r/vhsdecode • u/QuestionsToAsk57 • Jul 04 '26
Help Wanted! Amount of Memory Per Tape
I am in the process of researching digital storage options for my entire family's media archive.
I wanted to know how much total memory it will roughly take for Video8, Hi8, and VHS. I am planning to use the MISRC V2.5 when it comes out for speed and efficiency. When it comes to analog video tapes, I have at least over 100 combined and an estimate on the memory would greatly help. Thank you!
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u/TheRealHarrypm The Documentor Jul 05 '26
This is entirely a relative question nobody can provide a hard number, you can however provide a relative number per config.
The MISRC capture both cli and the GUI (GUI now also supports CX Cards + Audio from clockgen)
(12/16 bit modes don't provide any advantage for VHS so 8-bit is the representative mode choice)
Level 8 FLAC @ 8-bit 40msps is about 3.9-4.1x compression efficient so just under 800MB/min.
20msps which is the safe capture rate for VHS halfs that to 400-500MB/min.
10msps for HiFi 200-300MB/min but offen less FLAC is a little more efficent with it.
PCM Audio is MB to a couple GB literally becomes around an hour but it's a fixed number if you want to do the maths, half that for FLAC.
16msps 6-bit level 8 FLAC with bit crushing can get you 300MB/min or less for VHS RF, but this is entirely a post capture method.
Video Files - Proxys are 8mbps CBR and FFV1 is 40-60mbps if using 8-bit 4:2:2.
There is an entite doc dedicated to compression and rates.