Storage

[OtomeAudio]

Hi guys! I have some questions here and really hope to get your advices!

i wanted to ask how did you guys store your collection after downloaded it here :( ?
Is there any website on PC that helps with it?
I have tried Terabox for extra storage but the problem is it won't let me open the zip file on website and i just had to download it back to my PC :(
I also tried Mega but idk how to describe it. Whenever I use Mega, let's say that i download a 1GB file. It will doubled the storage in my PC, because it count as 1GB in file and 1 GB on website => 2GB downloaded total :(
And my potato PC can't take it (16GB total and 10GB used for system, which left me 6GB left to store my audios :( )

So right now im looking for a website that able to store the audios and able to open the zip file to enjoy the audio, on the website, without needing to download it back to my PC

I tried using Google Drive for it but it was not enough :( Hope to get your help, thank you so much in advance!!

 

[whoareyou?]

top recommendation is portable hard drive

 

[orionsbestie]

I use my PC's storage and I'm hopefully going to buy a portable hard drive later this month if all goes well I never thought about cloud storage. I only use that for work ngl

 

[Daisy Magnus229]

I'm using external hard disk. Well, I need to frequently re-listen and remove some drama cds that I don't need.

Because even with a 4TB external hard disk (split into two partitions), it's almost full now. I probably need to upgrade it to 8TB, but looking at hard disk price now... It's probably easier to purge some of my games or drama cds lol

 

[dogiwall]

I personally use external hard disks to store my own files. I don't use cloud to store my own files since I'm paranoid about my own privacy lol. But if you want a website, I found these comparison tables of cloud providers, such as this one and this one, but you most likely need to research each individually to see if they have the criteria you want.

There's also Telegram as an option outside of cloud providers, though to play audio directly on there, they need to be individual audio files rather than in zips.

Hope you find what you need!

 

[Tirin]

I have been thinking about this storage issue for a long time, and after weighing the costs and convenience, I've concluded that the most economical and effective solution is to buy a portable SSD with a capacity of 2TB or more.

 

[Beannie]

I have army of old HDDs, but to me it's never ending battle of needing more place. (Rn have around 13 tb)

 

[Beannie]

I have been thinking about this storage issue for a long time, and after weighing the costs and convenience, I've concluded that the most economical and effective solution is to buy a portable SSD with a capacity of 2TB or more.

I wonder, do you think SSD is good option for cold storage? Take me as a noob, but SSD feels like overkill (and possibly mismatch) for storing data longterm

 

[MikuMikuni]

I used to store em in a 2TB hard drive but it unfortunately got corrupted as it was already quite old. Now I mostly use my backup phone for storage and backup to mega and drive (5TB free trial plan for a year, will have to figure out where to move them after), with the rising cost of everything nowadays I can't go for another hard drive (for now)

 

[Tirin]

I wonder, do you think SSD is good option for cold storage? Take me as a noob, but SSD feels like overkill (and possibly mismatch) for storing data longterm

You are completely right—your intuition is spot on! Using an SSD for cold storage is generally both an overkill in terms of cost and a mismatch in terms of how the technology actually works.

I chose a 2TB SSD because I wanted faster data transfer speeds for both writing and retrieving files. I also use the SSD for other purposes, such as watching stored movies and playing games directly from the drive. From what I've gathered, data on an SSD can degrade or be lost if the drive isn't powered on for an extended period; however, the risk of data loss is quite low if you use the drive regularly. Since I was only looking at a 2TB capacity, I will certainly consider your suggestion of using an HDD as a more cost-effective alternative in the future.

 

[Beannie]

You are completely right—your intuition is spot on! Using an SSD for cold storage is generally both an overkill in terms of cost and a mismatch in terms of how the technology actually works.

I chose a 2TB SSD because I wanted faster data transfer speeds for both writing and retrieving files. I also use the SSD for other purposes, such as watching stored movies and playing games directly from the drive. From what I've gathered, data on an SSD can degrade or be lost if the drive isn't powered on for an extended period; however, the risk of data loss is quite low if you use the drive regularly. Since I was only looking at a 2TB capacity, I will certainly consider your suggestion of using an HDD as a more cost-effective alternative in the future.

