Software Upgrade Also Includes New Lower-Noise Debayer Algorithm for Cleaner Blue Screen and Sharper Details
The ARRI Alexa's 3.2K ProRes upgrade has gone live with the release of Software Update Packet (SUP) 11.0, which adds the previously announced recording format aimed at UltraHD productions as well as a new, higher-quality debayering algorithm.
For more details on SUP 11.0 see ARRI's release notes. [PDF]
Designed to generate a ProRes image that can be easily upsampled to UHD resolution (3840×2160, or 3.8K), the 16×9 3.2K format (3164×1778) uses the largest area of the Alexa sensor that can be covered by the majority of Super 35 PL-mount lenses, ARRI said. ProRes 3.2K can be recorded in any flavor of ProRes at frame rates up to 30fps. The upgrade is available to Alexa XT cameras and Alexa Classic units with the optional XR Module paid upgrade; ARRI recommends having a certified service center calibrate the camera's sensor before using 3.2K "to ensure full image fidelity."
All Alexa cameras will be able to use the new ADA-5 debayer algorithm for ProRes and DNxHD recording. ARRI suggested users scrutinize high-contrast details for visible improvements to clarity and sharpness. The new algorith also reduces noise in the red and blue channels, making it easier to pull a clean key against a blue scren. The new algorithm has already been implemented in the ARRIRAW Converter v3.1 for offline processing and in the ARRIRAW SDK; the Amira has had it since SUP 1.1.
Also included in the latest update is support for all generations of SxS PRO+ cards on all Alexa cameras, with SanDisk CFast 2.0 128 GB card support available to Alexa XT cameras and upgraded Alexa Classics. Support has been added for the LDE-1 lens data encoder as well as new features for the WCU-4 wireless control unit.
Finally, the ARRIRAW format will now have a checksum for each frame allowing data to be verified throughout a production. That should dramatically speed up verification as files are copied, but the latest version of the Codex software (Vault 3.0 or DTS 3.0) must be used to record the checksum data from SUP 11.0's raw files on the XR Capture Drive.
