Bitrate

Definition

Amount of data recorded or streamed per second.

Advanced

Higher bitrates preserve more detail and reduce compression artefacts. Choice depends on resolution, frame rate, and codec, and can be constant or variable.

Why it matters

Directly affects image quality and file size.

Use cases

• High-detail scenes that need more data
• Streaming where bandwidth limits apply
• Archival masters that require fewer artefacts

Metrics

• 1080p delivery commonly requires 8 to 20 Mbps
• 4K delivery commonly 35 to 100 Mbps, depending on the codec

Issues

• Macro-blocking at low bitrates
• Dropped frames when storage cannot sustain the write speed

Example

Exporting a brand film in 4K at 80 Mbps H.264 for YouTube, with a higher ProRes master for archive.