Oh, that makes sense, especially if you use it on a daily basis! You prob know, but I would be personally careful about using it purely as a cold storage. As far as I know, the data degrades faster on an SSD when unused, and it can lead to data corruption T-T.

 

[Tirin]

Oh, that makes sense, especially if you use it on a daily basis! You prob know, but I would be personally careful about using it purely as a cold storage. As far as I know, the data degrades faster on an SSD when unused, and it can lead to data corruption T-T.

Yes, I might also buy a higher-capacity HDD in the future to store files I rarely use.

 

[SmallEagle]

I have an external HDD of 1TB where I store everything, I also leave everything in zip and just decompress it when I want to use it

 

[SweetTranq]

There's also another type of storage called a MicroSD card.
You could try using that for storing audio. All you need is a card reader — just plug it into your computer and it works like a regular hard drive. It's not as expensive as a hard drive, though it's a bit more of a hassle. Some phones and other devices can read them directly too — just pop them into the appropriate slot.

As for cloud storage, I don't really trust them either.
For my own drama CDs, I just listen to them directly on DLsiteSound, so I barely store them at all.

 

[xerois]

for my audiobooks/audio or games, i typically store it into my external ssd drive, but i do not recommend buying currently though! the ssd i originally bought got doubled the price >.> whyyyy ai

 

[Lutina]

I don't trust clout storage, so I save my collection in external hard drives. I used to burn my own discs but the storage is too limited with disc. Even though hard drives are the always safe, so I make sure to check on them once a while.

 

[anibroco]

I use Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) because they are very cheap and offer a great amount of storage. I don't really trust the cloud, so I prefer HDDs since I only need them for storing things. The downside is that they get damaged very quickly! One drop and you lose everything.
But I think it's worth it for me :)

Mmm yo utilizo Disco Duro (HDD), estan muy baratas y tiene una muy buena cantidad de almacenamiento. No me siento muy confianza con la nube, asi que prefiero los HDD, solamente los necesito para almacenar cosas... Lo malo es que se dañan muy rapido! Una caida y te olvidas de todo Dx
Pero creo que vale la pena para mi :)

 

[Tirin]

I use Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) because they are very cheap and offer a great amount of storage. I don't really trust the cloud, so I prefer HDDs since I only need them for storing things. The downside is that they get damaged very quickly! One drop and you lose everything.
But I think it's worth it for me :)

Mmm yo utilizo Disco Duro (HDD), estan muy baratas y tiene una muy buena cantidad de almacenamiento. No me siento muy confianza con la nube, asi que prefiero los HDD, solamente los necesito para almacenar cosas... Lo malo es que se dañan muy rapido! Una caida y te olvidas de todo Dx
Pero creo que vale la pena para mi :)

I am planning to buy an HDD in the future too, but based on your experience, are HDDs really that prone to breaking if dropped?

 

[anibroco]

I am planning to buy an HDD in the future too, but based on your experience, are HDDs really that prone to breaking if dropped?

Well, I used to have one, but that was a while ago. It fell off a table about 1 meter high and broke XD. But now I have another one, it's had a few minor drops, but it's fine. Obviously, it's not going to break out of nowhere, if you take care of it, your HDD will be fine.

 

[haiane]

I don't recommend using any online storage for your important files. They are sketchy, they do not guarantee anything, and if something happens, they can always accuse you of violation of their terms of service. And I'm not even talking about privacy issues... they're obvious. Have you seen that recent post, where Microsoft deleted a user's account with 25 years of history? That's what's happening daily. Do yourself a favour and skip this option.

What you've got at home is what counts. The best thing I can recommend you is to get a high capacity HDD(s) to store your collection. It's an investment, I know. But you don't need any new one. Find your country's marketplace and buy it secondhand. I do it all the time. Yes, there's a probability of hardware failure, lost etc. but if you're cautious and have common sense - it's very low. Ofc, check the goods thoroughly beforehead - CrystalDiskInfo is your best friend. Then, when your finances get better, you can treat yourself to NAS (aside a new PC).

