ARRI ALEXA MINI LF – HDE ENCODING
La mise à jour SUP 7.0 de la Mini LF est enfin là !
Elle intègre les très attendus modes capteurs Super 35, mais ajoute aussi 2 modes Large Format, et plusieurs autres fonctionnalités / corrections.
En résumé :
4 modes capteur S35.
Les plus utilisés sur la Mini « classique ».
Vous avez donc en quelques sortes 2 caméras en une (LF et S35), avec pour 3 modes sur 4 une meilleure cadence d’image que la Mini !
- MXF/ARRIRAW 3.4K S35 3:2 – 3.4K
Correspond au mode ARRIRAW Open Gate de la Mini.
Jusqu’à 60fps (meilleur que la Mini qui va à 30fps)
- MXF/Apple ProRes 3.2K S35 16:9 – 3.2K
C’est le mode 16:9 ProRes avec le plus de résolution : 3,2K sur le capteur, et un fichier enregistré en 3,2K
Jusqu’à 75fps (meilleur que la Mini qui va à 60fps)
- MXF/Apple ProRes 2.8K S35 16:9 – HD
C’est le mode 16:9 qui permet d’enregistrer des fichiers HD plus légers, très utile en TV.
2,8K utilisés sur le capteur, et un fichier enregistré en HD (1920×1080)
Jusqu’à 100fps (en dessous de la Mini qui va à 200fps)
- MXF/Apple ProRes 2.8K S35 4:3 – 2.8K
C’est le mode 4:3 bien connu des ALEXAs.
Il permet de faire de l’anamorphique, ou du 1.85 :1 avec de la réserve en haut et en bas.
Jusqu’à 75fps (meilleur que la Mini qui va à 50fps)
2 modes capteur LF
- MXF/Apple ProRes 4.3K LF 16:9 – UHD
Ce mode permet d’utiliser les avantages « optiques » du Large Format, dans le sens où vous utilisez une plus grande surface du capteur, mais d’enregistrer un fichier ProRes plus léger, en UHD.
Vous avez donc le « look Large Format » dans un fichier prêt à l’emploi pour Netflix ou toute autre production exigeant l’UHD.
Jusqu’à 48fps
- MXF/Apple ProRes 4.3K LF 16:9 – HD
Dans le même esprit que le précèdent mode, mais pour enregistrer cette fois des fichiers HD. Très utile en télévision quand le budget ne permet pas des fichiers trop lourds, mais que vous souhaitez le rendu du Large Format.
Jusqu’à 75fps
What is HDE (High Density Encoding)?
HDE stands for High Density Encoding. It is an encoding technique that is optimised for Bayer pattern images. ARRIRAW images encoded with HDE are approximately 60% of the original size. HDE encoding is completely lossless – when an HDE file is decoded, it is a bit-for-bit perfect match to the original file. For more information we also refer to the Codex HDE website.
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HIGH DENSITY ENCODING
Provides bit-exact data reduction of uncompressed camera ARRIRAW files through encoding. HDE can reduce the overall storage size of RAW images by up to a 2:1 ratio.
What is High Density Encoding?
Codex High Density Encoding (HDE) is an easy to use tool for large format workflows to control the ever-increasing data footprint of RAW video images. Studios are demanding 4K and RAW image data to archive and future-proof the negative. Cinematic productions are in the process of transitioning from 2K to 4K (uncompressed in size) with camera manufacturers such as ARRI, offering up to 6.5K uncompressed images. High Frame Rate (HFR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) add to this large format data footprint, leading to significant cost increases as well as storage and transmission challenges.
Uncompressed RAW data costs more to transport and store than compressed ProRes files. An uncompressed Bayer pattern image can be reduced to a HDE file size not much larger than a corresponding ProRes 4444 XQ mezzanine file. Except that with Codex HDE, you can access the original pixel values that were encoded.
