Free storage calculator

Know how much space the session needs.

Estimate uncompressed recording and archive storage before a long tracking day, multitrack transfer, or backup.

Calculation assumes uncompressed PCM audio. File headers, metadata, project files, peak caches, backups, and compressed formats add or change storage.

Estimated storage

69.1 MB

One file69.1 MB
All files69.1 MB
With 2× backup207.4 MB

For working storage, keep the active session plus at least two independent copies. Long multitrack recordings also need room for edits, consolidations, renders, and revisions.

The calculation

Uncompressed PCM storage equals sample rate × bit depth × channels × seconds, divided by eight to convert bits to bytes. Doubling sample rate or channel count doubles the result. Moving from 16-bit to 24-bit increases sample data by 50%.

What the estimate does not include

A DAW session also creates project data, waveform caches, fades, alternate takes, rendered effects, exports, and backups. Compressed formats such as FLAC reduce storage without discarding decoded audio data; MP3 and AAC use lossy compression and should not replace production masters.

Plan the archive, not only the recording drive

The “2× backup” result means three total copies: the working data and two additional copies. Keep at least one copy on a separate device, and verify that important sessions can actually be restored before reusing recording media.