The invention relates to a method and device for recording coded digital audio-visual data. On recording coded digital audio-visual data a problem occurred that predictions about the remaining available recording time on a mass storage medium being used were not possible because the applied coding causes the data rate of the digital audio-visual data to vary considerably. According to the invention, the problem may be avoided, by determining mean data rates for program sections which enables a prediction of the amount of data storage capacity to be expected for each program section.