Samsung: From audio to visual
Posted on Feb 14, 2025 by Pro Moviemaker
The Samsung Portable SSD T9 sounds like the perfect partner for a podcast launching into the video space
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When a podcast for fans of singer Morrissey wanted to expand into video with higher production values for its growing global audience, it was a chance to build a flashy new permanent set and kit it out with top-quality lighting, audio, camera and computer equipment.
And of course, one of the most crucial products is a drive for safely storing the results of all that hard work. The cutting-edge Samsung Portable SSD T9 was the obvious choice since it offers incredible speed to keep up with high-resolution files, holding up to 4TB of data.
Accidents can happen in all kinds of shooting scenarios, even when filming a podcast. Thankfully, the durable portable drive can withstand any drops of up to three metres. Not to mention its dotted, non-slip rubber finish doesn’t just look stylish but it also gives extra grip.
The podcast is the brainchild of the team that publishes the Morrissey Mercury fanzine: newspaper journalist George and super-fan Chris. They use their Morrissey and Wine show to discuss everything from the world of Morrissey and The Smiths. There are news stories, reactions, opinions and chat from guests – many of whom have worked with the singer in his often-controversial career.
The charming man charged with putting together the whole production is Gary Freeman, a self-confessed tech addict who admits he always thoroughly researches every bit of kit he chooses to use. His latest camera of choice is a powerful, high-end cinema cam known for its high-quality Raw files and the ability to write directly to an external portable drive via USB-C.
“Samsung portable drives are highly recommended for this set-up; I use the Samsung Portable SSD T5 and T7 Touch as they are fast, safe and reliable,” he says. “When I got the chance to try the Samsung Portable SSD T9, I had confidence – and I’ve been proven right. I’ve had no issues at all with any of the footage. It’s the one for me!”
Using portable drives as direct storage media from the camera is a game changer for those with the latest generation of cameras that support this capability. It streamlines the filming process by eliminating the need to record footage onto one storage device and then transfer to a PSSD via a laptop. With the footage already safely stored, the workflow becomes faster, with one less step and fewer things to go wrong.
The Samsung Portable SSD T9 features the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface and comes with a choice of two cables – one to connect to a USB-C or Thunderbolt drive and a second for legacy USB-A devices.
With the USB-C connection to a high-end camera, the connection is instant and totally hassle-free,” says Freeman. “As the Samsung Portable SSD T9 can work at speeds of up to 2000MB/s, that’s faster than my camera can record Raw files, so there’s no waiting for footage to download.” This is also good for future-proofing, as the portable drive should still be more than up to the job, even if data output from cameras increases.
It’s due to the Samsung Portable SSD T9 offering the latest technology, with the hardware and firmware developed exclusively by Samsung for data-rich professional applications. Innovations like Samsung’s Turbowrite technology enable a 180GB buffer size. This means maximum performance is maintained for longer when transferring large files or editing video directly off the portable drive.
Handling such large files at speed could potentially lead to heat-related issues, especially as the 14mm-thin Samsung Portable SSD T9 is just 88x60mm in footprint and weighs only 122g. But by using the latest thermal materials including silicon and aluminium, as well as low power consumption, this keeps the portable drive cool.
It also means the portable drive can withstand temperatures as low as -40°C and as high as 85°C during use. It maintains skin temperatures below 60°C in controlled conditions – such as during heat management and safety tests – complying with the IEC 62368-1 standard.
To ensure there is a light that never goes out, the portable drive only consumes 0.67W idle power and peak power up to 7.3W when connected via USB-C, which helps reduce heat build-up. When using the Samsung Portable SSD T9 on a laptop, battery life is extended by more than 30 minutes compared to rival products. (Power consumption results are based on Samsung internal testing, conducted under controlled conditions. Idle status is defined as eight minutes without I/O operations).
When it comes to security, you can set an AES 256-bit encrypted password to prevent anyone from accessing the files. Plus, the portable drive features Samsung Magician software, which offers performance benchmarking, security functions, firmware updates and a health-status check in real time, as well as data migration, PSSD software and a card- authentication tool.
Since it uses a dedicated PCB rather than a standard M.2 SSD, it’s compatible with various devices including PCs, mobile phones, televisions, game consoles and cameras. PSSD take a bow, as Morrissey might say.
For more information, visit samsung.com/uk/memory-storage/portable-ssd/
Originally published in the Mar/Apr 2025 issue of Pro Moviemaker.
