Bitrate
The amount of data used per second in a media file — higher bitrate means better quality but larger file size.
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What Is Bitrate?
Bitrate is the amount of data encoded per second of media, measured in kilobits per second (kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). It directly controls the trade-off between quality and file size: double the bitrate = double the file size = roughly double the quality headroom.
Bitrate and File Size
File size = bitrate × duration ÷ 8
A 10-minute video at 8 Mbps: 8,000,000 × 600 ÷ 8 = 600 MB The same video at 2 Mbps: 2,000,000 × 600 ÷ 8 = 150 MB
Video Bitrate Reference
| Resolution | Recommended Bitrate | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 480p | 1–2.5 Mbps | Mobile, low bandwidth |
| 720p (HD) | 2.5–5 Mbps | Standard streaming |
| 1080p (Full HD) | 5–12 Mbps | YouTube, Vimeo |
| 1440p (2K) | 10–20 Mbps | High-quality streaming |
| 2160p (4K) | 25–50 Mbps | 4K streaming, production |
Audio Bitrate Reference
| Bitrate | Quality | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 64–96 kbps | Voice only | Podcasts (voice), phone calls |
| 128 kbps | Acceptable | Background music, radio |
| 192 kbps | Good | General music listening |
| 256–320 kbps | Excellent | High-quality music |
CBR vs VBR
Constant Bitrate (CBR): Every second of the file uses exactly the same bitrate. Simple and compatible. Inefficient — complex scenes get the same data budget as static scenes.
Variable Bitrate (VBR): Bitrate fluctuates based on content complexity. Simple scenes use less data; fast motion or complex detail uses more. Same average quality at smaller file size. Slightly less compatible with older devices.
For streaming and archival, VBR is almost always the better choice.