High Density Encoding (HDE)

For the ALEXA 35 camera, CODEX Device Manager 7.0.0 (and higher) on macOS allows HDE encoding of ARRIRAW directly from a Compact Drive.  

For all other ARRI ALEXA cameras, CODEX Device Manager 5.0 software (and higher) on macOS allows HDE encoding of ARRIRAW directly from a Compact Drive or Capture Drive.  

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 (for ALEXA 35)

•  Hedge Offshoot Pro
•  Silverstack Lab / XT
•  Shotput Pro
•  YoYotta

Supported copy tools (for all other cameras)

•  Hedge Offshoot Pro
  
•  Silverstack (6.5 and above)
•  Shotput Pro (2019.2.1 and above)
•  YoYotta (3 and above)

Notes

• HDE files on CODEX Media will appear as zero bytes in size. This is because the HDE-encoded file size cannot be calculated until the files have been copied.
• HDE ARRIRAW from ALEXA 35 is presented as .mxf files. HDE ARRIRAW from earlier camera models is presented as .arx files
• 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.
• For ALEXA 65 Support there is a dedicated support page here.
  

Offloading HDE from ALEXA Mini or AMIRA:

You can offload HDE ARRIRAW from ARRI ALEXA Mini or AMIRA material recorded to CFast 2.0 cards, in one of the following ways:

Using a CODEX CFast 2.0 Reader (CDX-7515):

Install CODEX Device Manager, and then load your CFast 2.0 cards onto the CODEX CFast 2.0 Reader. No licence required.

Using a non-CODEX CFast Reader:

You can offload HDE ARRIRAW from ALEXA Mini material using any CFast 2.0 reader by purchasing an HDE for any CFast Reader licence.

Purchasing HDE for any CFast Licence:

You can purchase a HDE licence for any CFast licence per day, per week or per month from the HDE for any CFast Licence options available on the HDE Licensing Plans page.

Once you have purchased your licence, you will receive an email containing an Activation Code.

NOTE - Please be aware that a licence will become active on the day of purchase and not on activation of that licence.

Activating HDE for any CFast Licence:

Installation Steps:

1. Download and Install Device Manager.
2. From the Mac top menu bar select Device Manager (gear symbol) > Preferences.
3. Click HDE and select the ARRIRAW checkbox.
4. Click Device Manager > Licensing... (This will open System Settings > Codex > Licensing)
5. Click the lock to make changes.
6. Click the Activate Code option, and copy/paste the activation code and then click Register.

Your licence will then be activated. When you load a CFast card containing MXF/ARRIRAW files then a volume will be shown with a '_hde' suffix which contains ARRIRAW-HDE (.arx) files.

The .arx files will show with a size of 0-bytes and must be copied using a compatible copy tool such as Hedge, Offload Manager, Shotput Pro, Silverstack, or YoYotta. 

Transferring a Licence:

If you need to move the licence to another computer:

1. First on the original computer open the System Settings > Codex panel.
2. Click the lock to make changes, and then click Licensing.
3. Click the Release Code option, and copy/paste the activation code above and then click Release. The installation steps above can now be followed to register the licence on a new computer.