How much storage do i need to download a movie

what makes movie files so big?

There are many factors that go into creating large video files. these include:

• video length: The shorter the length of the movie, the smaller the size of the video. Of course, a 20-minute YouTube vlog is a smaller file than a feature film, but even an animated short film is made up of larger files than, say, a mini-documentary of the same length.

• resolution: Also known as “pixel size”, resolution is technically the number of pixels per unit area, but ultimately refers to “the number of pixels arranged horizontally and vertically on a monitor.” the number of pixels affects the quality of the video, which then affects the size of the video file. the higher the quality of the movie, the more pixels make up the image and the larger the file size. the frame rate of the video will also play a role in the resolution.

• format: The format of a video plays the biggest role in its quality and final file size, and certain broadcasters or streaming services have different minimum standards for delivery. formats range from user-friendly to professional, and others are geared towards content creators of all levels. for example, highly compressed mp4 or mkv file types are often targeted at end media consumers. the format is made up of two components, both of which guide the size of your file:
  • codec: this combination of “coder” and “ decoder” refers to how your files are encoded (compressed for storage or sending) and then decompressed (for playback and editing). It can be computer code or hardware, like your camera, that dictates the digital format of the file and how is compressed for editing, viewing, storage, or transfer the most widely used codec on the web today is h.264.
  • containers: it can be helpful to think of the container as the type for example .mov or .mp4 this is the complete bundle of all your files (audio, image, etc.) together as one the container will sometimes also include metadata such as author, frame rate, dates and general file information Other popular containers include ogg, mkv, and avi.
  • frame rate: Also called “frames per second” and usually abbreviated to fps, this is the rate at which consecutive images (called frames) appear on a screen and form moving pictures. the video content we consume on a daily basis doesn’t actually move; instead, all videos are made up of images that are played one after another. if a video is recorded at 24 fps, this means that 24 individual frames are played in one second. while the standard for consumer video is 30 feet per second, the standard fps rate varies by medium depending on many other factors.
  • camera choice: cameras capture different file sizes simply because of the quality, size, and detail included. a higher resolution camera will generate larger file sizes than a more basic camera.
  • Innovations: Other innovations, like the next generation television, offer even more in the way of an improved experience. this emerging technology offers 4k ultra high definition and interactive features. The film and broadcast industries are constantly improving and evolving to stay competitive, which means more features, higher resolution, and ideally a better viewing experience.

  improve speed of video file transfer

  There is no best way, only the best way for your particular project. do you have more time than storage? more money than time? the key is the agility of production.

  The continued growth in video file sizes is paralleled by growing concerns about how to manage these extra-large files without losing quality or data. Large file sizes generally result in additional processing requirements, including more storage space on memory cards or hard drives, and longer processing times for saving, copying, and transferring movie files.

  Getting the best possible quality can come with trade-offs. says director of marketing for professional video matt feury, “there is no best way, only the best way for your particular project. do you have more time than storage? more money than time? the key is the agility of projection”. but compromises can also have negative results.

  Related reading: File transfer for live events

  One of the most common tools used to simplify data movement is file compression, but it is not the ultimate solution. Compressing videos adds complications, including data loss, which can result in lower quality files to work with. the choice to compress video files should take into account resolution, frame rate, and any visual preferences.

  The goal is always to deliver the best possible end product on budget and on schedule. that’s where filecatalyst comes in for transferring video files.

  Related reading: How filecatalyst and scale logic team up to speed up media file transfers

  Using a fast file transfer solution like filecatalyst can reduce the amount of tradeoffs you make while shooting and editing your video files. fast file transfer solutions are suitable for transferring extremely large files over long distances, meaning you can create longer movies at higher resolutions without worrying about how you’re going to get the data from a to b.