High Density Encoding (HDE)

    Overview

    CODEX High Density Encoding (HDE) is an easy to use tool for large format workflows to control the ever-increasing data footprint of RAW video images. HDE provides bit-exact data reduction of uncompressed camera ARRIRAW files through encoding. ARRIRAW images encoded with HDE are approximately 60% of the original size. HDE encoding is completely lossless - when an HDE file is decoded, it is a perfect match to the original file.

    CODEX Device Manager software transforms ARRIRAW recordings to HDE format when data is first offloaded from camera media.

    Using HDE

    High Density Encoding is completely free to use with CODEX Media. It is a simple ‘tick box’ option in the Device Manager Preferences panel.

    Compatible Resolutions

    HDE can be used on ARRIRAW images of any resolution.

    Compatible Recording Media 

    HDE can be applied to ARRIRAW from Compact Drives, SXR and XR Capture Drives and CFast 2.0 media.

    ProRes recordings cannot be encoded with HDE.

    Camera Support

    Device Manager can be used to create HDE ARRIRAW from all ARRI ALEXA cameras.

    HDE and the ALEXA 35

    MXF/ARRIRAW material recorded with ALEXA 35 is fully supported in Device Manager 7.0.0 or above and delivered as MXF/HDE.  See the ALEXA 35 workflow guide for more details.


    HDE and the ALEXA Mini LF

    MXF/ARRIRAW material recorded with ALEXA Mini LF is fully supported in Device Manager 7.5.0 or above and delivered as MXF/HDE.  See the ALEXA Mini LF workflow guide for more details.


    HDE and the ALEXA Mini

    MXF/ARRIRAW material recorded with ALEXA Mini is fully supported in Device Manager 7.5.1 or above and delivered as MXF/HDE.  See the ALEXA Mini workflow guide for more details.


    HDE and the ALEXA 265

    MXF/ARRIRAW material recorded with the ALEXA 265 is fully supported in Device Manager 7.4.2 or above and delivered as MXF/HDE.  See the ALEXA 265 workflow guide for more details.


    HDE and the ALEXA 65 Classic

    ARRIRAW material recorded with the ALEXA 65 Classic is fully supported in Device Manager (latest version recommended) and delivered as ARX file sequences.  See the ALEXA 65 workflow guide for more details.


    HDE and the ALEXA XT / SXT / LF

    ARRIRAW material recorded with the ARRI ALEXA XT / SXT / LF is fully supported in Device Manager (latest version recommended) and delivered as ARX file sequences.


    HDE and the D21

    ARRIRAW material recorded from D21 to Onboard M is not compatible with HDE workflows, and ARX file sequences will not be presented when HDE mode is enabled in Device Manager.

    Operating System

    CODEX Device Manager software is required to create HDE-encoded files. Device Manager is only available for macOS.

    Copying ARRIRAW HDE

    CODEX Device Manager has a Preferences option to choose whether your files are presented as regular ARRIRAW, or HDE encoded ARRIRAW. The encoding happens on-the-fly when files are copied, and your copy application needs to include support for this.

    You can download the latest version of CODEX Device Manager from our Software Downloads page.

    Supported copy tools

    •  Hedge - Offshoot Pro
    •  Pomfort - Silverstack Lab / XT
    •  Imagine Products - Shotput Pro
    •  YoYotta - YoYotta
    We recommend to use the latest version of your preferred copy tool, to ensure up to date support for the latest HDE workflows.

    Notes

    • HDE files on CODEX Media will appear as zero bytes in size. This is because the HDE is a variable bit-rate encoding and the file size cannot be calculated until the files have been copied.
    • macOS Finder is not capable of copying ARRIRAW HDE files from Capture Drive and Compact Drive.
    • OTTOMATIC o/PARASHOOT can be used as part of your HDE workflow to check if files were copied successfully prior to erasing the source media. Additionally it provides a reversible erase process for Compact Drive media on macOS.

    Supported Applications

    VendorApplication
    ARRIARRI Reference Tool
    PomfortSilverstack Lab, Silverstack
    BlackMagic DesignDa Vinci Resolve
    ColorfrontTranskoder, On-Set Dailies, Express Dailies
    FilmlightBaselight and Daylight
    Imagine ProductsShotput Pro
    HedgeOffshoot Pro
    YoYottaYoYotta
    AssimilateSCRATCH, SCRATCH Play Pro, SCRATCH VR
    nabletARRIRAW AMA Plugin for Avid Media Composer
    LimecraftLimecraft
    MarquiseMist
    Video VillageScreen
    SGOMistika
    Digital VisionNucoda
    In2CoreQTake
    FoundryNuke
    Less PainNKyno
    AutodeskFlame
    Color IntelligenceColourLab
    QuineQuine

    Performance

    HDE is designed to be high performance for encoding and decoding and is dependent on CPU power. ARRIRAW Open Gate 4.6K can be encoded at over 50 fps on a Mac Pro (2019 Intel model) and at over 100 fps on a Mac Studio or MacBook Pro (2022 M1 Max model). The encoding happens on-the-fly when files are copied from a Compact Drive or Capture Drive.

    Sample Files for Testing

    ARRI have prepared some ARRIRAW-HDE sample footage.

    Apple ProRes

    Apple ProRes clips are not compatible with HDE. If a CODEX Compact Drive contains a mix of ARRIRAW MXF and Apple ProRes clips, when HDE is enabled in Device Manager both the ARRIRAW and ProRes clips will be presented in the volume. When copying the clips, the HDE encoding will only happen on the ARRIRAW clips.

    HDE with CFast Readers

    Device Manager 7.5.1 and above provides the MXF/HDE workflow for ALEXA Mini and AMIRA with no license required when using any CFast 2.0 reader.

    The earlier ARX workflow is available in Device Manager 7.4 and below.  Customers wanting to use this workflow with a third-party CFast 2.0 reader should contact CODEX Support to purchase a licence.

    Our support team is available to answer any questions:

    Telephone and email support is available 8.30am - 5.30pm GMT Monday to Friday through our teams in London and Los Angeles.

    Support Email: support@codex.online
    US Support: +1 323 283 8929
    UK Support: +44 203 7000 999
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    Last updated: November 9, 2020