What is your preferred way of transferring samples on iOS?

[SingleCell]

I've been thinking again about releasing Caustic on iOS, but I always get stuck on the problem of getting to your files.

On Android and Playbook, this is easy, there's a common place where apps can store files, outside of the secured portion of the device. Connecting your device via USB gives you access to this space as a standard mass storage device. (USB drive)

So, looking at my options on iOS and what others have done, it seems like there's a few possible solution, each with their pros and cons.

- Email: Easy to understand, but sending many files at different times and finding them later can become messy.

- Dropbox/Box/Drive/etc.: Easy to integrate as part of the app, limited space and requires a DB account. Also much slower than other methods for transfer rate.

- Built-in http/ftp server: Less user friendly, as users have to load a browser and manually type in a bunch of numbers. Can apps really access downloaded files?

- Custom desktop app: Easier to make it do exactly what you want, but requires installing software and might not work on all OSes.


What am I missing? What's your favorite way and why?
Thanks
-Rej

[Aural Chaos]

iTunes seems the most obvious way, but possibly the most hated.
Personally, I prefer the cloud based solutions,like Soundcloud, or email.

[SingleCell]

iTunes seems the most obvious way, but possibly the most hated.
Personally, I prefer the cloud based solutions,like Soundcloud, or email.

Ah, yes sorry I forgot about iTunes. I'm actually not that familiar with iTunes and it seems you either love it or hate it but what's the issue with dealing with app files? Do all your samples get jumbled up into your MP3s and show up in your playlists or is there a way to segregate?

[Nightpolymath]

Auria does it in an elegant way via iTunes IMHO. You can copy a zip file complete with folders and subfolders of samples to the Auria workspace in iTunes and it will uncompress it automatically on my iPad (after iTunes copies it over), preserving the folder heirarchy. I seldom go a folder or two deep, but it's a brilliant way to keep my samples organized. In Auria I just import audio and then locate the folder with the samples that I want.

[Aural Chaos]

It is split up by app in iTunes, so no-things don't get jumbled together. You specifically move certain files to a certain app.
Or, many apps can just use your music library also, so in that case you would be mingling all the different audio files.
But, other than for DJ type apps, the first way is preferable, IMO.

[audiojunkie]

I've been thinking again about releasing Caustic on iOS, but I always get stuck on the problem of getting to your files.

On Android and Playbook, this is easy, there's a common place where apps can store files, outside of the secured portion of the device. Connecting your device via USB gives you access to this space as a standard mass storage device. (USB drive)

So, looking at my options on iOS and what others have done, it seems like there's a few possible solution, each with their pros and cons.

- Email: Easy to understand, but sending many files at different times and finding them later can become messy.

- Dropbox/Box/Drive/etc.: Easy to integrate as part of the app, limited space and requires a DB account. Also much slower than other methods for transfer rate.

- Built-in http/ftp server: Less user friendly, as users have to load a browser and manually type in a bunch of numbers. Can apps really access downloaded files?

- Custom desktop app: Easier to make it do exactly what you want, but requires installing software and might not work on all OSes.


What am I missing? What's your favorite way and why?
Thanks
-Rej

I use Dropbox type apps and the built-in FTP servers most, but I also really like using Audioshare app a lot too. I also really like it when apps have the open-in feature too. Audiobus and Audiocopy/Audiopaste are essentials too.

--Sean

[Aural Chaos]

Audioshare is great, though it's kind of annoying to have to plunk down another 5$ as a way to get around the major PITA of iOS.
Good point about copy/paste- that is important too.

[J.C]

I would say, implement all the features you can so anyone can choose his favorite: Dropbox, iTunes file sharing, email, open in..., the obvious AudioCopy/Paste, Soundcloud, ftp server, etc...

[Wormhelmet]

I wish we could get a sample repository that was universal for apps. I hate iTunes on my PC and haven't used it since I got cloud services over a year ago. I thought I would be free of it, but now more apps are becoming iTunes sharing apps. I use FTP to transfer files. I think I must do the iTunes thing wrong anyway when I did it. I just recall dropping a ton of samples in iTunes on my PC and they mixed right in with my song lists. Yuck. I just want organized samples in a flippin folder that I can access from several apps. It's the most simplistic concept and to not have it available on the ipad/iphone without jailbreaking it is just dumb. All apps could have access to an "Audio Samples" folder and be able to navigate it.

I hate that Apple takes stubborn concepts and publishes them in the iOS releases just to prove they don't have to listen to any customers. Doesn't have to be a full file browser, just one universal directory for recorded files or samples that you could make sub folders in and navigate in your app.

[J.C]

I totally agree with you. That the very reason why I systematically jailbreak all my devices. The stock iOS is so retarded it is almost ridiculous.

[Karmacomposer]

I hate the IOS filing system (or lack of it), but if I had to choose, the Dropbox integration is my favorite.

Mike

[audiojunkie]

I wish we could get a sample repository that was universal for apps. I hate iTunes on my PC and haven't used it since I got cloud services over a year ago. I thought I would be free of it, but now more apps are becoming iTunes sharing apps. I use FTP to transfer files. I think I must do the iTunes thing wrong anyway when I did it. I just recall dropping a ton of samples in iTunes on my PC and they mixed right in with my song lists. Yuck. I just want organized samples in a flippin folder that I can access from several apps. It's the most simplistic concept and to not have it available on the ipad/iphone without jailbreaking it is just dumb. All apps could have access to an "Audio Samples" folder and be able to navigate it.

I hate that Apple takes stubborn concepts and publishes them in the iOS releases just to prove they don't have to listen to any customers. Doesn't have to be a full file browser, just one universal directory for recorded files or samples that you could make sub folders in and navigate in your app.

It would be nice to have a OS provided sample repository, but non-natively it already exists with the audioshare app. Check it out--it's really handy. Not free, but handy none the less.

--Sean

[audiojunkie]

I hate the IOS filing system (or lack of it), but if I had to choose, the Dropbox integration is my favorite.

Mike

yeah, Dropbox is the one I use the most too. It sucks though, when you need something and you aren't near a WiFi connection. For me, that's where audioshare and ifiles comes in. I don't have any extra space to spare on my 16gb iPad, so I have to be very picky with what stays on my device.

--Sean

[BiancaNeve]

Im a fan of open in, especially since someone demonstrated how to get contents of e-mails from the trash if you weren't near wifi to send them.

Personally if I'm not near wifi then iTunes , I file etc are useless as I'm not near the mac either.

[lonewolf]

There is a free program for mac/win called ifunbox in which you can drag and drop files (in folders preserving the heierachy aswell) into the relavent app's directory on your iphone/ipad, and it will upload it streight to where you need it....it is quick and a hell of alot quicker and easier than the pain that is itunes....the link is as follows:-

http://www.i-funbox.com/