Calculator Inputs
Example Data Table
| Scenario | Effective Bitrate | Duration | Adjusted Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p training session | 6.128 Mbps | 01:30:00 | 4.646 GB |
| 4K conference archive | 24.256 Mbps | 02:00:00 | 25.673 GB |
| 12-camera NVR day | 48.768 Mbps | 24:00:00 | 614.126 GB |
| OTT multi-stream event | 61.152 Mbps | 03:00:00 | 101.584 GB |
Formula Used
Per Stream Bitrate = Video Bitrate + Audio Bitrate
Combined Bitrate = Per Stream Bitrate × Streams
Raw Storage Bytes = (Combined Bitrate × Duration Seconds) ÷ 8
Adjusted Storage = Raw Storage × (1 + Overhead%) × (1 + Safety%)
The calculator uses decimal network units for bitrate conversion. It also shows binary storage values for capacity planning on systems that report GiB or TiB.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the video bitrate and select its unit.
- Add audio bitrate if your stream includes audio.
- Enter the recording duration in hours, minutes, and seconds.
- Set the number of parallel streams or cameras.
- Add overhead for containers, muxing, or protocol wrapping.
- Add a safety buffer for growth and unexpected spikes.
- Submit the form to view storage totals and the chart.
- Export the result summary with the CSV or PDF buttons.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does bitrate mean in storage planning?
Bitrate is the amount of data transmitted each second. Higher bitrates create larger files. Storage planning starts by translating that data rate into bytes over the required recording duration.
2. Why does the calculator include audio bitrate?
Audio adds real storage usage. It is often smaller than video, but long recordings and many streams can make audio contribute meaningful capacity requirements.
3. Why add container overhead?
Containers, metadata, muxing, and protocol packaging introduce extra bytes beyond pure encoded media. Overhead helps estimate closer to real files and recorded archives.
4. What is the safety buffer for?
Safety buffer protects against bitrate spikes, configuration changes, retention growth, and operating headroom. It helps prevent storage pools from filling earlier than expected.
5. Does this work for VBR streams?
Yes, but use an average bitrate you trust. For variable bitrate encoding, choose a realistic average and keep a larger safety buffer for peak-heavy footage.
6. Why show daily and 30-day estimates?
They help compare session storage with continuous recording needs. This is useful for surveillance, event archives, streaming platforms, and network retention planning.
7. What is the difference between GB and GiB?
GB uses decimal conversion based on 1000. GiB uses binary conversion based on 1024. Vendors often advertise decimal units, while operating systems may report binary values.
8. Can I use this for multiple cameras?
Yes. Enter the per-stream bitrate and set the stream count. The calculator multiplies total throughput and storage across all active streams.