Compare the storage costs and data rates between Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) and Apple ProRes for your filmmaking projects.
Comparison Results
| Codec | Estimated Data Rate | Estimated Total Storage | Estimated Storage Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackmagic RAW | 0 MB/s | 0 GB | $0.00 |
| Apple ProRes | 0 MB/s | 0 GB | $0.00 |
Storage Cost Difference: $0.00
What is the BRAW vs. ProRes Cost-Benefit Calculator?
The BRAW vs. ProRes Cost-Benefit Calculator is a specialized tool designed to help filmmakers and production professionals evaluate the financial and practical implications of choosing between Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) and Apple ProRes codecs for their projects. This calculator compares the estimated storage requirements, data rates, and associated storage costs for both codecs based on user-defined parameters like resolution, frame rate, compression, and recording duration. It provides a clear, side-by-side comparison to aid in informed decision-making.
Why Compare BRAW and ProRes?
Both BRAW and ProRes are industry-standard codecs, each offering distinct advantages. The choice between them significantly impacts workflow, storage needs, and ultimately, project costs. Understanding these differences is crucial for:
- Budget Planning: Optimize your storage budget by selecting the most cost-effective codec for your specific project needs.
- Workflow Efficiency: While BRAW offers smaller file sizes, ProRes is often favored for its editing performance on certain systems.
- Quality vs. Size: Balance image quality with manageable file sizes to suit your delivery requirements.
- Hardware Requirements: Different codecs may demand different storage speeds and processing power.
This tool helps you quantify the storage implications, allowing you to make a strategic choice that aligns with both your creative and financial goals.
How to Use the BRAW vs. ProRes Cost-Benefit Calculator
- Select Resolution: Choose your intended recording resolution (e.g., 4K, 6K, 8K, 12K, 1080p).
- Input Frame Rate: Enter the frames per second (fps) you will be recording at.
- Choose BRAW Compression: Select your desired BRAW compression ratio (e.g., 3:1, 5:1, Q0, Q5).
- Select ProRes Codec: Choose the specific Apple ProRes variant you are considering (e.g., ProRes RAW, ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 422 LT).
- Set Recording Duration: Input the estimated total recording time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
- Enter Storage Cost per TB: Provide an average cost per Terabyte for your storage media (e.g., SSDs, HDDs).
- Click Compare: The tool will display a table comparing the estimated data rates, total storage, and storage costs for both BRAW and ProRes, along with the cost difference.
The data rates used are approximations based on common industry figures and official specifications. Actual results may vary slightly depending on specific camera models, firmware, and scene complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
BRAW (Blackmagic RAW): A partially de-mosaiced RAW format, offering smaller file sizes than traditional RAW while retaining much of the flexibility. It's optimized for Blackmagic cameras and DaVinci Resolve. ProRes (Apple ProRes): A high-quality, intra-frame codec designed for editing efficiency. It's widely supported across NLEs and offers excellent image quality with manageable file sizes, but generally larger than BRAW for comparable quality.
Both codecs offer excellent image quality suitable for professional productions. BRAW, being a RAW format, provides maximum flexibility in post-production for color grading and exposure adjustments. ProRes maintains high visual fidelity with less post-production flexibility than RAW but is highly optimized for editing performance.
ProRes is generally considered more editing-friendly due to its intra-frame compression, which requires less processing power for playback and scrubbing. BRAW is also highly optimized for editing, especially within DaVinci Resolve, but can be more demanding on system resources, particularly at higher resolutions and lower compression.
Higher data rates and larger file sizes require more storage media (SSDs, HDDs). Over the course of a project or multiple projects, the cost of acquiring and managing this storage can become a significant part of the budget. This calculator helps highlight these potential cost differences.
The data rates are based on official specifications and common industry benchmarks. While they are highly accurate for planning purposes, actual data rates can vary slightly due to factors like scene complexity (especially with BRAW Q-modes), camera firmware, and specific recording conditions.
Yes, you can transcode BRAW footage to ProRes (or vice-versa, though less common) in post-production using software like DaVinci Resolve. However, transcoding involves re-encoding, which can be time-consuming and may result in some generational loss of quality, depending on the settings.
No, this calculator primarily focuses on storage and data rate costs. While workflow efficiency (e.g., faster editing with ProRes or more flexible grading with BRAW) can lead to significant time and labor savings in post-production, these are harder to quantify and are not included in this specific tool.
This calculator specifically compares BRAW and ProRes. DNxHD/HR are Avid-developed codecs with their own characteristics. While similar comparisons could be made, they are not included in this tool. You can find separate calculators for DNxHD/HR on this site.
Blackmagic Design cameras natively record BRAW. While some can also record ProRes, BRAW is their proprietary format. Other camera manufacturers (e.g., ARRI, Canon, Sony) often record to ProRes or their own proprietary RAW formats. Your camera system often dictates which codecs are natively available.
No, neither BRAW nor ProRes is objectively "better" than the other; they are optimized for different workflows and priorities. BRAW excels in RAW flexibility and storage efficiency for Blackmagic cameras, while ProRes is a robust, widely compatible editing codec. The "best" choice depends on your specific camera, post-production pipeline, and project requirements.