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It's safe to say that after their camera and lighting, the most important thing for professional videographers is storage. After a day of shooting 4K or 8K videos, or any HD footage, they need enough storage capacity to download their work safely.
So, what is the best type of storage device for videographers? And what are the best practices videographers should take regarding storage device? The answer is an SSD. As for the latter, we hope you will walk away with some good ideas after reading this article.
SSDs Better Suited for Videographers than HDDs
SSDs offer more to videographers than HDDs for multiple reasons:
Greater durability and reliability An SSD uses non-volatile (flash) memory to hold and access data. It has no moving mechanical parts, unlike HDD. An SSD is designed to handle drops, shakes, shocks, and everyday wear and tear. It is far less apt to lose data. Lost data to a videographer can be a complete disaster.
Faster speeds SSDs are up to 10x faster than HDDs. Faster speeds mean SSDs can handle data at the ultra-speeds necessary for today's videographer.
Available in a variety of sizes Unlike HDDs that are just plain large, SSDs come in a variety of sizes, ranging from the size of a stick of gum to 2.5".
Lower power consumption For videographers that are doing remote shoots without access to power outlets, it's beneficial to turn to technology that requires less electricity to operate, especially if there are substantial power demands from audio and lighting equipment. SSDs will drain your laptop battery (or your generator) more slowly than a mechanical drive.
Quieter While this is unlikely to come up during shoots, a quieter storage system is beneficial for editing audio.
NVMe SSD Perfect for Busy Videographers
The NVMe interface is at the forefront of the new SSD standards. SSDs have faster read and write speeds than traditional HDDs. SSDs with the NVMe interface are the fastest, with high-end NVMe SSDs capable of around 7,000MB/s. In addition, only NVMe can handle the changes in frame rates, frame sizes, standards, and technologies videographers face.
Easy to Buy Reputable Brands
The SSD market is packed with a wide range of models, both in cost and performance. However, choosing the correct drive for one's specific needs should not be based solely on $$$ or what a spec sheet says. Reputable manufacturers and channel resellers can help you choose the best SSD for your needs.
SSD Storage Options
There are two options for SSD placement, both of which videographers will find to their liking: portable and internal.
Portable A portable SSD affords users the capability to offload footage and access existing digital files virtually anywhere. In addition, files can easily be backed up and secured without an Internet connection.
Internal If your laptop has an HDD, it is easy to upgrade to an SSD and enjoy the faster performance. Even an entry-level SSD is about 10x faster than a typical HDD.
Encryption Is Vital
A videographer's efforts result in hours and hours of stored video files. But with hackers, data breaches, and the risks of theft or loss all distressingly commonplace, how secure can that data be? Grievous financial costs and ruined reputations are stiff penalties, especially when a preventative solution is hardware encryption. Here are two such protocols to look for.
AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption: an international standard that ensures superior data security and is recognized by the U.S. government, among others. It is basically undecipherable, making it the strongest commercial encryption standard available.
TCG Opal 2.0: a protocol that can initialize, authenticate, and manage encrypted SSDs by using independent software vendors featuring TCG Opal 2.0 security management solutions.
With the added utility, security, and capacity that SSDs bring to videographers, it’s clear that there are plenty of reasons to consider incorporating them into a hardware set. Use your SSD securely and in the correct circumstances, and you’ll find it impossible to go back.
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