[slowmadickayleigh]

I'm very new to GoPro and I've only filmed a few hikes so far. I'm thinking about getting an external hard drive to edit on though because my laptop is not enjoying editing videos and it's so slow. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations about external hard drives? Is there anything I should be looking out for or avoiding?
If it matters, my laptop is a MacBook Air about 6 or 7 years old and my GoPro is a Hero 11. I will probably be updating the laptop in the next year or so but I can't really afford to replace it now so I'm hoping to use the hard drive to bridge the gap. I intend to put my videos on Youtube, so I don't think I really want to be storing copies of videos I've made but I do want to be able to edit without all of the delays.

 

[Fish]

ssd drive will be a start but the laptop is what runs the show.

 

[Ifti]

Can you advise which ports your laptop has? I'm guessing its standard USB3?

Generally I would recommend an external SSD - much faster the a HDD and it will future proof you.
Personally I use Thunderbolt 3 SSD Raid Arrays, which are super fast, but also super expensive! For your usage I would suggest a USB-C based drive.

Something like this would be ideal, since it comes with an adapter to use with your current MacBook, and when you upgrade to a newer model with USB-C, you can stop using the adapter and plug the drive directly in and achieve a faster speed - perfect for basic editing.....

https://amzn.to/3hVMvU3

Sabrent drives are also very good, although not sure if they comes with the adapter so you may need to purchase that separately....

https://amzn.to/3C2e2Km

Samsung T7 is also good, and cheaper : https://amzn.to/3VseFnn

Don't be tempted to go for anything else - plenty of clones and poor performers on the market. I've just seen a 10TB drive that looks like the above Samsung, whereas 10TB SSDs aren't even readily available yet!!! lol

 

[Ankit Raj]

I guess there should be a thunderbolt 2 port on your Mac Air (which can go up to 20 Gbps). Try to take advantage of that. Also, as suggested by the admins SSD would be a great choice. SSDs can have data transfer speeds significantly faster (like 10 to 40 times faster depending on the other drives).
Also, While scrubbing through complex timelines, an SSD may be superior to a hard drive. But most editing tasks such as cutting and applying effects shouldn’t change much.

 

[achin.eldit]

I'm very new to GoPro and I've only filmed a few hikes so far. I'm thinking about getting an external hard drive to edit on though because my laptop is not enjoying editing videos and it's so slow. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations about external hard drives? Is there anything I should be looking out for or avoiding?
If it matters, my laptop is a MacBook Air about 6 or 7 years old and my GoPro is a Hero 11. I will probably be updating the laptop in the next year or so but I can't really afford to replace it now so I'm hoping to use the hard drive to bridge the gap. I intend to put my videos on Youtube, so I don't think I really want to be storing copies of videos I've made but I do want to be able to edit without all of the delays.

When choosing an external hard drive for video editing, there are a few key factors to consider:

1. Capacity: Make sure the hard drive has enough storage capacity for your needs. Video files can take up a lot of space, so it's best to err on the side of too much storage rather than too little.
2. Speed: Look for a hard drive with fast read and write speeds. This will help ensure smooth playback and editing of your video files. Consider getting a solid-state drive (SSD) instead of a traditional hard disk drive (HDD), as SSDs are generally faster.
3. Compatibility: Make sure the hard drive is compatible with your computer and editing software. Since you have a MacBook Air, you'll likely need a hard drive with a Thunderbolt or USB-C connection.
4. Brand and reliability: Consider purchasing a hard drive from a reputable brand with a good track record for reliability. This will help ensure that your files are safe and won't be lost due to hard drive failure.

Some popular options for external hard drives for video editing include the Samsung T5 and T7 SSDs, the WD My Passport series, and the LaCie Rugged series. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.