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For one continuously recorded stream over 30 days, plan on about 316 GB per Mbps of average bitrate before adding reserve space. At 4 Mbps, for example, the estimate is about 1.27 TB; at 8 Mbps, about 2.53 TB. The title alone cannot tell you the bitrate: check OBS’s recording settings or measure a representative file, then add room for variation and other files.
How much storage do I need to record 24/7 for 30 days?
NVIDIA’s published formula estimates storage from bitrate and duration: Storage (GB) = (Bitrate (Mbps) × Duration (seconds)) / 8 / 1024. For continuous recording over 30 days, that works out to about 316.40625 GB per Mbps. These are calculated estimates for one stream recorded 24 hours a day, not measurements of your PC or a claim about children’s videos generally.
| Average bitrate | Estimated storage for 30 days |
|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | About 316 GB |
| 2 Mbps | About 633 GB (0.63 TB) |
| 4 Mbps | About 1.27 TB |
| 6 Mbps | About 1.90 TB |
| 8 Mbps | About 2.53 TB |
NVIDIA’s version 3.0.0 documentation gives 84.375 GB per stream per day at 8 Mbps; multiplied by 30 days, that is 2,531.25 GB before a buffer. See NVIDIA’s Video IO & Storage documentation.
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How to find the bitrate for your children’s videos
Children’s content does not have one standard bitrate. Your recording encoder, quality setting, output resolution, audio tracks, and the video itself all affect file size. If the encoder uses variable bitrate or a quality-based setting, the average can differ between videos. Use the configured bitrate only when it is a meaningful fixed value; otherwise, measure a representative recording.
- Check OBS output settings. In OBS, open Settings > Output and review whether recording uses the stream settings (“Same as stream”) or separate recording encoder and quality settings. OBS says “Same as stream” uses the streaming video encoder’s settings; other recording presets can produce larger files and some choices can affect performance.
- Check recording resolution and audio tracks. Confirm the recording output resolution, including whether it is rescaled from the canvas, and which audio tracks are selected for recording. Include every track actually captured in your storage plan.
- Make a representative test recording. Record the kind of video and settings you intend to use, then calculate its average bitrate from the file size and recording duration, or use the configured bitrate if the recording is fixed-rate. A single short sample is an estimate, especially when content or settings vary.
- Scale the estimate to your schedule. Use the average bitrate and actual number of recording days. Add storage for each additional simultaneous recording or separate file you plan to retain.
OBS’s guides explain recording output and encoder presets: Standard Recording Output Guide and Recording Encoder Presets Guide.
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Add reserve space before choosing a drive
Do not plan to fill a drive to the calculated total. NVIDIA advises a 10–20% planning buffer because encoding efficiency and variable-bitrate behavior can change actual requirements. You may also need extra room for filesystem overhead, additional recordings, or files you keep alongside the stream. Compare the drive’s usable free capacity—not just its advertised capacity—with the estimated total plus your reserve.
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For example, a 30-day, 4 Mbps estimate is about 1.27 TB before reserve. With a 10–20% buffer, plan for roughly 1.39–1.52 TB of usable recording space, before accounting for other files or overhead. Choose internal or external storage based on what fits your PC and recording workflow; no particular capacity is right for every setup.
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Why OBS recording settings can change the answer
Separate recording quality can mean larger files
If OBS records at settings different from the stream, do not assume the live-stream bitrate is also the recording bitrate. Quality-oriented or other encoder presets can produce larger files than “Same as stream.” A representative recording is the best way to estimate a variable-quality setup.
Multiple audio tracks and recordings add up
OBS lets you choose which audio tracks to record. Budget for all selected tracks, and account for every separate recording made at the same time. The one-stream figures in the table do not include additional recordings or tracks as separate allowances.
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Lossless recording is an extreme storage case
OBS describes its Lossless preset as producing around 7 GB per minute and using the CPU encoder. If sustained for 30 days, that approximate rate comes to about 302,400 GB, or roughly 302 TB in decimal units. This is OBS’s published approximate figure, not a measurement of your setup; it is not comparable to the compressed-stream examples in the table. See the OBS Recording Encoder Presets Guide.
Protect long recordings from interruptions
OBS recommends recording to MKV when an unexpected interruption is a concern: an ungracefully stopped recording will not corrupt the whole file. After recording, OBS provides a remux function to convert the file to MP4. Choose a recording format and workflow that suit your editing or playback needs, and make sure you know how to remux before relying on it.
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Troubleshooting storage estimates
- The drive fills sooner than expected: check the actual average bitrate and recording duration, then verify whether OBS is using a separate recording quality setting, higher resolution, or more audio tracks than you budgeted for.
- File sizes vary between days: this can happen with variable-bitrate or quality-based encoding and different video content. Measure more than one representative recording and keep a buffer rather than sizing the drive to the smallest file.
- Your estimate is far above the table: check whether you selected OBS’s Lossless preset. OBS’s approximate 7 GB-per-minute figure implies hundreds of terabytes over a month.
- A recording becomes unusable after a sudden stop: OBS recommends MKV where interruption recovery matters because an ungracefully stopped recording will not corrupt the entire file; use OBS’s remux function afterward if you need MP4.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep a YouTube channel live with uploaded children’s videos, cloud streaming avoids storing a month of continuous recordings on your streaming PC. StreamNeo keeps a YouTube stream running from uploaded videos, not a live camera feed.
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the videos from the cloud.
Nothing has to stay on at home. Any quality up to 4K 60fps streams as uploaded at one flat price per slot, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Visit StreamNeo or start the free first day.
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