What Is a Codec  And Why You Need to Understand It

If you work or want to work in video production, post-production, or broadcast, you’ve likely heard the term codec thrown around in conversations about files, formats, storage, or delivery. Understanding what a codec is and how it affects your workflow is essential in modern media environments.

So, what exactly is a codec?

A codec is a tool that compresses and decompresses digital video (or audio) files. It plays a crucial role in behind-the-scenes TV work, helping your systems handle high-quality, high-resolution content efficiently. When you record or edit video, those files can get very large, especially with today’s high resolutions (like 4K or 8K), high frame rates (like 60fps or 120fps), and deep color bit-depth (10-bit, 12-bit, etc.). Codecs help manage those large files so they’re easier to Store, Transfer, Edit and Deliver.

Without codecs, even a few minutes of RAW footage could take up massive amounts of space and potentially overwhelm your hardware.

Why It Matters to You

Understanding codecs isn’t just something for your tech team or engineers to worry about; it has a direct and noticeable impact on your day-to-day workflow. The codec you choose influences how quickly you can edit on your workstation, how much storage you’ll need on your EFS system, and how efficiently you can move or import media files across the network. It can also determine whether your final deliverable meets broadcast  (IMF, DPP, AS11, etc.) specifications and how smoothly your playback and review sessions run.

Using the wrong codec can create unexpected delays, playback glitches, or slow file transfers that disrupt your timeline. On the other hand, the proper codec choice can simplify your entire process, helping your team work faster, collaborate better, and stay focused on creativity.

Whether you’re editing with ProRes, delivering with H.264, or working with RAW formats for maximum flexibility in post, understanding what each codec does and when to use it is essential for a productive, professional media workflow.

Codec Example	Common Use	Benefit
ProRes, DNxHD	Editing and finishing	Maintains quality, easy to edit
H.264, H.265	Web, streaming, delivery	Small file size, widely supported
XDCAM, AVC-Intra	Broadcast environments	Standardized for playout
RAW, BRAW, R3D	High-end camera capture	Maximum flexibility for grading

These are just examples of codecs; each production has its own needs.

Choosing the correct codec affects editing speed, EFS production storage requirements, file sharing, and final deliverables.

Video files are growing in size faster than ever, and codecs are evolving to keep up. One major reason is the rise in resolution. We’re no longer just working in HD but in 4K, 6K, and even 8K. These higher resolutions mean more pixels per frame, translating into significantly more data.

At the same time, frame rates are increasing. Where 24 or 30 frames per second were once the norm, many projects now demand 60fps, 120fps, or even higher, especially for sports, slow-motion, or high-end cinematic content. More frames per second means more data to process and store.

Bit depth has also increased. Modern workflows often rely on 10-bit or 12-bit video, which provides richer color and greater dynamic range. This added precision is a massive benefit for color grading and visual effects, but it also means each frame carries more information.

Beyond the visual aspects, today’s codecs often include more embedded data from multichannel audio and HDR metadata to camera-specific information, adding further weight to each file.

Even though codecs are designed to compress all this data efficiently, the sheer volume of content in modern media means that video files are still much larger than they used to be. This growing size directly impacts storage, network performance, and workflow speed, making it more important than ever to choose the correct codec for your production needs.

What This Means for Your Workflow

• You’ll need more EFS storage space and faster network speeds to keep up.
• Editing systems must be able to handle ultra-high-resolution codecs in real time.
• Proxy workflows (working with lighter versions of your media) are becoming more common.
• EFS Shared storage and collaboration tools must be designed to support the increase in the size and complexity of this media.

Codecs are at the heart of every video production. Whether you’re shooting, editing, storing, or delivering content, your chosen codec is critical in how efficiently your workflow runs.

They manage the balance between quality, performance, and storage, and as video standards evolve with higher resolutions, frame rates, and color depth, codecs carry more data than ever before.

Understanding how codecs work and how they impact your system performance, network load, and storage requirements is no longer optional; it’s essential. The correct codec can mean the difference between a smooth, real-time edit and a frustrating, lag-filled experience.

Whether you’re delivering files to broadcast, streaming content to digital platforms, archiving large volumes of high-res footage, or cutting a feature film with layered effects and grading…

Your codec choices will influence how well your tools and teams perform.

If you’re unsure which codec is best for your setup or how to plan your storage and infrastructure around it, our team is here to help. We’ll help you decode the details so you can focus on creating.