Recording Time Calculator
See how many minutes of uncompressed audio fit on a card or drive from the sample rate, bit depth, channels and free space. Runs entirely in your browser.
Recording time (uncompressed)
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Show the math
Divide the available space by how fast uncompressed audio fills it:
seconds = capacity ÷ (rate × bit depth × channels ÷ 8)
Capacity uses decimal megabytes (1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes), matching how card and drive sizes are quoted. Compressed formats record many times longer.
Everything is calculated in your browser.
What this does
A recording time calculator shows how many minutes of uncompressed audio fit on a card or drive from the sample rate, bit depth, channels, and free space.
How to use it
- Enter the sample rate and bit depth.
- Set the channel count.
- Enter the free space.
- Read the recording time.
How it works
Divide free space by the data rate, assuming uncompressed PCM. Capacity uses decimal MB (1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes); compressed formats fit many times more.
seconds = capacity ÷ (sample rate × bit depth × channels ÷ 8)
Understanding your result
The minutes shown assume uncompressed audio, so it is a safe, conservative floor, you will fit far more if you record or export to a compressed format. It uses decimal megabytes to match how cards and drives are sold, and you should leave a safety margin rather than filling a card to the last minute, since a full card mid-take can lose a recording.
Example
A 32 GB card holds about 50 hours of 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo WAV.
Sources & methodology
Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
How is recording time calculated?
Divide the free space by the data rate: seconds = capacity ÷ (sample rate × bit depth × channels ÷ 8). The result assumes uncompressed PCM audio.
Are megabytes decimal or binary here?
Capacity uses decimal megabytes (1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes), matching how memory cards and drives are advertised.
Will I really get this much?
It is the uncompressed maximum. Recording to a compressed format fits many times more, and a little space is always lost to the file system.
Do you store my numbers?
No. Everything is calculated locally in your browser.
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