How to Record 4K ProRes Videos Directly to a Portable SSD on Your iPhone

High-quality video filming is easy because smartphones come with advanced camera systems. Modern Apple phones allow recording high-quality 4K ProRes videos on your iPhone, but users suffer a problem when these high-resolution videos quickly consume the entire internal storage. No worries; fortune comes. With the help of the latest iPhone models, which have USB-C ports on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, and the right external storage solution, you can record directly to a portable SSD. This combination helps free up space and enhance your video recording capabilities. 

This guide will benefit users who don’t know how to record 4K ProRes videos directly to a portable SSD on their iPhone. Keep reading. 

What’s 4K ProRes Video Recording on iPhone

Apple has the ProRes video format, which offers professional-grade video quality while recording videos. The resultant videos are not only of high quality but also have large file sizes, which require large storage solutions. According to some, a one-minute 4K ProRes video can take up several gigabytes of storage. iPhones with higher storage capacities can handle this to some extent. However, adding an external SSD can remove all storage problems, especially for extended shoots.

Why Record 4K ProRes Videos to an External SSD?

ProRes is a professional video codec by Apple company that offers high-quality filming. Such a quality video has a large file size, which requires a good storage solution. Apple iPhones are not able to fulfill this storage requirement. Recording directly to an external SSD helps:

• Saving the built-in storage of your iPhone by avoiding filling it up by storing videos. 
• Offload files directly to an SSD. It can allow the recording of longer video sessions without worrying about running out of internal storage.
• External storage offers higher frame rates, like recording at 4K 60fps. 
• High-quality SSDs provide rapid read and write speeds, resulting in efficiency in recording and transferring files. 
• The external SSDs are portable, which helps in easy video recording for videographers, vloggers, or podcasters. 
• Videos stored in external storage solutions allow you to connect the SSD to your computer or editing device for post-production processes, like video editing. 

Aiffro P30 3-in-1 Portable SSD as the Best External Storage Solution

Professional videographers and content creators require a compact and efficient storage solution with their iPhones for high-quality filming. Aiffro comes with the right solution: the Aiffro P30 3-in-1 Portable SSD.

It's a compact SSD that brings advanced solutions to videographers' problems. Its small size and portability feature allows it to be used anywhere on your iPhone and Android. You can directly attach it to your iPhone due to the USB-C built-in connector, which allows you to record and store videos simultaneously.

Its charging port helps in charging, so the user never encounters a battery issue. The microphone is the biggest issue; users need separate devices to record audio and edit it with the video.

With the help of the P30 3-in-1 SSD, the users can attach a microphone directly to their SSD and record video with high-quality audio, which saves time and energy. 

• These SSDs have read/write speeds up to 1000MB/s, which offers smooth 4K ProRes recording without dropped frames.
• Aiffro P30 offers 3-in-1 functionality:
  • Its PD interface supports up to a 30W power supply to charge your iPhone during recording.
  • The SSD comes with a Type-C Microphone interface. It allows you to connect external microphones directly for audio recording, which is impossible with other storage solutions. 
  • These SSDs have a USB 3.2 Gen2 output for fast data transfer to other devices.
• The P30 is an ultra-thin pocket-sized device that weighs only 19g. Its portable design makes it easy to carry and ideal for on-the-go shooting. 
• It supports up to 30W power supply, which allows you to charge your iPhone while filming.
• The product is versatile and is compatible with iPhone 15/16 Pro/Pro Max and Android devices with Type-C interfaces.
• It can easily store large 4K video files because of the 1TB and 2TB storage options available.

Setting Up Your iPhone for 4K ProRes Recording to a Portable SSD

Knowing the right steps for connecting the external storage with your iPhone can help you directly with 4K ProRes recording to the Aiffro P30 portable SSD. Here is a short guide:

Connect the SSD

iPhone has a USB-C port, so you can connect any compatible SSD by using a USB-C cable. Check the cable and pick one that supports USB 3.0 speeds to handle the data transfer rate required for 4K ProRes recording. There is no need for a USB-C cable with the Aiffro P30 SSD because of its built-in USB-C connector. Simply plug the P30 SSD directly into your iPhone. 

Format the SSD

Format the SSD to exFAT or APFS using a computer before recording videos. 

Configure Camera Settings

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Navigate to Camera > Formats.
• Enable Apple ProRes.
• Go back to Camera > Record Video.
• Select 4K at 60fps.

Verify External Recording

Open the Camera app to check if the recording indicator shows that the external SSD is being used. A notification or icon may indicate that the recording will be saved to the external drive.

Things to do for Optimal 4K ProRes Recording

Users must do the following things to get quality results without any errors.

• Regularly check available storage space on your portable SSD to avoid interruptions during recording.
• Check that your iPhone and other accessories have the latest firmware updates for compatibility.
• After offloading videos to SSD, back up your videos to another storage device or cloud service to prevent data loss.
• Test recording before the actual shoot helps check the functioning of all equipment to minimize the risk of issues.

Conclusion

Recording 4K ProRes videos directly to a portable SSD like the Aiffro P30 offers a triple benefit. It allows filming high-quality video with audio and offloading the resultant video to the portable SSD at a time. It extends the storage space and improves the workflow by offering high read and write speeds. The Aiffro’s P30 is an excellent choice for both amateur and professional videographers because of its compact design and multifunctional features.