How large is your collection? If it's under, let's say 1TB, you can try to manage it with cheap flash drives and SD cards, but only if you're desperate.

 

[selinee]

I think you should specify whether you have a budget.

Personally I don't store drama CDs even though I also like listening to them. I'd say they require more effort to collect than games, because there are too many. I only download and listen when I want something to enjoy right at that moment.

Is there a reason you want websites?

From my experience, buying extra HDD/SSD is the more cost-saving solution. You can get a few of them enough to store TBs of data for a reasonable price. I wouldn't say cheap, especially if you're tight on money, but it's much better than the alternative - which is cloud storage subscriptions.
That doesn't mean you can buy them and leave them be however. You need to occasionally dust them, plug them in to check their status, it's your responsibility to maintain them. Depending on which type you're buying, it's best to ask the store employees.
HDD/SSD will satisfy your requirement for opening the files for a listen too. They're safe because you won't depend on a company holding your data hostage.

If you dislike extra drives cluttering your house or having them plugged in to your PC, cloud storage is an option. But I'll be honest the cost will slowly eat your wallet. Free storage won't be enough to store many CDs, unless you want to drive yourself crazy maintaining several accounts to abuse their free offers.
Most sites would ask for $10-$20/month for 1-2TB. You have to keep paying because it's a subscription.
When choosing this route, it's best to pick the tech giants like Google or Microsoft so you can have some peace of mind that they won't go bankrupt one month later. I know some people hate "normies" companies, but if they work, they work.

Some other options like MEGA, Mediafire, Dropbox, pCloud, Proton, Filen are what other data hoarders usually recommend, hence I think they're reliable. Iirc MEGA's predecessor is Megaupload, and they got shut down. Things have changed since then but just sayin' in case it matters. I don't know about the MEGA double space problem, it might be some cache error you got during download.
Mediafire, Dropbox and pCloud have been around for a long time. pCloud lets you extract archives online, but you need space on the cloud to store the extracted files and the audio can be played online after extracting. I think it's not possible to listen to audio directly from the zip.
pCloud is the only one with a lifetime deal right now afaik. Lifetime doesn't mean your life, it's the company's life, and there's no telling if they'll change their policy later. It's up to you if that's worth the money.
Proton drive and Filen are newer, whether they'll last long is debatable. idk if they support the online audio feature you want. You can try.

A different method is.......you can upload your tracks to audio platforms like Soundcloud, or Youtube, and organize them into your own playlists. This is free, and suitable for you to listen online. However it's hard to say how safe it is from being scanned by their system (if any) for inappropriate content and deleted randomly. The uploaded audio will lose quality too because of compression.

 

[OtomeAudio]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions :D !! I will look into all of the options <3 !!
My best choice right now might be the ssd (since im quite clumsy so im afraid i might randomly broke the hdd? without knowing lol :D)

I think you should specify whether you have a budget.

Personally I don't store drama CDs even though I also like listening to them. I'd say they require more effort to collect than games, because there are too many. I only download and listen when I want something to enjoy right at that moment.

Is there a reason you want websites?

From my experience, buying extra HDD/SSD is the more cost-saving solution. You can get a few of them enough to store TBs of data for a reasonable price. I wouldn't say cheap, especially if you're tight on money, but it's much better than the alternative - which is cloud storage subscriptions.
That doesn't mean you can buy them and leave them be however. You need to occasionally dust them, plug them in to check their status, it's your responsibility to maintain them. Depending on which type you're buying, it's best to ask the store employees.
HDD/SSD will satisfy your requirement for opening the files for a listen too. They're safe because you won't depend on a company holding your data hostage.

If you dislike extra drives cluttering your house or having them plugged in to your PC, cloud storage is an option. But I'll be honest the cost will slowly eat your wallet. Free storage won't be enough to store many CDs, unless you want to drive yourself crazy maintaining several accounts to abuse their free offers.
Most sites would ask for $10-$20/month for 1-2TB. You have to keep paying because it's a subscription.
When choosing this route, it's best to pick the tech giants like Google or Microsoft so you can have some peace of mind that they won't go bankrupt one month later. I know some people hate "normies" companies, but if they work, they work.

