Understanding Internet Speeds and ShadeFS Storage

In order to have a smooth experience editing with ShadeFS, it's important to understand the relationship between your internet speed and the bitrate of the media you are accessing. The higher the bitrate, the more bandwidth will be required.

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Bitrate vs. Internet Speed

1. What is Bitrate?

Bitrate refers to the amount of data processed per unit of time in a media file, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). It determines the quality and clarity of video playback.

2. What is Internet Speed?

Internet speed dictates how quickly data can be transferred from the internet to your device, also measured in Mbps. For smooth playback, your internet speed should be equal to or greater than the bitrate of the media file.

If the bitrate surpasses your internet speed, buffering, lag, or interruptions may occur.

ShadeFS will intelligently cache files and parts of your media as data is accessed, you can see more in our Introduction to ShadeFS and Managing the ShadeFS Cache, in poor bandwidth conditions, we highly recommend Pinning Files Offline

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Recommendations for Smooth Playback

1. Match or Exceed Bitrate: Your internet speed should be at least equal to the media’s bitrate for uninterrupted playback.

   Example: A 500 Mbps video requires at least a 500 Mbps internet connection.

2. Account for Other Activities: Streaming, downloads, and other devices can reduce available bandwidth, so factor these into your internet speed calculations.

3. Use Wired Over Wireless: A wired connection provides faster and more stable speeds compared to Wi-Fi, reducing latency and buffering.

4. Check Your Speed: Run an internet speed test to determine your real-time bandwidth.

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Calculating Your Video’s Bitrate

To estimate the bitrate of a video file, consider these key factors:

• Resolution: Common formats include:

  • 1080p (Full HD) - 1920x1080

  • 4K (Ultra HD) - 3840x2160

  • 8K (Ultra HD) - 7680x4320

• Compression Ratio: Determines how much the file has been compressed (e.g., 10:1 means the file size is reduced to one-tenth of its original size).

• File Format: Codec or compression method used (e.g., H.264, ProRes, BRAW).

Editing Tip: If playing back a video at 50% quality in Premiere Pro, halve the required bitrate for smoother playback.

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Example Bitrates and Recommended Internet Speeds

Here are common bitrates on resolutions

Resolution	Typical Bitrate (Mbps)	Recommended Internet Speed (Mbps)
1080p (H.264)	8 - 15 Mbps	25+ Mbps
1080p (ProRes)	100 - 300 Mbps	100+ Mbps
4K (H.264)	35 - 100 Mbps	100+ Mbps
4K (ProRes)	500 - 1500 Mbps	1 Gbps+
8K (H.264)	80 - 200 Mbps	200+ Mbps
8K (ProRes)	2000 - 5000+ Mbps	5 Gbps+

Here are common bitrates based on common cameras with maximum specs:

Camera Model	Resolution	Typical Bitrate (Mbps)	Recommended Internet Speed (Mbps)
Sony FX3 / FX6 / FX9	4K XAVC-I	300 - 600 Mbps	1 Gbps+
Blackmagic Pocket 4K / 6K / 6K Pro	4K / 6K BRAW	500 - 2700 Mbps	3 Gbps+
Fujifilm X-H2S / X-T5	4K H.265	200 - 400 Mbps	500+ Mbps
Canon EOS R5 / C70	8K RAW	2600 - 5400 Mbps	5 Gbps+
Canon EOS R6 Mark II	4K H.264	100 - 170 Mbps	300+ Mbps

If you are using cloud storage, latency, jitter, and the region that you have chosen for your cloud storage may also impact performance. The farther away you are from your region selected, the slower the playback may be.

A stable, low-latency connection improves playback quality. So, we recommend you set up a wired connection when doing hard editing especially on non-proxied assets.

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Final Thoughts

• Ensure your internet speed matches or exceeds media bitrate.

• Utilize wired connections for best performance.

• Leverage Shade's pinning feature for low-bandwidth conditions.