How Many Hours of Video Fit in 58 Terabytes?

When dealing with video storage, the question of how many hours of video you can store in a given amount of storage space is quite common. Specifically, how many hours of video can fit into 58 terabytes (TB)? This article explores the factors involved in calculating video duration based on storage size, including video resolution and compression codec.

Understanding Video Storage

Video files are large in size due to the high amount of data used to capture and encode the video frames. The storage capacity required for a video can vary significantly based on multiple factors such as the video resolution (4K, 1080p, 720p, etc.), the bitrate of the video, and the quality of the compression codec used.

Factors Affecting Video Storage

Video Resolution

The resolution of the video plays a crucial role in determining the storage requirements. Higher resolutions mean larger file sizes. For example:

720p HD: Approximately 600 MB to 1 GB per hour of video 1080p Full HD: Approximately 1.5 GB to 2 GB per hour of video 4K Ultra HD: Approximately 3 GB to 4 GB per hour of video

Compression Codec

The compression codec also significantly affects the storage requirements. Common codecs include H.264, H.265, and ProRes. More compression means smaller file sizes. Here are some common codecs and their approximate storage requirements:

H.264: Can reduce a 1080p video to about 10-20% of its original size H.265 (HEVC): Can reduce a 1080p video to about 50-60% of its original size ProRes: Offers a balance between quality and file size, typically 20-40% of the original size

Calculating Storage Duration

Given the storage capacity of 58 terabytes, let's break down the calculation based on different video resolutions and codecs:

720p HD

Assuming a bitrate of 1.5 GB per hour:

1 TB 1,024 GB 58 TB 58,704 GB 58,704 GB / 1.5 GB per hour 39,136 hours

For a 720p HD video, 58 TB can store approximately 39,136 hours of video.

1080p Full HD with H.264 Compression

Assuming a bitrate of 2 GB per hour with H.264 compression, which reduces the size to 1 GB per hour:

1 TB 1,024 GB 58 TB 58,704 GB 58,704 GB / 1 GB per hour 58,704 hours

For a 1080p Full HD video with H.264 compression, 58 TB can store approximately 58,704 hours of video.

4K Ultra HD with H.265 Compression

Assuming a bitrate of 4 GB per hour with H.265 compression, which reduces the size to 2 GB per hour:

1 TB 1,024 GB 58 TB 58,704 GB 58,704 GB / 2 GB per hour 29,352 hours

For a 4K Ultra HD video with H.265 compression, 58 TB can store approximately 29,352 hours of video.

Conclusion

The number of hours of video that can fit into 58 terabytes varies depending on the video resolution and the compression codec used. Higher resolutions and better compression techniques will reduce the storage space needed per hour of video, allowing you to store more video duration in the same amount of storage space.

Further Reading

For more detailed information on video storage and optimization, you can refer to the following resources:

Lifehacker: How Much Space Will My Videos Take on My Hard Drive? Slant Review: H.264 vs H.265 Comparison Slate: What Is Compression, and How It Affects Video