Press release from Well Above
ARRI today announced the release of ALEXA Software Update Packet (SUP) 6.0, which includes in-camera support for Avid's open standard and widely adopted Avid DNxHD® codec for ALEXA and ALEXA Plus cameras. SUP 6.0 allows in-camera recording of 1920 x 1080 (16:9) Avid DNxHD encoded MXF files onto SxS PRO cards for ALEXA and ALEXA Plus cameras.
In order to utilise this new facility, customers can purchase a cost-effective, downloadable DNxHD software license from the ALEXA License Shop(https://alshop.arri.de/). Once installed, users will be able to choose between MXF/DNxHD and QuickTime/ProRes codecs for in-camera recording.
The ability to record native Avid DNxHD carries advantages for a broad range of productions. Many broadcasting corporations rely on MXF files as their primary acquisition and archiving format, so being able to deliver this straight out of the camera has the potential to generate real cost savings. Even for productions that are recording uncompressed ARRIRAW, the expansion of EXA's parallel recording capability to include DNxHD eliminates a transcoding step for the dailies generated for Avid editing systems and creates a more streamlined editorial workflow.
ALEXA's MXF/DNxHD material can be edited in Avid Media Composer Version 5.5 and later for Apple and Windows 32 and 64 bit operating systems without transcoding. ARRI provides free downloadable AMA plug-ins for Mac and 32 and 64 bit Windows versions of Media Composer 5.5 and 6.0. To access the plug-ins go to: http://www.arri.com/alexa/downloads
SUP 6.0 supports DNxHD 145 (145Mbit/s at 8 bit 4:2:2) and DNxHD 220x (10 bit 4:2:2) codecs. Avid's highest quality version of the codec, Avid DNxHD 444, records at up to 440Mbit/s (10 bit 444) and will be provided as a free upgrade for all DNxHD licensed customers in a later software release.
Other new SUP 6.0 features for ALEXA and ALEXA Plus include:
• SMPTE color bars in RECD OUT and MON OUT, 1Khz audio tone on SDI and headphone output
• New User Button option: Auto White Balance
• New User Button option: Turn Anamorphic de-squeeze on and off separately for EVF and MON OUT
• New User Button option: False Color Index display
• Icons in EVF for: show Smooth Mode
• Icons in EVF and MON OUT for: ARRI Look File