DNxHR HQ storage requirements
One hour of DNxHR HQ in UHD at 25p takes 293 GB. The table below runs the numbers for every common resolution and frame rate — including how many cards and how much backup volume a shoot day actually needs. The same data rates apply to DNxHR HQX — those formats differ in bit depth or structure, not in storage footprint.
Footage Storage Calculator
- Footage per day
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- With all copies
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- Cards needed
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- Offload time (1 copy)
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Data rates: ProRes/DNxHR are per-frame constants from the Apple/Avid specs; RAW derives from resolution × bytes/pixel (nominal). Details further down this page.
DNxHR HQ: GB per hour
DNxHR HQ is per-frame constant (3.33 MB per UHD frame per the spec) — the data rate scales linearly with frame rate and pixel count. That is why 50p is exactly twice 25p, and 8K four times UHD.
| Resolution | 24p | 25p | 30p | 50p | 60p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 1920×1080 | 70 | 73 | 88 | 146 | 176 |
| UHD 3840×2160 | 281 | 293 | 351 | 585 | 702 |
| 4K DCI 4096×2160 | 300 | 312 | 375 | 624 | 749 |
| 6K 6144×3240 | 674 | 702 | 843 | 1,405 | 1,686 |
| 8K 8192×4320 | 1,199 | 1,249 | 1,499 | 2,498 | 2,997 |
From GB to a shoot day
A typical shoot day produces 2–4 hours of footage per camera. At DNxHR HQ in UHD 25p that is 585–1,171 GB per camera — before copies. With 3-2-1 backup (three copies) it multiplies to 2.6 TB per three hours of material. The table runs three full shoot-day scenarios:
| Footage | Raw data | 1 TB cards | 3-2-1 volume | Offload per copy (400 MB/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 h | 585 GB | 1 | 1.71 TB | 25 min |
| 4 h | 1.14 TB | 2 | 3.43 TB | 50 min |
| 8 h | 2.29 TB | 3 | 6.86 TB | 1 h 40 min |
Planning offload and backup
Offload is the underrated line: securing a 1 TB card over a 400 MB/s link takes about 42 minutes per copy. Book the DIT only for wrap and you have booked a night shift.
In the schedule this number belongs in two places: as a card budget on the equipment list and as an offload window in the day plan. TillyGen keeps both in the same plan — change the shooting hours and the offload window moves with them.
Frequently asked
How much storage does 1 hour of DNxHR HQ need?
In UHD at 25p: 293 GB. At 50p, double that. Every resolution is in the table above.
Are the numbers exact?
ProRes/DNxHR are specified target rates; real files land within a few percent. For capacity planning, use the nominal value plus 10 % headroom.