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MEDIA

Media Capture & Delivery (ProRes 422)

All projects are captured and delivered in Apple ProRes 422, a professional, high-bitrate codec trusted across film, broadcast, and post-production workflows. ProRes 422 preserves color depth, motion detail, and image integrity far beyond compressed formats, ensuring your footage is clean, flexible, and future-proof for editing.

Because ProRes files are significantly larger than compressed codecs, client-owned media is required for delivery. Footage is transferred to either a SanDisk SSD (recommended) or SD cards, depending on your preference and timeline.

The total storage required depends on:

  • Total recording time

  • Frame rate (30 fps vs 60 fps)

  • Number of cameras in use (4-camera or 8-camera configurations)

ProRes 422 Storage Requirements

1080p capture — per camera

The estimates below are conservative, real-world averages designed to prevent running out of space during a session.

1080p @ 30 fps (ProRes 422)

≈ 65 GB per hour, per camera

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Media Type.         Capacity.                 Approx. Record Time

SD Card.               256 GB.                   ~4 hours

SD Card.               512 GB.                   ~8 hours

SanDisk SSD.        2 TB.                       ~30 hours

SanDisk SSD.        4 TB.                       ~60 hours

1080p @ 60 fps (ProRes 422)

≈ 130 GB per hour, per camera

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Media Type.          CapacityApprox.          Record Time

SD Card.                256 GB.                        ~2 hours

SD Card.                512 GB.                        ~4 hours

SanDisk SSD.        2 TB.                             ~15 hours

SanDisk SSD.        4 TB.                             ~30 hours

Media Pricing (Client-Owned)

SD Cards — Immediate Delivery Option

  • 256 GB SD Card – $40 (each)

  • 512 GB SD Card – $90 (each)

SanDisk SSD — Recommended

  • 2 TB SSD – $223

  • 4 TB SSD – $459

SD Card Cost by Camera Configuration

Because each camera records to its own SD card, total cost scales with camera count. Below are simple examples based on your chosen configuration.

4-Camera Setup

SD Card Size.            Cards Needed.           Total Cost

256 GB.                      4 cards.                       $160

512 GB.                      4 cards.                       $360

8-Camera Setup

SD Card Size.             Cards Needed.          Total Cost

256 GB.                       8 cards.                       $320

512 GB.                       8 cards.                       $720

This comparison helps explain why SSD delivery becomes more economical as camera count and recording time increase.

A Quick Reality Check: 4 Cameras vs 8 Cameras

Storage adds up per camera, not per shoot. Here’s a simple way to think about it.

 

Example: 1080p @ 60 fps (ProRes 422)

  • 1 camera = ~130 GB per hour

 

4-Camera Setup

  • 1 hour ≈ 520 GB

  • 2 hours ≈ 1.04 TB

  • 3 hours ≈ 1.56 TB

➡ A 2 TB SSD comfortably covers a typical 2–3 hour, 4-camera session. 

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8-Camera Setup

  • 1 hour ≈ 1.04 TB

  • 2 hours ≈ 2.08 TB

  • 3 hours ≈ 3.12 TB

➡ A 4 TB SSD is the practical choice for longer or higher-energy 8-camera productions.

A Quick Reality Check: 4 Cameras vs 8 Cameras

Storage adds up per camera, not per shoot. Here’s a simple way to think about it.

 

Example: 1080p @ 60 fps (ProRes 422)

  • 1 camera = ~130 GB per hour

 

4-Camera Setup

  • 1 hour ≈ 520 GB

  • 2 hours ≈ 1.04 TB

  • 3 hours ≈ 1.56 TB

➡ A 2 TB SSD comfortably covers a typical 2–3 hour, 4-camera session. 

​

8-Camera Setup

  • 1 hour ≈ 1.04 TB

  • 2 hours ≈ 2.08 TB

  • 3 hours ≈ 3.12 TB

➡ A 4 TB SSD is the practical choice for longer or higher-energy 8-camera productions.

How SD Cards Are Used on Longer Sessions

If SD cards reach capacity during recording, footage is securely copied to your SanDisk SSD on site, allowing recording to continue without interruption. SD cards act as capture media, while the SSD becomes the master delivery drive.

This workflow ensures:

  • No lost footage

  • No downtime during recording

  • A clean, consolidated final handoff

One-Time Purchase Advantage

  • SD card purchases are a one-time cost
    If we work together again, your SD cards can be reused — no need to repurchase.

  • SanDisk SSDs are reusable across projects
    Many clients maintain a dedicated SSD for future sessions, archiving, or ongoing collaboration.

SD Cards vs SanDisk SSD — What’s the Difference?

SD Card Delivery

  • ✔ Immediate handoff at the end of the shoot

  • ✔ No copying or duplication time

  • ✔ You can leave with your footage right away

  • ❗ Higher cost per gigabyte

  • ❗ Limited capacity for longer sessions / Transfer footage to SSD during shoot. 

SanDisk SSD Delivery

  • ✔ Best value for large ProRes files

  • ✔ Ideal for long or multi-camera productions

  • ✔ Clean, single-drive delivery

  • ❗ Requires data transfer time

  • ❗ Typically ready for pickup the following day

B-Roll Bundle Media Note

If you choose to add our B-Roll Bundle, those cameras record internally to microSD cards. These cards are a separate, one-time media purchase, and—just like SD cards for main cameras—can be reused on future projects if we work together again.

In Short

If speed and immediacy matter most, SD cards allow you to walk away with your footage the same day.
If capacity, value, and scalability are the priority, a SanDisk SSD is the most efficient solution for ProRes 422 delivery, especially for 4-camera and 8-camera shoots.

We’re always happy to help you choose the right media based on your shoot length, camera count, and production goals.

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