What is bitrate? It is the amount of data used to store each second of audio or video, usually counted in kilobits per second, or kbps. A higher bitrate generally keeps more detail and makes a bigger file, while a lower one saves space at some cost to quality.
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Key facts
- File size follows directly from bitrate and length: kilobits per second times seconds, divided by eight, gives kilobytes.
- A constant bitrate holds the same rate throughout; a variable one raises and lowers it to match how complex the sound is.
- Uncompressed audio has a fixed high bitrate, set by sample rate, bit depth and channel count.
- For speech, a modest rate is often enough because the voice carries far less information than music.
What it looks like
size_MB = bitrate_kbps * seconds / 8 / 1000
64 kbps * 3600 s / 8 / 1000 = 28.8 MB (one hour)
128 kbps * 3600 s / 8 / 1000 = 57.6 MB (one hour)
64 kbps * 10800 s / 8 / 1000 = 86.4 MB (three hours)
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate file size from bitrate?
Multiply the bitrate in kbps by the duration counted as seconds, then divide by eight. At 64 kbps, one hour comes to about 28.8 MB.
Is a higher bitrate always better?
Not always. Above a certain point, extra data adds little that a listener or a recogniser can use, and the file simply gets larger.
What bitrate suits a voice recording?
Speech stays clear at fairly low rates with a good codec. Choose a rate that keeps consonants intact, and test one short clip before converting a whole archive.
Does bitrate change the transcript?
Very low rates smear quiet sounds and can raise the error count. Moderate rates leave recognition about the same as the original for clear speech.
Will my file fit under the bot's limit?
The Potok bot accepts files up to 2 GB. Estimate the size with the bitrate formula, and use the Upload button in the mini app for large ones.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Bit rate (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Audio codec (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
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