Codex HDE Features
- Provides lossless reduction of the storage size of RAW images
- Encoding results in ARRIRAW images that are typically 60% of original size
- Works on Bayer pattern images of any size
- Data reduction is comparable to best-in-class lossless codecs
- Provides fast encoding and decoding speeds*
- Files, once decoded, are a bit-for-bit perfect match to the original file
*ARRIRAW Open Gate 4.5K can be encoded comfortably at 24 fps on a modern MacBook Pro
Codex HDE FAQs
- What is HDE?
HDE stands for High Density Encoding. It is an encoding technique that is optimised for Bayer pattern images. ARRIRAW images encoded with HDE are typically around 60% of the original size. HDE encoding is completely lossless – when an HDE file is decoded, it is a bit-for-bit perfect match to the original file. - What resolutions does HDE support?
HDE can be used on ARRIRAW images of any resolution. - What is the data rate of HDE?
HDE typically results in a file that is 60% of the original ARRIRAW file size. For example, ARRIRAW OpenGate 3.4K is normally 11.5MB/frame and 996.2GB/hour. When stored as HDE, this becomes 6.9MB/frame and 584GB/hour. - What is the performance of HDE?
HDE is designed to be high performance for encoding and decoding, and is dependent on CPU power. ARRIRAW Open Gate 4.5K can be encoded comfortably at 24 fps on a modern MacBook Pro, and at over 50 fps on a 10-core iMac Pro. The encoding happens when files are copied from a Compact Drive or Capture Drive. - What file format is used for HDE?
When an ARRIRAW image is encoded as HDE, the file extension changes from .ari to .arx. The image essence is encoded, but the file header is otherwise identical. - Is the .ARX a compressed RAW file? If not, how is it different?
High Density Encoding of ARRIRAW to the .arx format is not compressed RAW. It is a bit-exact lossless encoding with no image compression, broadly comparable to the process of ‘zipping’ a file but highly optimised for Bayer images. - Is anything lost in the HDE conversion?
Nothing is lost during the HDE conversion. It is the same file, simply encoded. You can generate an md5 checksum from a .ARI file, encode with HDE to .ARX, then decode back to .ARI and the md5 from the decoded file will match 100%. Try our Trial HDE Encoder and see this for any ARRIRAW file! - Is it similar to Apple ProRes RAW?
No, it is quite different. ProRes RAW is a stream file that captures the Bayer sensor data in a lossy compressed format to an external monitor/recorder. The ProRes RAW files can only be used in FCPX. By contrast, HDE is a completely lossless file sequence and is supported by multiple ARRI Partners such as Pomfort Silverstack, Colorfront Transkoder and FilmLight Daylight, plus many more. - Why would I use .ARX files?
Using HDE will give a .ARX file that is typically 40% smaller than a .ARI file. This corresponds to drastic time and cost savings all the way through post production. The .ARX format will require 40% less storage capacity, archive storage, and reduces the I/O requirements of playback and rendering applications. If you are using Cloud services, that is 40% less data to push to the Cloud or to migrate between Cloud server locations. The question is…why wouldn’t you use .ARX files? - How do I encode ARRIRAW HDE (.ARX files)?
Codex Device Manager 5.0 software on macOS allows HDE encoding of ARRIRAW directly from a Compact Drive or Capture Drive. The software has a Preferences option to choose whether your files are presented as regular ARRIRAW, or HDE encoded ARRIRAW. The encoding happens on-the-fly when files are copied, and your copy application needs to include support for this. Applications with this support include Hedge, Silverstack, Shotput Pro, and YoYotta.NOTE: macOS Finder is not capable of copying ARRIRAW HDE files from Capture Drive and Compact Drive. See the Device Manager datasheet for details.NOTE: Codex Vault XL and S appliances can encode ARRIRAW HDE with a licence – please contact Codex Support if you require more details. - Is Codex Device Manager software free?
Yes, Device Manager software for encoding ARRIRAW from Compact Drive or Capture Drive to HDE is free, and does not require a licence. DIT/Data Managers just need to download and install the software and they are good to go. Please contact Codex Support if you require Device Manager with HDE support. - Does Device Manager run on Mac and Windows?