Some other options like MEGA, Mediafire, Dropbox, pCloud, Proton, Filen are what other data hoarders usually recommend, hence I think they're reliable. Iirc MEGA's predecessor is Megaupload, and they got shut down. Things have changed since then but just sayin' in case it matters. I don't know about the MEGA double space problem, it might be some cache error you got during download.
Mediafire, Dropbox and pCloud have been around for a long time. pCloud lets you extract archives online, but you need space on the cloud to store the extracted files and the audio can be played online after extracting. I think it's not possible to listen to audio directly from the zip.
pCloud is the only one with a lifetime deal right now afaik. Lifetime doesn't mean your life, it's the company's life, and there's no telling if they'll change their policy later. It's up to you if that's worth the money.
Proton drive and Filen are newer, whether they'll last long is debatable. idk if they support the online audio feature you want. You can try.

A different method is.......you can upload your tracks to audio platforms like Soundcloud, or Youtube, and organize them into your own playlists. This is free, and suitable for you to listen online. However it's hard to say how safe it is from being scanned by their system (if any) for inappropriate content and deleted randomly. The uploaded audio will lose quality too because of compression.

At first, I wanted to find a website to store it because it is free and easier to access for me, like the Drive
But yeah Im having a hard time keeping up with all the audios I have cause i have created quite a lot of it D: Drive linked to my laptop so im able to listen to audio without download it again :D
After reading all the comments, i will try to check out the 1TB ssd :D ! it seems like the best option for me now. Im not sure but is the 1TB ssd usually around $80+ for a good quality ssd :o?

 

[Tirin]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions :D !! I will look into all of the options <3 !!
My best choice right now might be the ssd (since im quite clumsy so im afraid i might randomly broke the hdd? without knowing lol :D)


At first, I wanted to find a website to store it because it is free and easier to access for me, like the Drive
But yeah Im having a hard time keeping up with all the audios I have cause i have created quite a lot of it D: Drive linked to my laptop so im able to listen to audio without download it again :D
After reading all the comments, i will try to check out the 1TB ssd :D ! it seems like the best option for me now. Im not sure but is the 1TB ssd usually around $80+ for a good quality ssd :o?

I am currently using a 2TB Crucial X10 SSD. After nearly a year of use, I am very satisfied; the drive is extremely compact and offers fast data transfer speeds. Although the price is a bit high, it is still significantly cheaper than Samsung's 2TB SSDs. If you are on a tighter budget, you might consider SanDisk SSDs; while they aren't quite as compact or lightweight, they do cost a little less.

In my opinion, though, you should get at least a 2TB SSD, as the price per terabyte works out to be significantly lower than that of a 1TB model.

Also, you should look at resale sites like eBay, as the prices there are considerably lower than for brand-new units.

 

[haiane]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions :D !! I will look into all of the options <3 !!
My best choice right now might be the ssd (since im quite clumsy so im afraid i might randomly broke the hdd? without knowing lol :D)


At first, I wanted to find a website to store it because it is free and easier to access for me, like the Drive
But yeah Im having a hard time keeping up with all the audios I have cause i have created quite a lot of it D: Drive linked to my laptop so im able to listen to audio without download it again :D
After reading all the comments, i will try to check out the 1TB ssd :D ! it seems like the best option for me now. Im not sure but is the 1TB ssd usually around $80+ for a good quality ssd :o?

Back in the heyday $80 for a new 1TB SSD was possible, but it's hopeless now. The cheapest new 1TB external SSD that I could find in my country is $150. I don't think it's any better in your country. If you insist on a SSD, try a second hand market or make a wish to Santa - Christmas are around the corner . Be careful when picking SSDs on sites like Ebay etc. as they are flooded with fakes. Use common sense and look for reputable brands. If something seems too good to be true...well, it's usually a scam.