Video Formats & Data Rate Calculator
Recording data rates and card-fill times for ProRes, ProRes RAW, ARRIRAW, REDCODE R3D, Blackmagic BRAW, Sony XAVC & X-OCN, Canon RAW, DNx, H.264/H.265 — any resolution and frame rate.
Media must sustain ≈106 MB/s writes (rate + 20% headroom). Audio adds ~0.001 GB/min — negligible.
Record Time per Card
| Card | Record Time | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 64 GB | 12.1 min | 0.2 |
| 128 GB | 24.2 min | 0.4 |
| 256 GB | 48.4 min | 0.81 |
| 512 GB | 1h 37m | 1.61 |
| 1 TB | 3h 14m | 3.23 |
| 2 TB | 6h 27m | 6.46 |
About the model:intraframe codecs (ProRes, DNxHR, XAVC-I, X-OCN, Cine RAW) scale linearly with pixels × frame rate, so rates use a bits-per-pixel constant back-calculated from each vendor's published data-rate sheet — ProRes from Apple's 1080p29.97 targets, DNxHR from Avid's UHD bandwidth spec, X-OCN from Sony's Venice figures. RAW formats use bit depth ÷ compression ratio against the correct raw baseline (RED REDCODE and Blackmagic BRAW are both 12-bit; verified against RED's own formula and Blackmagic's published MB/s within ~2%). Real files still vary a few percent with scene content (constant-quality modes vary more), and some cameras cap or window specific codec/resolution combinations.
What Is the Video Formats & Data Rate Calculator?
The Video Formats & Data Rate Calculator estimates recording data rates for the codecs working cameras actually shoot — not just one brand's. It covers the full Apple ProRes family (422 Proxy through 4444 XQ, plus ProRes RAW and RAW HQ), ARRIRAW, RED's REDCODE R3D at every compression ratio from 3:1 to 22:1, Blackmagic RAW in both constant-bitrate and constant-quality flavors, Sony XAVC-I/XAVC-S/XAVC HS and the Venice/Burano X-OCN family, Canon XF-AVC and Cinema RAW Light, Avid DNxHR from LB to 444, generic H.264/H.265 classes and CinemaDNG. Pick any resolution from 1080p to 12K (or custom), any frame rate from 23.976 to 120, and get the data rate in Mb/s and MB/s, storage per minute and per hour, total for your shoot length, and a record-time table for cards from 64 GB to 2 TB — plus the sustained write speed your media needs.
How It Works
Choose a codec (and compression ratio for RAW formats), resolution and frame rate, and enter your shoot length. Everything updates live; the card table shows how long each card size records.
When to Use It
Use it to order enough media before a shoot, budget drive space for a multi-camera job, decide between ProRes HQ and a RAW ratio when card space is tight, or check whether your CFexpress card's sustained write speed can keep up with a high-frame-rate format.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate are the numbers?
- Intraframe codecs (ProRes, DNx, XAVC-I, X-OCN) scale almost linearly with pixels × frame rate, so they're modeled as bits-per-pixel calibrated against published vendor specs — usually within a few percent. RAW formats use sensor bit depth ÷ compression ratio. Constant-quality modes (BRAW Q0/Q5, REDCODE HQ) vary with scene content, so treat those as planning estimates and add margin.
- Why is my camera's rate different at the same resolution?
- Some cameras window the sensor, pad resolutions, or cap codec bitrates in certain modes; audio, proxies and metadata add a little too. Spec sheets list exact per-mode rates — this tool is for fast planning across formats.
- Do you add new formats as they come out?
- Yes — the codec table is curated and refreshed as manufacturers ship new formats and cameras. If a format is missing, the closest generic class (H.264/H.265 bitrate classes, CinemaDNG for uncompressed RAW) gets you a solid estimate.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-27