How much storage do I need for video editing?
Multiply the hours of footage you shoot by how much space your camera’s format uses per hour, then at least double it so every file lives on two separate drives. The format matters most, since compressed formats from phones and most consumer cameras are small while editing formats such as ProRes and raw are much larger. The quickest way to know your own number is to record a few minutes and look at the file size.
There is no single answer, because two cameras recording the same hour can produce files of very different sizes. The good news is that working out your own number takes about ten minutes.
What decides the size
The recording format. This is by far the biggest factor. Roughly, from smallest to largest:
- Highly compressed formats such as H.264 and HEVC (H.265). Most phones and many consumer cameras record these. They are designed to be small.
- Editing formats such as ProRes and DNxHD or DNxHR. Professional cameras and external recorders often use them. Files are much larger, in return for being easy to work with.
- Raw formats. Some cinema cameras record raw image data for maximum flexibility in colour. These are usually the largest of all.
Resolution and frame rate. In the same format, 4K uses more space than HD. Sixty frames a second also uses more than 24. Higher quality settings on the same camera increase the size too.
How many cameras. A two-hour podcast on three cameras is six hours of footage, not two.
Working out your number
- Record a test. Shoot five minutes with your usual settings, then look at the file size and multiply up to an hour. Your camera’s manual often lists recording times per card size, which gives the same answer.
- Estimate your hours. Count every camera, and be realistic about how much you shoot per project.
- Multiply. Hours times size per hour is the space for one copy.
- Plan for a backup. Never keep footage on only one drive. A second copy on a separate drive is the minimum, and a copy kept somewhere else protects you against theft or fire.
- Leave headroom. Drives slow down and get awkward when nearly full. Aim to keep a good share of each one free.
Speed matters as well as size
Large files need fast drives. A solid-state drive connected by a fast port will play several streams of high-quality footage comfortably. A slow spinning drive can manage for single-camera, highly compressed footage, but it may struggle once you add more cameras or larger formats.
How B/side handles it
With B/side, your camera originals stay on your own drives unless you choose otherwise. You plan your drives the same way as above.
Storage on a B/side plan is a different matter. It holds about 3 GB per hour of footage, with your originals staying on your drives. The Free plan includes 50 GB and never expires. Every plan keeps your footage ready to cut from any computer.
When to think differently
If several editors share large volumes of footage every day, it is worth talking to a specialist about shared storage for your facility. The guidance here is for planning your own drives.
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