ARRI offers new recording format for ALEXA cameras

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ARRI offers new recording format for ALEXA cameras --

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:04

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In early 2015 ARRI will offer a new recording format for its ARRI ALEXA cameras, ProRes 3.2K, which will be available through a software update. ProRes 3.2K allows the same easy up-sampling in post to UHD deliverables as ARRIRAW Open Gate does to 4K.

The ALEXA caters to the majority of digital film and television productions, which continue to capture, post-produce and distribute in HD or 2K formats. In the near future, adoption of UHD/4K post workflows, as well as availability of UHD displays in consumer homes and 4K projection in movie theatres will be widespread.

Marc Shipman-Mueller, ALEXA product manager comments, Designed from the outset to be adaptable and future-proof, ALEXA can easily accommodate productions that choose to follow a UHD or 4K workflow. The cameras stellar overall image quality in combination with ProRes 3.2K or ARRIRAW Open Gate allows for simple up-sampling to UHD or 4K in a quality at least as good as other contenders. And because of their unequalled exposure latitude and highlight handling, ALEXA images are already uniquely HDR-compatible. Put simply, ALEXA remains the safest available capture tool for asset longevity, no matter what future standards come to fruition.

For TV productions looking for a UHD deliverable, ALEXA XT cameras and ALEXA Classic cameras with the XR Module upgrade offer the new and cost-efficient ProRes 3.2K recording option. At data rates far below uncompressed ARRIRAW, ProRes 3.2K provides the benefits of the well-established and efficient ProRes workflow. As an additional benefit, most lenses fully cover the 3.2K image circle that results from the 16:9 ProRes 3.2K image. A straightforward up-sample from ProRes 3.2K using standard post tools delivers high quality UHD for broadband and broadcast.

A number of films have been shot in ARRIRAW 2.8K and up-sampled to a 4K DCP with good results and in an effort to improve upon this option, ARRI introduced the ARRIRAW Open Gate recording format for ALEXA XT cameras. Open Gate records the full 3.4K ALEXA XT sensor area for an optimal up-sample in post to a 4K DCP.

ARRI has also been working with Dolby to showcase Dolby Vision display technology, which is capable of 100 times more brightness than a conventional TV. This has contributed to industry awareness that dynamic range is a more important factor than spatial resolution in creating a superior visual experience. Recognising this, other companies such as Thomson, Philips and the BBC are working on their own HDR solutions.

The Dolby Vision presentations have revealed how much better ALEXA images look when displayed with extended dynamic range, proving the potential of ALEXA-originated material to be remastered for future HDR display standards.

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