User Manual

Operation of the Camera 123
14 Operation of the Camera
This chapter covers tasks the user will encounter while using the ALEXA. While
previous chapters contained specific procedures for basic use, this chapter will outline
broader tasks and offer recommendations and best practices, including camera
configuration.
14.1 Internal recording
This chapter contains information and recommendations for internal recording. The
user is encouraged to adapt the recommendations and workflow to individual and
production needs.
NOTICE
•
ARRI cannot be held responsible for the loss of any data in conjunction with
internal recording.
•
While we do everything we can to assure reliable functioning of different
recording medias such as SXR Capture Drives, and while the mean time
before failure (mtbf) for drives is excellent, a failure that results in loss of data
may occur at any time. Therefore, you are obliged to implement and maintain
at any time adequate and necessary data security measures and back up
drive content as soon as possible. ARRI assumes or accepts no liability or
responsibility for data loss or data corruption, or any other damages, loss or
harm due to malfunction of recording drives.
14.1.1 Recording Module
ALEXA SXT cameras can use SXR Capture Drives, XR Capture Drives, Sony SxS
PRO cards, Sony SxS PRO+ cards, or CFast 2.0 cards for internal recording. All
media require an adapter specific to their type: SXR Capture Drives require the SXR
Adapter, XR Capture Drives require the XR Adapter, SxS PRO and SxS PRO+ cards
require the SxS Adapter 2, CFast 2.0 cards require the CFast 2.0 Adapter 2. SxS Pro
cards, SxS Pro+ cards and CFast 2.0 cards do not allow recording ARRIRAW data.
File System
Depending on the recording format, SXR/XR Capture Drives are initialized with
different file systems. SXR/XR Capture Drives can be formatted in-camera or using
Codex Software (Mac only) in a Codex Single Dock, Dual Dock (XR Capture Drives
only), or the standalone Codex Vault.
When the camera is set to ARRIRAW recording, SXR/XR Capture Drives are
initialized as Codex volume. When the camera is set to ProRes recording, SXR/XR
Capture Drives are initialized with the UDF file system. In both cases, the file system is
read-only for computers.
SxS PRO cards, SxS PRO Plus cards and CFast 2.0 cards can only be used for
ProRes recording. These cards are always initialized with the UDF file system and
have to be formatted in the SXR Module with the SxS Adapter 2 or the CFast 2.0
Adapter 2, respectively.
14.1.2 Internal Recording Formats
ALEXA footage can be captured as QuickTime movies using an Apple ProRes
TM
codec or as unencrypted and uncompressed ARRIRAW file sequences.