BMPCC 4K File Size Guide — Haus of Owl
BMPCC 4K
File Size Reference

Estimated file sizes for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K across all codecs, resolutions, and podcast-relevant durations. Use this to plan your storage and delivery before the shoot.

Haus of Owl
Production Guide
Podcast & YouTube Recommendation
For talking-head, low-motion content with minimal colour grading needs
Resolution
1080p
Excellent on YouTube. Manageable files at all episode lengths.
Frame Rate
30 fps
Standard for interviews and corporate content. Natural look.
Codec
BRAW 8:1
Best balance of quality and file size for podcast-length recordings.
Under 250 GB — cloud delivery available
250–500 GB — physical HD recommended
Over 500 GB — physical HD required
HOO recommended setting
All figures per camera · 30fps · estimated
BRAW — 4K DCI (4096 × 2160)
BRAW

4K RAW files are extremely large. Even at 12:1 compression a 90-minute single-camera episode exceeds our 250GB cloud delivery threshold. Physical HD strongly recommended for all 4K BRAW projects.

Codec Bitrate GB / hr 30 min 45 min 60 min 90 min 120 min
BRAW 3:1Highest quality · max data 270 MB/s 972 GB 486 GB 729 GB 972 GB 1,458 GB 1,944 GB
BRAW 5:1High quality · large files 162 MB/s 583 GB 292 GB 437 GB 583 GB 875 GB 1,166 GB
BRAW 8:1Good quality · more efficient 100 MB/s 360 GB 180 GB 270 GB 360 GB 540 GB 720 GB
BRAW 12:1Most compressed 4K option 66 MB/s 238 GB 119 GB 178 GB 238 GB 356 GB 475 GB
BRAW Q0Variable · max quality · scene-dependent 200–270 MB/s 720–972 GB Variable bitrate — actual size depends on scene complexity
BRAW Q5Variable · good quality · efficient for low-motion 100–162 MB/s 360–583 GB Variable bitrate — podcast content lands at lower end of range
BRAW — 2.6K (2688 × 1512)
BRAW

A middle-ground resolution rarely used for podcast content. Offers slightly smaller files than 4K but still generates large archives at longer durations. More relevant for narrative or commercial shoots.

Codec Bitrate GB / hr 30 min 45 min 60 min 90 min 120 min
BRAW 3:1 114 MB/s 411 GB 205 GB 308 GB 411 GB 616 GB 822 GB
BRAW 5:1 68 MB/s 245 GB 122 GB 183 GB 245 GB 368 GB 490 GB
BRAW 8:1 43 MB/s 155 GB 77 GB 116 GB 155 GB 232 GB 310 GB
BRAW 12:1 29 MB/s 104 GB 52 GB 78 GB 104 GB 157 GB 209 GB
BRAW — 1080p HD (1920 × 1080)
BRAW

The most practical option for podcast and YouTube content. Excellent quality on all screens, manageable file sizes at all episode lengths, and cloud delivery is available in most scenarios.

Codec Bitrate GB / hr 30 min 45 min 60 min 90 min 120 min
BRAW 3:1 44 MB/s 158 GB 79 GB 119 GB 158 GB 238 GB 317 GB
BRAW 5:1 26 MB/s 94 GB 47 GB 70 GB 94 GB 141 GB 188 GB
BRAW 8:1 HOO RECBest balance for podcast at all lengths 16 MB/s 58 GB 29 GB 43 GB 58 GB 86 GB 115 GB
BRAW 12:1Smallest files · still great quality 11 MB/s 40 GB 20 GB 29 GB 40 GB 59 GB 79 GB
ProRes — 4K UHD (3840 × 2160)
PRORES

ProRes 4K generates very large files. This is the codec that produced the 600GB file from a 90-minute single-camera shoot at 422 HQ. Physical HD delivery is almost always required at this resolution.

Codec Bitrate GB / hr 30 min 45 min 60 min 90 min 120 min
ProRes 422 HQHighest quality ProRes · very large files 110 MB/s 396 GB 198 GB 297 GB 396 GB 594 GB 792 GB
ProRes 422Standard ProRes · still very large 73.6 MB/s 265 GB 132 GB 199 GB 265 GB 397 GB 530 GB
ProRes 422 LTMore compressed · good for longer shoots 51 MB/s 184 GB 92 GB 138 GB 184 GB 275 GB 367 GB
ProRes ProxyOffline/proxy use · not for final delivery 22.4 MB/s 81 GB 40 GB 60 GB 81 GB 121 GB 161 GB
ProRes — 1080p HD (1920 × 1080)
PRORES

ProRes 1080p is a solid choice for podcast content when a ProRes workflow is preferred over BRAW. File sizes are manageable and cloud delivery is available at most episode lengths.

Codec Bitrate GB / hr 30 min 45 min 60 min 90 min 120 min
ProRes 422 HQ 27 MB/s 97 GB 49 GB 73 GB 97 GB 146 GB 195 GB
ProRes 422 HOO RECBest ProRes option for podcast · great quality 18 MB/s 65 GB 32 GB 49 GB 65 GB 97 GB 130 GB
ProRes 422 LT 13 MB/s 47 GB 23 GB 35 GB 47 GB 70 GB 94 GB
ProRes ProxyOffline/proxy use only 5.6 MB/s 20 GB 10 GB 15 GB 20 GB 30 GB 40 GB
Notes: All figures are estimates based on official Blackmagic Design bitrate documentation and cross-referenced real-world data. Actual file sizes may vary based on scene complexity — high-motion, high-contrast scenes generate larger files, while low-motion podcast content (talking heads, static backgrounds) typically lands at the lower end of variable bitrate ranges. Frame rate scaling: 24fps files are approximately 20% smaller than the 30fps figures shown above; 60fps files are approximately twice as large. Cloud delivery threshold at HOO is 250GB per single file. All cells marked amber or red require physical hard drive delivery.