Here is the way I set up a view that lets people download media in Drupal. Not sure it is the" correct" way but it seems to work for me and it's very flexible.

1. Go to /structure/views  
2. Click Add view  
3. Choose to show Media of type whatever you want downloads of.  
4. Choose "Create a block" and click save.  
5. In your block add a relationship and choose Image file.  
6. In Fields, add "URI". Exclude it from display and make sure "Display the file download URI" is checked.  
7. Click into Media: Name. Make sure link to media is unchecked. click rewrite results and then check" override the output of this field with custom text.  
8. Add this code...

<a href="//frozen-octopus.com/%7B%7B%20uri%20%7D%7D" download>{{ name }}</a>

9. Click Apply
10. Save the view.  
11. Place the Block somewhere and people willl be able to download media.

There is other ways to do it but I like the rewrite the field way. You have a lot of freedom to get your link looking and acting how you like it. 

Day off today. Sitting on the couch zoning out. Watching the wind blow to the cover we put on the veranda. Listening to the rain. Trying to decide between ramen or pasta. I think I am chilling out correctly?