Sora 2 Features and Specifications: Complete Technical Guide
For developers, power users, and integration partners, knowing "it generates video" isn't enough. This technical guide breaks down the precise specifications of OpenAI's Sora 2 model, including undocumented limits, supported codecs, and system requirements.
Core Model Architecture
Sora 2 is a diffusion transformer model. Unlike traditional diffusion models (like Stable Diffusion) that operate in pixel space or latent space primarily for images, Sora 2 treats video as "spacetime patches."
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model Type | Diffusion Transformer (DiT) |
| Parameter Count | Undisclosed (Estimated >20B) |
| Training Data | Multimodal (Text, Video, Audio) |
| Context Length | Up to 25 seconds (temporal context) |
Video Output Specifications
The output quality varies by subscription tier, but the underlying file formats remain consistent.
- Container: MP4
- Video Codec: H.264 (High Profile)
- Audio Codec: AAC (44.1kHz, Stereo)
- Bitrate: Variable, typically 8-12 Mbps for 1080p
- Colour Space: sRGB (Standard Dynamic Range). HDR workflows are not yet supported.
Generation Capabilities
Sora 2 supports three distinct generation modes:
1. Text-to-Video
The standard mode. Supports prompts up to 500 characters. Recommended to follow a [Subject] + [Action] + [Environment] + [Style] structure.
2. Image-to-Video
Accepts JPEG, PNG, and WEBP inputs. The model attempts to preserve the aspect ratio of the input image. Warning: Highly stylised input images (e.g., sketches) may result in lower motion coherence.
3. Video-to-Video (Remix)
Allows time-stretching, style transfer, or element modification of existing clips. This is computationally the most expensive mode and burns credits faster.
Supported Resolutions and Aspect Ratios
Sora 2 is remarkably flexible with aspect ratios, defaulting to the most common, but supporting custom ratios via API.
16:9
1920x1080
Landscape
9:16
1080x1920
Vertical
1:1
1080x1080
Square
2.39:1
1920x803
Cinematic
Audio Specifications
The audio engine is integrated, not a post-process. This means sound waves are generated in parallel with pixel latents.
- Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
- Channels: Stereo (simulated spatial audio)
- Input: Can accept prompt descriptors like "muffled," "distant," "reverb," "underwater."
API Rate Limits & Quotas
For developers building on Sora 2 (Beta API Access):
- Concurrency: Max 1 concurrent generation per API key (Tier 1).
- Daily Limit: 100 generations (Tier 1).
- Webhook support: Essential, as generation is asynchronous and can take 60-180 seconds.
Note: These specifications are accurate as of January 2026. OpenAI frequently pushes model updates that may alter generation speeds or resolution caps.
