this to 2TB of Dropbox storage but you’ll still have a cap of 2GB in terms of sending files.
For around $16 you’ll have a massive increase of up to 100GB to send and 3TB of storage space.
For more information on Dropbox, head over to their website.
If you’re wanting to listen to music seamlessly through Dropbox then using software like Astiga’s music player makes this quick and easy to do so without having to keep re-opening files individually. All you need to do is connect it to your Dropbox account via their website.
(Cloud storage isn’t the only online tech benefitting producers – we also looked at the four leading online mastering services and pitted them against a real human mastering engineer. For the full scoop, check out Can A Human Beat 4 Online Mastering Services?)