Music storage calculator for radio AutoDJ
This free music storage calculator estimates how much space your internet radio AutoDJ library needs. At 128 kbps, an hour of audio takes about 55 MB, so 1,000 tracks of 3.5 minutes need roughly 3.1 GB.
Rough guide
- ~500Hobby AutoDJ or weekend shows
- ~2,000Full-time music station catalog
- ~5,000+Large multi-genre library
Estimated library
5.01GB
About 46.7 hours of audio at 256 kbps
With 15% headroom
5.76GB
Recommended when choosing a plan so you can grow the catalog
Formula assumes constant-bitrate audio. Real libraries vary with VBR, artwork, and folder overhead—we add ~15% headroom in the plan match.
How the music storage calculator works
Compressed audio at a constant bitrate takes a predictable amount of space per second, so a library's size follows from its total running time. The planner offers two methods:
- Tracks + bitrate (GB)
- tracks × average minutes × 60 × (bitrate kbps × 1,000 ÷ 8) ÷ 1,073,741,824
- Tracks + file size (GB)
- tracks × average file size (MB) ÷ 1,024
- Size used for the plan match (GB)
- estimated library × 1.15
Bitrate uses 1 kbps = 1,000 bits per second; storage uses binary units, where 1 GB = 1,024 MB = 1,073,741,824 bytes. The planner then suggests the smallest Radiocast plan whose music storage covers your estimate plus 15% headroom. Variable bitrate files, embedded artwork, and tags make real files a little larger or smaller, which is why the headroom is there.
Internet radio storage by bitrate
Use this table for a quick estimate. It assumes constant-bitrate files and an average track length of 3.5 minutes.
| Bitrate | MB per hour of audio | MB per track | Approx. tracks per GB | 1,000 tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 kbps | 27.5 MB | 1.6 MB | 639 | 1.56 GB |
| 96 kbps | 41.2 MB | 2.4 MB | 426 | 2.35 GB |
| 128 kbps | 54.9 MB | 3.2 MB | 319 | 3.13 GB |
| 160 kbps | 68.7 MB | 4.01 MB | 255 | 3.91 GB |
| 192 kbps | 82.4 MB | 4.81 MB | 213 | 4.69 GB |
Planning storage for AutoDJ
AutoDJ plays from the files you upload, so the library needs to fit in your plan's music storage. On Radiocast, Professional includes 10 GB, Small Business 50 GB, and Radiocast Max 75 GB. See how playlists, schedules, and live handoffs work on the AutoDJ hosting page, or compare every plan on internet radio hosting.
Your library encode bitrate and your stream bitrate are separate settings. If you are still deciding what listeners should hear, read how to choose the best bitrate for internet radio and size the stream with the bitrate calculator.
Music storage calculator FAQ
How much storage does an internet radio station need?
It depends on how many tracks you have, how long they are, and the bitrate they are encoded at. At 128 kbps with a 3.5-minute average, 1,000 tracks take about 3.1 GB and 5,000 tracks about 15.6 GB. Leave extra room for jingles, voice tracks, and growth.
How many songs fit in 1 GB?
With a 3.5-minute average track, about 319 songs fit in 1 GB at 128 kbps and about 213 at 192 kbps. Longer tracks or higher bitrates lower that count.
How many MB is one hour of music?
About 41.2 MB at 96 kbps, 54.9 MB at 128 kbps, and 82.4 MB at 192 kbps, using binary megabytes where 1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes.
Does my stream bitrate change how much storage I need?
No. Library storage depends on how the files are encoded on disk, not on the bitrate you stream to listeners. You can keep files at one bitrate and stream at another.
Which Radiocast plan fits my music library?
Professional includes 10 GB of music storage, Small Business 50 GB, and Radiocast Max 75 GB, while Enterprise storage is arranged with our team. The planner adds about 15% headroom to your estimate before it suggests a plan.
Have another question about uploads or AutoDJ? Check the Radiocast FAQ.