Codex Digital, specialist in high-resolution media recording systems, is launching a lightweight, high-resolution portable field recorder that will unleash revolutionary potential for HD, 2K and 4K broadcast television and motion picture production.

With cutting-edge design, and packed with today’s most advanced technology, the new Codex Portable is the first lightweight disk recorder to record any high-end digital camera -‘ from HD to 4K, at cinema quality ‘ and to seamlessly deliver the material to any post-production workflow.

As a rugged, self-contained unit, no larger than a toaster, it can be used for ‘run and gun’ broadcast production, and be easily carried anywhere ‘ around a set, up a mountain or into a field. However, the Codex Portable also creates new opportunities for multi-camera production.

Using visually-lossless compression, it has the unique ability to record from two 4:4:4 cameras simultaneously ‘ either independently for A and B camera shoots, or locked together for 3D stereoscopic projects. It is the first to record from four 4:2:2 cameras simultaneously, and even allows the synchronisation of multiple recorders. With this feature, six synchronised Codex Portables can act as a 24-track video, 48-track audio-recorder ‘ enough to record an entire concert, sporting event, or TV drama at higher-than-broadcast quality.

Cinematographer Geoff Boyle, who was given an early preview of the Codex Portable, commented, “Occasionally a product comes along that is just so right, that you don’t know what to say about it except… ‘Yes’. But the Codex Portable isn’t just a recorder, it is part of a well-thought-out system that eases workflow from the camera to post-production.”

Paul Bamborough, co-founder of Codex Digital, said, "Our new portable is designed for all productions ‘ broadcast TV and digital cinema ‘ where the highest quality and portability are essential. But its versatility goes way beyond production. It will deliver what you shoot into post production with unprecedented speed and ease. The Codex Portable is a comprehensive package, designed to deal with anything that future digital cinematography might hold.”

Workflow:
The Codex Portable is packed with technical capabilities that take production workflow to new levels. Via its multiple high-speed networking interfaces, it will deliver the seamless transfer of shots to all post-production workflows. Direct outputs include H.264 (MP4) over a secure Wi-Fi link, allowing unique remote wireless monitoring and immediate transfer into editing systems.

After recording, the Codex Portable’s DiskPacks can be plugged directly into a matching Codex Transfer Station, which copies and backs-up the material (much faster than real-time), and then delivers it, plus the associated metadata, across local or worldwide networks.

In conjunction with the Transfer Station, the Codex Portable can deliver shots in all industry-standard formats, including DPX, MXF, QuickTime, AVI, JPEG, BMP, and BWF (WAV) files. It can even provide native-mode files that editing-systems can use with no importing at all.

The result is a clean, fast workflow in which a production can move seamlessly between shooting on-set or on location through to post-production, with no intermediate steps or delays.

Technical Capabilities & Recording:
The Codex Portable is the first portable disk-recorder to handle all formats up to 4K at cinema-quality, and the first to handle both video and data-mode cameras.

Flexible I/O configurations mean it can record from virtually every digital camera available today ‘ including all HD cameras in video mode, plus data-mode from cameras such as the ARRI D-20™ and DALSA’s Origin ®. It can also record Red Digital Cinema’s RED ONE™ camera in 4K data-mode, when this becomes available.

Recording is made to hot-swappable, shock-mounted RAID DiskPacks that can hold up to three hours of continuous recording at the system’s highest quality ‘ the first portable recorder (disk or tape) to offer such capability and capacity.

The compression method used is JPEG2000, a wavelet-based system that forms the basis of the DCI standard for cinema delivery. The compression is visually indistinguishable from the original and is comparable to the highest-quality mode of HDCAM-SR tape.

Construction and Usage:
Constructed from carbon fibre and with rubber-sealed connections, the Codex Portable is weather-resistant, and weighs only 9 lb / 4 Kg. It is powered from any standard camera battery and can be carried on an operator’s shoulder, or secured to camera equipment such as dollies and cranes. The Codex Portable is always ready-to-record, and near-silent operation lets it get close to the action.

When used in the field the Codex Portable delivers immediate full-frame playback and review of footage on a daylight-readable touchscreen. A unique feature is a secure wireless system, which enables instant shot logging, or remote-control of the system, from any networked computer or PDA. The Codex Portable even features a special “Mutter Track” microphone input, which allows the user to add comments during a take for shot-logging and notes.

The Codex Portable complements the original, award-winning Codex HD, 2K, 4K media production system, which has already redefined tapeless digital cinematography and is now being used on major studio productions in the US and Europe.

Pricing & Availability
The Codex Portable is priced at £22,500 (GBP), €33,000 Euros, $44,500 (USD). Codex Digital expects to ship the first production-ready units at the end of 2007.