Can you edit video on your Mac using an external SATA SSD, will it be fast enough?

In this video I show that using SATA SSDs connected via USB-C to your Mac can be fast enough for video editing. The only real concern when video editing from an external SATA SSD is that the speed of the SSD is capable of sustaining the read speed neccesary for the bitrate of the video files you are editing. However, this is the same for Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 4 SSDs and USB4 SSDs.

In the video I am using a 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SATA SSD. This is one that I usually use for recording ProRes 422 HQ on my Atomos Ninja. I also use a number of 4TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs with my Ninja.

The adapter cable that I use to connect my SATA SSDs to my Mac is a SATA to USB-C adapter by Cable Matters. This adapter is capable of 5Gb/s which is enough for the read and also the write speeds of any SATA SSD.

I only use this SATA to USB-C adapter cable instead of the a SATA to USB-C enclosure because it's convenient and allows me to change quickly between the many SATA SSDs that I have. You can of course use a SATA to USB-C enclosure and this is actually what I would recommend if you are only using one SATA SSD as your main drive for your Mac.

In the video I show a 4TB SATA SSD by Orico and also a SATA to USB-C enclosure by Orico. This is the cheapest 4TB USB-C SSD drive that I have managed to put together for my Macs. I have done some tests with this drive and there will be some videos about it soon. While I have not specifically tested it with the same projects that I've shown in this video. In my tests so far it has been a great way to get 4TB of external storage for my base M4 Mac mini. Keep an eye on my channel for the build and speed test video for this drive combination. I have listed the parts below but just remember that I have not tested it with these projects yet.

The USB-C extender cable that I show in the video is one by Riitop. This is a 10Gb/s extender cable. While it is totally unnecessary for connecting the SATA SSD adapter cable to my Mac. It's actually super useful for extending the cable run for whatever reason.

There are smaller capacity SSDs compared to what I use but I would not recommend going below 1TB as they may end up being too small.

Video chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:07 The setup
03:41 First edit test
14:11 Second edit test
18:28 End summary

IF USING MY AMAZON LINKS AND YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE USA, MAKE SURE THAT THE LINK HAS SENT YOU TO THE CORRECT PRODUCT. MY LINKS ARE FOR AMAZON.COM AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REDIRECT TO YOUR COUNTRY IF IT'S NOT THE USA BUT THE REDIRECTS ARE SOMETIMES WRONG, SO JUST MAKE SURE. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS, THIS IS DOWN TO AMAZON.

Links including stuff I used in the video:

M4 Max MacBook Pro 16" ➡ https://geni.us/70Xn
M4 Max MacBook Pro 14" ➡ https://geni.us/57QzTfu
M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" ➡ https://geni.us/qSYR
M4 Pro MacBook Pro 14" ➡ https://geni.us/4thf yu0
M4 MacBook Pro 14" ➡ https://geni.us/Y7TFR

Mac Mini M4 ➡ https://geni.us/oibaLH
Mac Mini M4 Pro ➡ https://geni.us/ImJto
Samsung 870 EVO 4TB ➡ https://amzn.to/41P5HY8
Samsung 870 EVO 2TB ➡ https://amzn.to/3DHphLL
Samsung 870 EVO 1TB ➡ https://amzn.to/3DtPvRU

Cable Matters USB-C to SATA adapter ➡ https://amzn.to/4fyN5im
Riitop USB-C extender cable ➡ https://amzn.to/4iWLoyf

Try this code for the Orico SSD if ordering on Amazon.co.uk it might give you 5% off J8XJVXB9

Orico Y-20 SATA SSD 4TB ➡ https://amzn.to/4iUiiQ0
Orico Y-20 SATA SSD 2TB ➡ https://amzn.to/49WDyAg
Orico Y-20 SATA SSD 1TB ➡ https://amzn.to/429Xle3

Orico USB-C to SATA enclosure ➡ https://geni.us/JuXXXXg

M4 Max MacBook Pro 16" ➡ https://geni.us/70Xn
M4 Max MacBook Pro 14" ➡ https://geni.us/57QzTfu
M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" ➡ https://geni.us/qSYR
M4 Pro MacBook Pro 14" ➡ https://geni.us/4thf yu0
M4 MacBook Pro 14" ➡ https://geni.us/Y7TFR

Mac Mini M4 ➡ https://geni.us/oibaLH
Mac Mini M4 Pro ➡ https://geni.us/ImJto

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I’m David Harry. Thank you very much for watching this video, take care and goodbye now.

Cheers,
Dave.