Storage options and compatibility for ClonerAlliance UHD Halo¶
ClonerAlliance UHD Halo supports dual storage options, providing flexibility for different recording scenarios and storage preferences.
Supported Storage Types¶
USB 3.0 Storage Devices¶
Supported Devices:
USB 3.0 flash drives
USB 3.0 external hard drives (HDD)
USB 3.0 solid-state drives (SSD)
Portable USB drives
Capacity:
Theoretical unlimited capacity
Supports both MBR and GPT partition tables
Tested up to 2TB and beyond
Recommended:
USB 3.0 for best performance
USB 2.0 also works but with slower transfer speeds
SSD recommended for 4K@60fps recording
TF (MicroSD) Card¶
Supported Cards:
MicroSD (TF) cards
MicroSDHC cards
MicroSDXC cards
Speed Class Requirements:
Minimum: Class 10
Recommended for 4K@60fps: U3 (UHS Speed Class 3) or V30 (Video Speed Class 30) or higher
Best Performance: U3, V30, or A2 application class
Capacity:
Theoretical unlimited capacity
Commonly tested: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
File System Support¶
File System |
Max File Size |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
FAT32 |
4GB |
Most compatible, limited by 4GB |
NTFS |
32GB |
Windows native, good performance |
exFAT |
32GB |
Best compatibility (recommended) |
Recommended: exFAT provides the best balance of compatibility and performance.
Partition Table Support¶
MBR (Master Boot Record): Supported
GPT (GUID Partition Table): Supported
Note
For drives larger than 2TB, GPT partition table is recommended.
File Size Limitations¶
Single File Maximum Size:
FAT32: 4GB per file
NTFS: 32GB per file (UHD Halo limitation)
exFAT: 32GB per file (UHD Halo limitation)
Auto-Split Recording:
When the file size limit is reached, UHD Halo automatically creates a new file and continues recording seamlessly.
Storage Recommendations by Use Case¶
For 4K@60fps Recording¶
Storage Type: USB 3.0 SSD or high-speed TF card (U3/V30+)
File System: exFAT
Capacity: 128GB minimum, 256GB or larger recommended
Bitrate: 50Mbps requires ~22GB per hour
For 1080p@60fps Recording¶
Storage Type: USB 3.0 flash drive or Class 10 TF card
File System: exFAT or NTFS
Capacity: 64GB minimum
Bitrate: 24Mbps requires ~10GB per hour
For Long-Duration Recording¶
Storage Type: USB 3.0 external HDD (1TB+)
File System: exFAT
Partition: GPT for >2TB drives
Power: Self-powered external drives recommended
For Mobile/Portable Use¶
Storage Type: High-speed TF card (256GB U3)
File System: exFAT
Benefits: Compact, easy to swap between devices
Dual Storage Usage¶
UHD Halo can have both USB and TF card inserted simultaneously:
Choose recording destination in OSD menu
Top LED shows signal source (HDMI/Type-C)
Side LED shows active storage (Green=USB, Blue=TF)
Switch between storage devices without disconnection
Formatting Storage Devices¶
Important Notes:
Backup First: Formatting erases all data
Use exFAT: Recommended for best compatibility
Quick Format: Faster, usually sufficient
Full Format: More thorough, recommended for new drives
Format on Windows:
Right-click drive → Format
File system: exFAT
Allocation unit size: Default
Click Start
Format on Mac:
Open Disk Utility
Select drive → Erase
Format: exFAT
Scheme: GUID Partition Map (for GPT)
Click Erase
Storage Capacity Planning¶
4K@60fps @ 50Mbps:
~22GB per hour
128GB = ~5.8 hours
256GB = ~11.6 hours
512GB = ~23.2 hours
1TB = ~45 hours
1080p@60fps @ 24Mbps:
~10GB per hour
128GB = ~12.8 hours
256GB = ~25.6 hours
512GB = ~51.2 hours
1TB = ~100 hours
Tip
Always have more storage capacity than you need. A good rule is to have 1.5x your estimated recording time.
Troubleshooting Storage Issues¶
Storage Not Detected:
Try inserting before powering on
Reformat to exFAT
Try different USB port
Check if drive is functioning on PC
Recording Stops Unexpectedly:
Check available space
Verify storage device is not write-protected
Try different storage device
Check file system compatibility
Warning
Do not remove storage devices while recording is in progress. Always stop recording first to prevent file corruption.
For formatting instructions, see Storage device formatting guide for ClonerAlliance UHD Halo.