Getting Started
7
Preparing SSDs for HyperDeck
SSDs used by HyperDeck must be formatted as either HFS+ or exFAT. These disk formats allow long clips
to be recorded in a single file per clip. Simply connect the SSD to your computer with an external dock or
cable adapter and format it as you would a regular disk. Make sure you back up anything important from
your SSD as you will lose everything on it when you format it.
HFS+ is also known as Mac OS Extended. It is the recommended format for HyperDeck as it supports
"journaling". In the event of a hardware or software malfunction, data on a journaled SSD is more quickly
recovered and less likely to be corrupted in the first place. HFS+ is natively supported by Mac OS X.
Windows computers can use HFS+ with the purchase and installation of MediaFour MacDrive software
from http://www.mediafour.com.
ExFAT is supported natively by Mac OS X and Windows without needing to purchase any additional
software. However exFAT does not support journaling which means data is more prone to corruption, and
less likely to be recovered, in the event of a hardware or software malfunction.
Preparing SSDs on a Mac OS X computer
The Disk Utility application included with Mac OS X can format a drive in the HFS+ or exFAT formats.
Step 1. Connect the SSD to your computer and dismiss any message offering to use your SSD for Time
Machine backups.
Step 2. Go to /Applications/Utilities and launch Disk Utility.
Step 3. Click on the disk icon of your SSD and then click the Erase tab.
Step 4. Set the Format to "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" or "exFAT", type a Name for the new volume
and then click Erase. Your SSD will quickly be formatted and made ready for use with HyperDeck.
Preparing SSDs on a Windows computer
MacDrive software can format a drive in the HFS+ format on a Windows PC.
Step 1. Install MediaFour MacDrive and restart your PC.
Step 2. Connect the SSD to your computer.
Step 3. Choose Start>Computer and right-click on your SSD.
Step 4. From the contextual menu, choose MacDrive>Format Mac Disk.
Step 5. Select the SSD in the MacDrive Disk Manager and choose Initialize disk>Initialize as GPT.
Step 6. Choose "Automatically create an HFS+ volume" and click "Initialize Disk".
Step 7. Once the format has been completed, your SSD is ready for use with HyperDeck.
Use Disk Utility on Mac OS X to erase your SSD in the
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or exFAT format.
Use MacDrive software on Windows to initialize the SSD with a
GPT and create an HFS+ volume.
