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Header image for article AMIRA Software Update Package 5.3

AMIRA Software Update Package 5.3

ARRI's recent release of Software Update Package 5.3 for AMIRA enables some significant new functionality for the camera. The most exciting of these new features is support for ARRIRAW, the RAW format used in the ALEXA and ALEXA Mini cameras. This is significant since the company line for many years was that AMIRA would never shoot RAW (not that we're complaining, mind you).

Utilizing the "classic" 16x9 area of AMIRA's ALEV III Super35 sensor (for a familiar framesize of 2880x1620 pixels), cameras with this new license feature can record uncompressed, unencrypted 2.8K 16x9 ARRIRAW at up to 48 fps to onboard CFast 2.0 media. The license key is available from the ARRI License Shop and is priced at $3700. The RAW data is wrapped in the .MXF format, identical to the ALEXA Mini, and includes audio as well as all the metadata we've come to expect from ARRIRAW (including embedding of any looks/LUTs used for monitoring on a clip-by-clip basis). ARRIRAW, including the MXF-wrapped variant used here, is widely supported in editing, color, and finishing applications throughout the industry, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple's Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and many others. Considering that this is the same frame dimensions as classic ALEXA ARRIRAW, we think this feature has the potential to significantly expand the types of projects the already supremely well-sorted AMIRA can be used for.

Also in SUP 5.3 is support for the ARRI's new cforce mini RF motor. This lens motor features an integrated 'MDR' allowing remote control of focus, iris or zoom using a WCU-4 without the need for other control boxes or wires on the camera. Additionally, it supports the ARRI LBUS protocol and can be paired with multiple hand units for split axis control. It can support an additional two cforce mini motors (including non-RF versions), effectively acting as a wireless control unit for them.

Other notable features in this update include the ability to force the AMIRA EVF to be always on, for example if the proximity sensor is faulty or blocked by other rigging; the addition of playback to the Camera Access Protocol feature set, which allows remote triggering of playback over the monitoring signal path without physical access to the camera; and the addition of user buttons 5 & 6 from the WCU-4 to be defined from the camera's menu.

For more information and to download, visit ARRI's website.

Geoff Smith
Technology Specialist, AbelCine NY

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