Silent Way's Digital Audio Disk Space Calculator is a must-have for anyone who records digital audio. It allows you to enter the running time of your uncompressed audio, and it will calculate the hard drive storage requirements for any bit/sample rate combination. It also calculates the number of CD-Rs/DVD-Rs you'll need to back it up. It's easy, powerful, reusable, and only a dollar! See below for download instructions.

Here's how it works...

First, enter three things: the running time, how many tracks (2 for stereo), and how many takes. You can enter up to 16 separate recordings.

The calculator instantly spits out totals for each song and for the whole project. Results are given as 16bit/44.1k, 16bit/48k, 24bit/44.1k and 24bit/48k.

If you want values for other sample rates (88.2/96/176.4/192) or storage media you can even change the constants used by the calculator.

It just requires Microsoft Excel to run, and it works on Mac or PC. Silent Way's Digital Audio Disk Space Calculator only costs one US dollar. Such a deal!

(The calculator itself is the same for Mac or PC. The only difference is the archive type. Mac= stuffit, PC = zip.)

Check these links if you need Microsoft Excel (available alone or as part of Office), or the free Stuffit Expander:

For bug reports/feedback or to be informed of updates, contact Silent Way.

For a list of constants, see this MOTU note. See this tip for compressed file formats like MP3.

For guidelines on digital audio file interchange, please read the Recording Academy Producers and Engineers Wing's Delivery Recommendations for Master Recordings and Guidelines for Pro Tools Session Interchange.

Revision History:

1.4 (6/3/06)
• Many interface design improvements for easier use, cleaner look and better printing.
• Expanded instructions and incorporated revision history.
• Updated contact information.
• Repackaged for sale.

1.3 (10/14/03)
• Changed DVD-R capacity from 4.3 to 4.38 GB.
• Changed "track 1" etc to "record 1" etc.
• Rephrased instructions.

1.2 (4/26/03)
First public release.

1.0 (2002)
Project taken over by Tony Brooke of silentway.com.
Complete rebuild from scratch, unreleased.

Beta (1999)
Beta version by Gordon Brislawn, unreleased.

The original idea for this was by Gordon Brislawn of TimeTrap/eMuse Arts in 1999. Tony Brooke rebuilt and expanded the concept in 2002, and has maintained it since then.

For tips on how to calculate the size/time of MP3s or other compressed file formats, see this tip in the Silent Way Forum.

And don't miss Silent Way's Ultimate Track Sheet, another essential download for your sessions!