A smart Guy’s set-up
Posted on Apr 13, 2026 by Admin
Grease, grit and gigabytes all mix when the Samsung Portable SSD T9 keeps up with a legendary action man
When it comes to high-speed action and the uncompromising world of hands-on engineering – from trucks and racing bikes to Spitfire planes, all fuelled by plenty of cups of his beloved tea – few subjects are as demanding as British TV star and action icon Guy Martin.
So, setting out to capture Martin in his home workshop, the filmmaker Neil Michaels knew the storage solution had to match the pace. Nothing could slow production down. Shooting a man who once chased a 400mph motorcycle record before crashing in the attempt leaves no margin for error. The Samsung Portable SSD T9 was the only choice.
Michaels relies on the Samsung Portable SSD T9 across high-end film and TV productions, trusting it to safeguard valuable footage while keeping workflows moving. On this shoot, his crew captured footage using a pair of compact full-frame cameras alongside a high-end 8K beast, with access to high-resolution codecs and advanced colour science. The result was a huge volume of data that needed to be handled efficiently.
Data management became critical. With more than 1.2TB of Raw footage generated in a single day, capacity and speed were essential. But the Samsung Portable SSD T9 gave ample headroom even during sustained high-speed ingest – without concerns about overheating or performance drops.
The shooting environment added to the challenge. Lighting rigs and smoke machines created an atmospheric, moody workshop setting, while Martin’s tight schedule left no opportunity for retakes. Surrounded by heavy machinery, motorbikes and tools, the production demanded equipment that could withstand real-world conditions.
The Samsung Portable SSD T9 was central to the workflow. Small enough to fit in a pocket yet powerful enough for demanding data loads, it facilitated rapid offloading between takes. With read and write speeds of up to 2000MB/s via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, transfers kept pace with production rather than holding it back.
Roughly the size of a credit card and weighing just 122g, the Samsung Portable SSD T9 slips easily into a kitbag. Beneath its compact, rubberised exterior lies serious performance that makes it an essential tool on-set. Built on Samsung’s V-NAND technology and enhanced with TurboWrite, it sustains high speeds even
under heavy workloads. Cross-platform compatibility across macOS, Windows, Android and external video recorders means it integrates seamlessly into any production set-up.
“We needed equipment we could rely on completely,” says Michaels. “The Samsung Portable SSD T9 handled large volumes of footage on location and helped accelerate our editing workflow. We could move massive Raw files quickly and work directly from the portable drive, which kept things simple and efficient under pressure.”
Thermal performance is equally important. The Samsung Portable SSD T9’s Dynamic Thermal Guard actively manages heat, maintaining consistent speeds during extended transfers. There are no slowdowns or surprises mid-transfer, even when dealing with such large, high-bit-rate files.
Durability is built in, too. The rubber casing protects the portable drive from knocks and drops of up to three metres, offering welcome reassurance in busy environments where equipment is constantly in motion. Not to mention, its textured, non-slip finish means it can be held confidently in the palm of your hand.
Capacity remains a key advantage. The Samsung Portable SSD T9 can hold entire shooting days – and even whole projects – on a single unit with capacities from 1TB up to 4TB available. This makes it ideal for offloading and as a shuttle between the set and post-production, keeping your data organised and intact throughout the process.
Back in the edit suite, the Samsung Portable SSD T9’s performance translates directly into productivity. Working natively from the portable SSD allows editors to scrub high-resolution footage smoothly, build timelines quickly and stay creative without delays caused by slow storage.
High-quality NAND, a robust controller and optional hardware encryption keep valuable media safe, while a five-year limited warranty reinforces the portable drive’s role as a pro-grade solution rather than a disposable accessory.
On a shoot defined by speed and precision, storage had to keep up. The Samsung Portable SSD T9 consistently performs, providing rugged reliability and uncompromising speed – supporting the workflow from first capture to final edit.
When you’re under pressure, capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments with an Isle of Man TT motorcycle racer and world speed record holder, storage can’t be a weak link. The Samsung Portable SSD T9 is an asset that keeps the entire production at full throttle
Visit samsung.com for more information.
This article appears in the April/May 2026 issue of Definition
