arri data rate calculator

Why an ARRI data rate calculator matters on real productions

ARRI cameras are trusted for image quality, color science, and post flexibility. But with that quality comes significant file size—especially when shooting ARRIRAW at higher resolutions and frame rates. A practical data rate calculator helps you answer questions before your first take:

• How many cards do we need on set for a full shooting block?
• Will our DIT cart keep up with offload speed?
• What daily shuttle drive size is safe with margin?
• How quickly will backup storage and archive fill up?

Small mistakes in data planning can become expensive delays. The goal of this calculator is to give quick, field-friendly estimates so camera, production, and post teams stay aligned.

How this calculator estimates data rate

ARRIRAW mode

For ARRIRAW, the estimate is based on resolution, frame rate, bit depth, and a compression ratio:

bits/second = width × height × fps × bit depth ÷ compression ratio

This gives a clean technical approximation useful for prep and media planning. Real-world rates can vary slightly by camera model, sensor mode, and metadata overhead.

ProRes mode

For ProRes, the calculator starts from a UHD 24 fps reference bitrate for each profile and scales by pixel count and frame rate. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed fixed stream rate.

• ProRes 4444 XQ: highest quality, largest files
• ProRes 4444 / 422 HQ: common premium acquisition choices
• ProRes 422 / LT / Proxy: lower bandwidth and easier turnaround

ARRIRAW vs ProRes: practical planning guidance

Choose ARRIRAW when

• You need maximum grading latitude and VFX flexibility.
• The project demands deep highlight recovery and strong post control.
• You have enough media, backup throughput, and archive budget.

Choose ProRes when

• You need faster dailies and lighter post infrastructure.
• Turnaround time matters more than ultimate RAW flexibility.
• You want high quality with more predictable storage requirements.

Workflow tips for production and DIT teams

• Add overhead: 5–15% is a common safety margin for metadata, audio tracks, and operational variance.
• Plan for peaks: high fps scenes can spike media demand dramatically.
• Check throughput: verify card readers, RAID write speed, and backup software concurrency.
• Build redundancy: on-set copy + nearline backup + off-site backup should be mapped before day one.
• Coordinate with post: confirm deliverable specs so acquisition choices stay aligned with final output.

Example use case

Say you’re shooting Open Gate 4.6K ARRIRAW at 24 fps with a 1.6:1 compression estimate and a two-hour block. In seconds, this calculator gives:

• Estimated MB/s for monitoring ingest bandwidth
• Per-minute and per-hour storage footprint
• Total storage for that block including overhead
• Approximate runtime per 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB media size

Those numbers are enough to validate your card rotation and offload schedule before the camera rolls.

Final note

This ARRI data rate calculator is designed for fast planning, budgeting, and on-set decision support. Always verify final record rates against the exact camera model, recording mode, and manufacturer documentation in your pipeline. Estimates are excellent for preparation—spec sheets are the final authority.