Step by Step SSD Setup for Blackmagic Camera App + (T7 vs T9 Breakdown)

You just installed the Blackmagic Camera App and you’re ready to film cinematic 4K. One of the smartest upgrades you can make is connecting an external SSD like the Samsung T7 or T9. That means more record time, ProRes reliability, and no filling your internal storage. This guide shows you how to set up your SSD correctly — and which drive to pick for your workflow.


Format Your SSD the Right Way

Before recording to a Samsung T7 or T9 drive:

  • If you’re fully in the Apple ecosystem → Format APFS
  • If you need cross-platform (Mac + Windows) → Format ExFAT

APFS benefits:

  1. Faster read/write speeds
  2. Better handling of ProRes and large video files
  3. More stable for sustained recording


How to Format a Samsung SSD on Mac

1️⃣ Plug the drive into your Mac (USB-C preferred)

2️⃣ Open Disk Utility

3️⃣ Click View → Show All Devices (important!)

4️⃣ Select the top-level SSD — not just a volume

5️⃣ Click Erase

6️⃣ Format: APFS

7️⃣ Scheme: GUID Partition Map

8️⃣ Rename drive (ex. T9_Projects)

9️⃣ Confirm → Wait for remount

Now your SSD is ready for filmmaking.


Connect the SSD to Your iPhone

Use a high-quality USB-C to USB-C cable — low-speed cables = dropped frames. Even the best SSD fails if the cable isn’t designed for high-speed data.

Then:

1️⃣ Plug in the SSD

2️⃣ Launch Blackmagic Camera App

3️⃣ Tap Gear (Settings) → Scroll to Media

4️⃣ Under Save Clips To select: Files → Your External SSD

If you don’t see the drive:

  • Unplug → replug
  • Ensure drive has correct formatting

Now every recording goes directly to your SSD — zero clogging of internal storage.


 T7 vs T9 — Which SSD Should You Buy?


Samsung T7 — Budget-Friendly & Lightweight

Great for:

  • 1080p @ 24/30/60 fps
  • Some 4K workflows with shorter takes

BUT — performance drops when its SLC cache fills:

  1. Thermal throttling
  2. Write-speed collapse
  3. Not ideal for long, high-bitrate ProRes clips

➡ If you choose T7 → Prefer 1TB or 2TB

(4TB models degrade faster from heat + cache issues)


Samsung T9 — The Real Pro Option

Designed for heavy hitters:

  • 4K @ 24/30/60/120 fps
  • Long continuous shoots
  • Action + outdoor workflows

Benefits:

  1. Rugged rubber armor
  2. Sustained ~900 MB/s write speeds
  3. Little to no thermal throttling
  4. Reliable ProRes capture even after cache exhaustion


SSD Recommendation Cheat Sheet

WorkflowRecommended Drive
1080p YouTube contentSamsung T7
Short 4K projectsT7 (1–2TB only)
Long 4K / ProRes shootsSamsung T9
Travel + rough environmentsSamsung T9


Final Thoughts

With the Blackmagic Camera App + a properly formatted SSD:

  • Performance skyrockets
  • Storage stress disappears
  • Your iPhone becomes a cinema-grade camera

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