May
A few months ago, ARRI introduced its new camera version, the ARRI ALEXA 35 Xtreme, which is less a completely new camera and more an update to the popular ALEXA 35.
One of the new features the camera includes is the option to record using the Arricore codec, a new codec created by ARRI.
It’s an RGB codec (theoretically not RAW) with 4:4:4 color sampling and 13-bit color depth, with intraframe compression, and it allows recording at multiple resolutions, including Open Gate.
At first glance, you might think ARRI wants to phase out ProRes as the processed codec in its cameras, leaving Arricore as the RGB codec and Arriraw as RAW—although, for now, they still keep the option to record in Apple’s codec.
One very interesting feature is that, as they explain on their website, Arricore clips let you change the same RAW debayer settings as native Arriraw clips. In other words, in post apps like DaVinci Resolve, we’ll have access to white balance adjustments, exposure as ISO, and the same parameters as with RAW. So it looks like Arricore, even though it’s technically a processed codec, behaves in practice like a RAW codec. Maybe they didn’t want to get into the mess of calling it a compressed RAW codec to avoid debates and patents with Sony and RED—I don’t know…
A few days ago, while teaching on the ECAM Cinematography Master’s program together with DP Juan Luis Cabellos AEC, we recorded some test clips in Arricore and Arriraw, both at “normal” exposure and a few stops over and under.
We’ve left the clips for you to download for free in our downloads section (registration required).
These are informal tests—don’t expect charts or multi-step exposure bracketing. They can simply help you start playing with these new files in post and on set with different apps, and compare Arriraw and Arricore. Also, the model is extremely attractive 😉
Keep in mind you’ll need the latest versions of your post software for it to read the Arricore codec. We at XPost Studios have already updated.
That’s it—I hope they’re useful for your post and DIT workflows. You’ll find them in the downloads section (note it’s a ZIP, and Google Chrome blocks these files).
