High-speed cameras are like regular cameras, but they use a special kind of memory called volatile memory to save what they record. Volatile memory is great because it can save lots of information really fast, like all the pixels in a high-speed video. But there's a catch! Once you turn off the camera, it forgets everything it saved because volatile memory loses the data without power. Regular cameras use another type of memory called non-volatile memory. It's not nearly as fast, but it keeps the data even when you turn off the camera.
| Volatile Memory | Non-Volatile Memory |
Common Example | Computer Memory (RAM) | File Storage (SSD or Disk Drive) |
Strengths | Very fast data transfers, sufficient for RAW high-speed video | Always keeps all data upon a power cycle |
Weaknesses | Always loses all data upon a power cycle | Slow data transfers, insufficient for RAW high-speed video |
Chronos 4K12 Solution | 64 GB or 128 GB of volatile memory, also referred to as RAM Buffer | Built-in 1 TB Solid State Drive |
The Chronos 4K12 high-speed camera features a built-in, non-removable 1 TB Solid State Drive. It is automatically made available as a save destination when the camera is running, and safely stores all saved footage within the camera. This feature improves upon the Chronos 1.4 and 2.1-HD high-speed cameras, which require footage to be transferred to an external storage device prior to powering off the cameras.
This guide demonstrates the transfer of files saved internally to an external drive, such as a USB-C SSD or SD card. For a review regarding how to record and save footage from the 64 GB or 128 GB RAM buffer to internal storage drive, see: Recording and Saving Videos.
First, connect an external storage drive, such as a SD card or USB-C SSD to the Chronos 4K12.
USB-C Port 1 features a 5 Gbps transceiver, while USB-C Port 2 features a 20 Gbps transceiver. For best results, we recommend using a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 SSD connected to USB-C Port 2.
Then, enter the Storage tab by first tapping the ☰ button from the Main Screen, and then navigating to System Settings. In the Storage tab, tap List / Transfer Files to display the file browser.
Note: By default, all saved footage is stored in folders named by their creation date. An incoming software update in late April will allow for custom naming of saved footage folders.
Once files have been copied to the external drive, the drive must be Safely Removed via the Eject Disk or Eject SD Card buttons to ensure the camera and the external drive have completed any last synchronization activities.
If your external drive or SD card is not recognized by the Chronos 4K12, it may require formatting prior to use. The camera is able to format drives without the need for a computer, and uses the common ExFAT filesystem format to ensure compatibility with Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
To format a drive from within the Chronos 4K12, first ensure that no needed files are on the drive, as the drive will be completely erased. Then, use the Format Disk or Format SD Card buttons to format the appropriate device.