Currently Device Manager is only supported on macOS. - Which media can be used for ARRIRAW HDE workflows?
HDE can be applied to ARRIRAW from Compact Drives, and both SXR and XR Capture Drives. It can also be applied to ARRIRAW from CFast cards if a Codex CFast reader is used. If you have recorded ProRes on the media then these files cannot be encoded with HDE. - Which applications support .ARX files?
The following applications provide support for natively reading ARX* files, with the minimum version listed:
(*For ALEXA Mini LF please refer to the next FAQ. This table refers to all other ALEXA models.)VENDOR APPLICATION VERSION ARRI ARRIRAW Converter 4.1 Beta Pomfort Silverstack Lab, Silverstack 6.5 BlackMagic Design Da Vinci Resolve 16 Colorfront Transkoder, On-Set Dailies, Express Dailies 2019 Filmlight Baselight and Daylight 5.1.10830 Imagine Products Shotput Pro 2019.2.1 Hedge Hedge 19.4 YoYotta YoYotta 3 Assimilate SCRATCH, SCRATCH Play Pro, SCRATCH VR 9.0 nablet ARRIRAW AMA Plugin for Avid Media Composer 2.0 Codex Production Suite 4.7.2 - Which applications support .ARX files from ALEXA Mini LF?
As the ALEXA Mini LF is new to the market the ARX files from this camera are not supported in all applications.
The latest ARRIRAW Converter 4.1 Beta provides support for ARX files from ALEXA Mini LF.
For the support status in other applications please contact their Support teams directly for the latest information. - Can HDE be applied to Panasonic VRAW or Canon Cinema RAW?
No, HDE currently only supports ARRIRAW material. - Where can I get some sample HDE files for testing my workflow?
ARRI have prepared some ARRIRAW-HDE sample footage.
You also can click this link for some ALEXA LF ARRIRAW-HDE (.arx) files. - Can HDE be applied to Panasonic VRAW or Canon Cinema RAW?
No, HDE currently only supports ARRIRAW material. - Why are some ARX files zero-size, and others have final size?
ARRIRAW stored on the original camera media (e.g. Capture Drive or Compact Drive) is unencoded. By default this appears as ARI (Capture Drive) or MXF/ARRIRAW (Compact Drive) files on the media volume. When the Device Manager > Preferences are set to enable HDE then the contents of the media changes to ARX files with zero-size – this is because the Device Manager presents a list of files ready to be copied but the encoding has not been done yet, and the size cannot be pre-determined because the final HDE size depends on the image content.When using Codex Production Suite, ARRIRAW stored on a Capture Drive can be copied to a Transfer Drive and have the HDE applied during this copy process using the Clone task. Once on the Transfer Drive the material is then encoded and the final HDE size is known. In this case the Transfer Drive appears on the Desktop and contains ARX files that have the final size. - Which applications can convert ARX back to ARI?
In general, provided you are using applications that support ARX then the files can directly replace the ARI files for an ARRIRAW workflow. If for some reason you need to convert the ARX back to ARI files then Codex Production Suite can be used. - Can HDE be applied to MXF/ARRIRAW files on CFast2.0 cards?
If the CFast2.0 card is loaded into a Codex CFast2.0 Reader then ARX files will be presented if the Device Manager > Preferences are set to enable HDE mode. A HDE version of the drive will be presented – for example, if the original drive is called ‘A001R0D5’ then a second drive will appear called ‘A001R0D5_hde’ that contains the ARX files. - How are MXF/Apple ProRes files handled when HDE mode is enabled?
MXF/Apple ProRes files are not compatible with HDE. Therefore if the Compact Drive contains a mix of MXF/ARRIRAW and MXF/Apple ProRes when HDE mode is enabled only the MXF/ARRIRAW clips will be presented as HDE files in the second drive. The MXF/Apple ProRes files are available to copy in the original drive location.