Q-SYS MediaCast Bitrate Calculator
Q-SYS · Raw and stream bitrate for one Q-SYS MediaCast signal.
- Raw bitrate
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- Stream bitrate (Q-SYS MediaCast)
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- Compression ratio
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- Streams on 1 GbE
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- Streams on 10 GbE
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- Recommended link
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- Endpoint power
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Supports up to 420 · 8-bit. Video distribution for conferencing cameras & NVM converters (all PoE).
About Q-SYS MediaCast
Q-SYS MediaCast is a video distribution feature for Q-SYS, carrying conferencing cameras and NVM converters with H.26x-class compression and PoE endpoints.
MediaCast is Q-SYS’s answer to camera and NVM (networked video matrix) distribution: low-bitrate, low-latency video that shares the Q-SYS network, with every endpoint PoE-powered for one-cable installs.
The bitrate is the raw signal divided by the codec ratio (≈150:1 here). A 1080p30 4:2:0 source is about 746 Mbps raw and roughly 5 Mbps on the wire, so MediaCast video is negligible next to the audio and control on the same VLAN.
Worked example
A 1080p30 4:2:0 signal is 746.5 Mbps raw; MediaCast compresses it about 150:1, so the stream is about 5 Mbps. All MediaCast endpoints are PoE.
Frequently asked questions
Is MediaCast a codec or a product?
A Q-SYS video-distribution feature that uses H.26x-class compression, aimed at cameras and NVM converters.
Are MediaCast endpoints PoE?
Yes — the cameras and NVM converters are PoE-powered, so a single network cable carries power, video, audio and control.
MediaCast vs Q-SYS Shift?
Shift is the low-latency, higher-bitrate 1 GbE codec; MediaCast is the low-bitrate H.26x path for cameras and conferencing.
What is the difference between raw and stream bitrate?
Raw is the uncompressed signal (width × height × frame rate × bits per pixel); stream is what the codec actually puts on the wire after compression. The compression ratio is raw ÷ stream.
What do 4:4:4, 4:2:2 and 4:2:0 mean?
They describe chroma subsampling — how much colour detail is kept relative to brightness. 4:4:4 keeps full colour (3× bit depth per pixel), 4:2:2 keeps two-thirds, and 4:2:0 keeps half (1.5×).
Related calculators
- NDI Full Bandwidth Bitrate Calculator
- NDI HX Bitrate Calculator
- H.264 / AVC Bitrate Calculator
- IP Video Bitrate Calculator — compare every codec side by side.
- Switch Configurator — size the switch for these streams.
Disclaimer: bitrates are planning estimates. Confirm final figures with your codec and switch vendor.