Question 1

How is storage calculated for video?

Accepted Answer

Storage = Bitrate × Duration. Different codecs compress video differently. ProRes 422 at 4K/24fps uses about 471 Mbps, while H.264 uses around 25 Mbps for similar visual quality. RAW formats are largest, delivery codecs smallest.

Question 2

What codec should I use for editing?

Accepted Answer

For editing, use ProRes 422 or DNxHR HQ - they decode fast and maintain quality through multiple generations. For delivery, use H.264 or H.265. For archiving masters, use ProRes 4444 or the original camera RAW.

Question 3

How much storage do I need for a shoot?

Accepted Answer

A typical shooting ratio is 10:1 to 20:1 (10-20 minutes of footage per 1 minute of final edit). For a 10-minute final video, plan for 100-200 minutes of footage. Add 50% buffer for proxies, renders, and project files.

Question 4

What bitrate should I export at for YouTube?

Accepted Answer

YouTube recommends 8 Mbps for 1080p, 35-45 Mbps for 4K SDR, and 44-56 Mbps for 4K HDR. Higher bitrates are fine - YouTube will re-encode anyway. For the best quality, upload in ProRes or DNxHR if your upload speed allows.

Question 5

Why are my file sizes so large?

Accepted Answer

Editing codecs like ProRes and DNxHR prioritize decode speed over compression. A 1-minute 4K ProRes 422 clip is about 3.5GB, while the same footage in H.265 might be 200MB. Use proxies for editing, then conform to original media for export.

Video Storage & Bitrate Calculator

How much storage do I need?

Frequently Asked Questions

More Free Tools