RED KOMODO Storage Calculator
The RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X record R3D NE — RED's compressed RAW with four quality tiers (HQ, MQ, LQ, ELQ). This page covers the storage math for both bodies, with bitrates verified against RED's published documentation.
RED KOMODO-X Recording Bitrates (6K S35)
The 2023 KOMODO-X uses CFexpress Type B and supports up to 6K 80fps. R3D NE compression is wavelet-based with four selectable quality levels — bitrate roughly halves with each step down.
| Codec / Quality | Resolution | Frame rate | Bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| R3D NE HQ 12-bit | [S35] 6144×3240 | 60p | 4780 Mbps |
| R3D NE HQ 12-bit | [S35] 6144×3240 | 30p | 2390 Mbps |
| R3D NE HQ 12-bit | [S35] 6144×3240 | 24p | 1912 Mbps |
| R3D NE MQ 12-bit | [S35] 6144×3240 | 24p | 1344 Mbps |
| R3D NE LQ 12-bit | [S35] 6144×3240 | 24p | 840 Mbps |
| R3D NE ELQ 12-bit | [S35] 6144×3240 | 24p | 520 Mbps |
| R3D NE HQ 12-bit | [S35] 4096×2160 | 120p | 4200 Mbps |
| R3D NE HQ 12-bit | [S35] 4096×2160 | 24p | 840 Mbps |
Memory Cards for the RED KOMODO-X
The KOMODO-X records to CFexpress Type B. Sustained write speed matters more than peak — at 6K 80fps HQ the camera demands well over 700 MB/s sustained.
- SanDisk Extreme PRO 512 GB CFexpress Type B — 1700/1200 MB/s. Widely-used pro pick.
- ProGrade Iridium 400 GB Type B — CFexpress 4.0, sustained writes for high-bitrate R3D NE.
- Sony Tough 480 GB Type B (CEB-G) — Tough series, ruggedized.
- Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress 1 TB — Pro reliability, larger capacity for long-form cinema work.
RED KOMODO Storage — Quick Examples
| Setting | 1 minute | 1 hour | 1 TB card holds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6K 24p R3D NE HQ | 14.3 GB | 860 GB | ~70 min |
| 6K 60p R3D NE HQ | 35.9 GB | 2.15 TB | ~28 min |
| 6K 24p R3D NE LQ | 6.3 GB | 378 GB | ~2 hr 39 min |
| 4K 120p R3D NE HQ | 31.5 GB | 1.89 TB | ~32 min |
KOMODO vs KOMODO-X
The original RED KOMODO (2020) and KOMODO-X (2023) share the same R3D NE compression, but the X drops CFast 2.0 in favor of CFexpress Type B and pushes the 6K frame rate cap from 40fps to 80fps. For pure resolution math, 6K 24p R3D NE HQ is identical at 1912 Mbps on both — but the original KOMODO can't sustain 6K 60p.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bitrate does the RED KOMODO record at?
The KOMODO-X records 6K S35 (6144×3240) R3D NE 12-bit at up to 4780 Mbps at 60p HQ, 3360 Mbps in MQ, 2100 Mbps in LQ. 6K 24p HQ is 1912 Mbps. The original KOMODO 6K (2020) caps at 40fps in 6K (3187 Mbps HQ) and uses CFast 2.0 media.
How much storage per hour at 6K?
At 6K 24p R3D NE HQ (1912 Mbps), 860 GB per hour. At 6K 60p HQ (4780 Mbps), 2.15 TB per hour. LQ drops the per-hour rate by ~55% compared to HQ at the same frame rate.
What media does the RED KOMODO use?
The KOMODO-X (2023) records to CFexpress Type B. The original KOMODO 6K (2020) records to CFast 2.0 — an older, slower format.
What are the R3D NE compression quality levels?
RED's R3D NE codec offers four quality levels: HQ (highest), MQ (medium), LQ (light), and ELQ (extra light). Each step roughly halves the bitrate. All preserve the raw debayer; only the compression ratio changes.