Eternal Helix backup : Email or the cloud

[HonestOpinion]

No big revelation here, just wanted to share a suggestion with my fellow Helix users. Periodically either email yourself your latest Helix bundle backup and/or put it up in the cloud if you have an account. You can do this with setlists and zipped downloaded presets and IRs as well. They are small files, easily emailed, and doing this makes sure that if your computer ever fails or gets stolen you still retain your years' worth of preset design. Particularly useful if your computer dies during a firmware update, or you need to get to a backup while you are on the road.

[PeterHamm]

Or just use Dropbox.

[FlyingsCool]

Or just use Dropbox.

 

(that's what he meant by "put it up in the cloud"... he wasn't specific because there are a thousand vendors out there)

 

I love this idea, definitely emailing myself tonight...

[rzumwalt]

Also, append the 8-digit date to the end of each backup file:  "my preset 1 20170509.hlx", "my setlist 1 20170509.hls", and so on. When you retrieve your backup, you'll know which is the most up-to-date version at a glance. Emailing would take care of this if you just refer to the most recent email. But using Dropbox or other cloud storage simplifies the process by automatically syncing to the cloud, if you have your folders set up that way. 

[HonestOpinion]

Stating the obvious here but If you do you use a cloud based solution like Dropbox, iCloud, Microsoft, etc.,  you should manage your share permissions on a separate Helix folder so you don't accidentally share your presets or purchased presets and IRs (if you have them) with an unintended audience. The benefit of using email instead of, or ideally in addition to the cloud, is that if you ever let your cloud storage account lapse you still have your emailed files (assuming you have a permanent email account, most people do these days). You also may have more space available in your email account if you don't want to use up any of the precious storage space in something like an unpaid basic level cloud account. Space will not be an issue for most though, it takes a whole lot of Helix backup files and IRs to use up enough space to require anything more than an insignificant amount of storage capacity.