The State of the Upload (Patreon)

Dropping in to let you know what the current plan is and why it isn't working yet. To do that, let's recap what I've tried to do with The Untamed since the beginning. =)

Attempt: Upload the reactions to Youtube, provided they contain less than ten minutes of actual footage from the episode.

Result: Works for a while, and then summarily blocked worldwide.

Attempt: Start a Patreon and use Vimeo, since Patreon people are always talking about how the stuff with copyrighted content is, you know, on their Patreon.

Result: The Patreon is a success!! But Vimeo deletes my entire account after one (1) upload of a segment of a reaction. (But not before I spent the money on the uber subscription, thank fucking god.) Also, Youtube starts retroactively blocking episodes 6-8 of the Untamed reactions.

Attempt: Upload short 'heads up' videos on Youtube, linking to a video hosted by Vidyard, a site with a don't-ask-don't-tell policy on copyright that is vouched for by a fellow Youtuber.

Result: My internet is too slow to upload reliably to Vidyard, resulting in nine failed uploads out of ten. 

Attempt: Link viewers to Google Drive uploads while I troubleshoot Vidyard, leading to a literal change in my internet service provider for better download/upload speeds (after six hours of phone calls with them). Can someone else with a better internet connection upload my videos to my Vidyard account for me? Let's try!

Result: Google Drive only lets a small number of downloads through at any given time, and viewing the video instead of downloading results in horrific video resolution. (I know mine isn't the best yet, but Drive makes me look like 4K.) Also, using an upload proxy for Vidyard doesn't work (but thanks again, bigmamag).

Attempt: Let's use Mega instead of Drive then, and link to the videos there while I wait for my new internet to get installed on the 29th. The Vidyard issue may also have something to do with my videos' codec, so let's test that.

Awaiting Result: The Mega links are currently available on episodes 10 and 11, I'm awaiting feedback. The first Vidyard upload with a new codec and ZERO internet usage during the upload has worked! A second attempt will be made later tonight, and the result will hopefully mean that I can at least limp along until my new internet arrives.

I do, however, have a couple of more heartening notes:

-I was only able to switch my internet service provider because I had money to move around for the sake of installation fees and such, and I only had that money because of you and all the other donors. (And in even better news, the fees will be reimbursed.)

-I discovered that I would have needed to upgrade my internet anyway if I ever had a prayer of livestreaming.

-My internet bill will only go up a bit, but that bit can only be covered because of Patrons' monthly support.     

-If Mega works out and I need to get a subscription, that will only be possible, again, because of Patrons and other donors. 

-My new lighting has arrived! If all goes well I'll be able to start using them sometime this week. Once again, provided by Patrons and all the other donors.

-If you told Past Me what Current Me has been capable of this past two weeks, she would have asked if you were in the middle of a stroke.  

If I didn't have this Patreon and the Ko-Fi donations, The Untamed series would have been dead in the water a long time ago. I would have had to abandon it, finish watching off camera, and given a review or something when I was done. This would have been a huge blow to both the channel and myself. Granted, the channel and I are doing our best to muddle through this weird, chaotic transitional period, but at least there's still a transition to be had. And you continue to comment your love, support, and encouragement all along the way, which is absolutely why I'm still trying to get this done after so many setbacks, failures, and frustrations. I still care because you still care because I still care because you still care...and what a lovely back and forth to be a part of.

We're going through it, but we're getting through it. 

Until next time. <3