MAZENHARD INTERACTIVE NAS PLANNER

Plan the storage for your music NAS

Estimate your future music library, account for RAID and backups, and turn the result into a practical drive and NAS recommendation.

Library growthRAID capacityBackup copiesDrive recommendation

YOUR LIBRARY

Tell us what you store

Adjust any value—the recommendation updates automatically.

YOUR RECOMMENDATION

2-bay NAS with RAID 1

A quiet two-bay system gives this library comfortable room to grow.

Recommended drives2 × 2TBRAID 1 · approximately 2TB usable
Library today0.75 TB
After growth1.51 TB
Target usable space2.06 TB
Backup storage2.06 TB

Why this fits

    Suggested NAS classQuiet ARM two-bay NAS

    Start with the Synology DS223j, QNAP TS-233 or UGREEN DH2300.

    Compare Music Library NAS products →

    This is a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Actual formatted capacity, RAID overhead, snapshots, app data and drive availability vary.

    WHAT THE CALCULATOR INCLUDES

    From music files to practical drive sizes

    01

    Current library

    Track count × estimated average file size, plus 5% for artwork, metadata and playlists.

    02

    Compounded growth

    Each year grows from the previous year, rather than adding the same fixed amount.

    03

    Operating headroom

    A further 30% keeps the volume from beginning its life nearly full.

    04

    RAID conversion

    The target usable capacity is converted into the raw drives required by the selected RAID layout.

    FORMAT GUIDE

    Typical file-size assumptions

    Library typePlanning average10,000 tracksBest use
    MP3 / AAC8 MB per trackAbout 80 GBPortable and efficient
    CD-quality FLAC / ALAC30 MB per trackAbout 300 GBLossless home library
    Mixed lossless + hi-res60 MB per trackAbout 600 GBGrowing audiophile collection
    Hi-res average120 MB per trackAbout 1.2 TB24-bit and high sample rates

    Real file size depends on track length, codec, compression level, sample rate, bit depth, channel count and embedded artwork. Use Custom when you know your library’s average.

    RAID EXPLAINED

    Redundancy changes usable capacity

    2 drives

    RAID 1

    About 50% usable

    Both drives contain the same data. Simple and suitable for most music-first systems.

    4 drives

    RAID 5

    About 75% usable

    One drive worth of capacity is used for parity. Efficient, but tolerates only one drive failure.

    4 drives

    RAID 6

    About 50% usable

    Two drives worth of parity tolerate two failures, useful for larger drives and important archives.

    4 drives

    RAID 10

    About 50% usable

    Mirrored pairs provide good performance and predictable rebuild behavior.

    RAID improves availability. It does not protect against deletion, ransomware, theft, fire or total NAS failure.

    BACKUP PLAN

    Protect the work behind the library

    NAS copyPrimary library

    Your organized music, playlists, artwork and server database.

    →
    Local backupUSB drive or second NAS

    Fast recovery after accidental deletion, array trouble or enclosure failure.

    →
    Offsite copyCloud or another location

    Protection from theft, fire and events affecting everything in the room.

    DECISION GUIDE

    When should music use four bays?

    Stay with two bays when…

    • The target usable capacity fits one practical HDD
    • Quietness and low power are priorities
    • RAID 1 provides enough availability
    • You keep a separate backup

    Move to four bays when…

    • The projected library exceeds one economical drive
    • You want RAID 5, RAID 6 or RAID 10
    • The NAS will also store photos, video and backups
    • You want a longer expansion runway

    FAQ

    Music NAS planning questions

    Why does the recommendation include 30% free space?

    It provides room for snapshots, databases, artwork, unexpected imports and continued operation without immediately replacing drives.

    Are the displayed terabytes decimal or binary?

    The calculator uses decimal terabytes for understandable drive-label planning. The NAS operating system may display a lower binary-derived capacity.

    Why is RAID 1 capacity equal to one drive?

    Each file is stored on both drives, so two equal drives provide the usable capacity of one drive while tolerating one drive failure.

    Can I mix different drive capacities?

    Some flexible RAID systems support mixed sizes, but usable capacity depends on the platform. Matching drives makes planning simpler.

    Should I include photos and documents?

    Yes. Either add their size through the Custom average or increase the resulting target. This calculator otherwise estimates music only.

    Does a backup copy need the same RAID?

    No. A USB backup can be a single sufficiently large drive. Focus on separation, automation, encryption and the ability to restore.

    What if no listed drive size is large enough?

    The calculator moves toward four bays. Extremely large libraries may need six or more bays or separate volumes.

    Can I start with one drive?

    Many two-bay NAS systems allow it, but you will not have RAID protection until a second compatible drive is added and the array is configured.

    Before purchasing

    • Confirm the NAS manufacturer’s drive-compatibility list and supported maximum capacities.
    • Use NAS-rated CMR drives when appropriate, and check acoustic specifications for listening-room installations.
    • Actual usable storage is lower after formatting, RAID, system partitions and snapshots.
    • Do not treat this estimate as a substitute for an independent backup.