ARRI ALEXA User manual

Pocket Guide
11.0
SUP

2
Table of Contents
ALEXA Pocket Guide
Table of Contents
Overview 4
New features in SUP 11.0 6
The Home Screen 8
Home Screen Soft Buttons 9
Icons on Home Screen 12
MON OUT Icons 14
Recording Media 16
ALEXA XT Output Overview 20
ALEXA Output Overview 21
ARRIRAW uncompressed 22
ARRIRAW Converter 3.0 24
ARRIRAW capable software solutions 25
ProRes 26
DNxHD 28
New recording features in SUP 11.0 30
Working with ALEXA 32
Exposure Index 32
ND filters 34
False Color Exposure Check 37
Color Spaces 38
Video - Rec 709 38
Log C 40
Linear 41
ARRI LUT Generator 41
In-Camera ARRI Look Files 42
Legal and Extended Range 48
p and psf 49
Metadata Overview 50
Licenses 52

3
Table of Contents
ARRI Lenses 104
ARRI/ZEISS Master Anamorphic Lenses 104
ARRI Anamorphic UWZ 19-36 106
ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime Lenses 108
ARRI/ZEISS Ultra Prime Lenses 110
ARRI/ZEISS LDS Ultra Prime Lenses 112
ARRI/FUJINON Alura Zoom Lenses 114
ARRI/FUJINON Alura LDS Extender 116
ARRI Ultra Wide Zoom UWZ 9.5-18 118
ARRI/ZEISS Master Macro Lens 120
Resources and Contacts 124
ARRI Sales Contacts 124
ARRI Service Contacts 126
ARRI Digital Workflow Solutions 128
Online Resources 129
ALEXA Pre-shoot Checklist 54
Recording with the XR or SxS Module 55
Camera Setup 55
Shooting High Speed 57
Recording ARRIRAW via T-Link 57
Shooting Stereo 3D 59
ALEXA M/ALEXA XT M fiber maintenance 59
Creating Lens Tables 60
ALEXA XT/XR Workflows 68
Compressed Recording Formats 68
Uncompressed ARRIRAW 68
Generating Deliverables 71
Scaling your Workflow 73
Specifications and Reference 74
Technical Specifications 74
Menu Settings & Button Functions 90

4
Overview
Overview
Welcome to the Pocket Guide for the ALEXA Classic
and ALEXA XT family of cameras, which contains
important preproduction and production information
for an ALEXA shoot. The ALEXA platform has been
designed with ease of use and user-friendliness in
mind; the menu and controls are simple and intuitive,
so the best way to learn ALEXA is to get your hands
Introduction
on the real thing. However, carrying this guide with
you and combining it with other resources such as
the ALEXA manual at www.arri.com/alexa/downloads
or the interactive ALEXA/ALEXA XT Camera
Simulator at www.arri.com/alexa/tools will ensure
your readiness to take full advantage of the camera’s
unique and versatile features.
ALEXA XT
ALEXA

5
Overview
The ALEXA and the ALEXA XT family
ALEXA XT PlusALEXA XT M ALEXA XT Studio

6
Overview
ALEXA is the first and only camera to support
Apple’s new ProRes 4444 XQ codec. With its target
data rate of 500 Mb/s (at 1920 x 1080, 30p) and low
compression ratio of 1.45:1, ProRes 4444 XQ is the
ideal choice for productions that are shooting for
premium image quality, are looking for extreme color
grading options or want to preserve the superior
tonal range of ALEXA's Log C signal.
ProRes 3.2K recording format is suitable for
productions requiring 4K UHD deliverables. The
rescale to 4K UHD only demands a small upscale
factor of 1.2x. Available to ALEXA XT and ALEXA
Classic cameras with the XR Module upgrade,
ProRes 3.2K is a new recording resolution that uses
3164x1778 photo sites from the sensor to record
a 16:9 3.2K ProRes file. The 3.2K sensor area was
chosen because it is the largest area that can still be
covered by almost all Super 35 PL mount lenses.
In addition the new ADA-5 enhanced debayering
algorithm further improves ALEXA's image quality in
all already available ALEXA recording resolutions as
well as 3.2K recording.
180° image rotation allows Steadicam operators to
flip their rig upside down for low mode shooting
and it rotates the image for the ARRI Ultra Wide
Zoom UWZ 9.5-18/T2.9. The rotation applies to EVF,
MON-OUT and REC-OUT. Internal recording is not
affected.
For high end workflows that utilize color on the set,
SUP 10 extends the number of recording modes that
support two independent HD-SDI outputs.
Previously only available in 16:9/HD/regular speed,
other recording modes now also benefit from a clean
Log C signal on REC OUT while a Rec 709 signal
with overlays and an optional ARRI Look File can be
output on MON OUT.
SUP 10 & 11 - New Features

7
Overview
SUP 11 Feature Overview
• New ARRI Debayer Algorithm ADA-5
• ProRes 3.2K recording up to 30fps
• ARRIRAW Checksum in the file header
• Framelines saved in ARRIRAW Metadata
• Support for Lens Data Encoder LDE-1
• Support for Rev C SxS PRO+ Memory Cards
(SBP-64C and SBP-128C)
• Support for SanDisk CFast 2.0 128 GB
Memory Cards
• Advanced WCU-4 support
• Updated Web Remote GUI (V2.0)
• User Button „Check last clip end“ and
„Check last clip start“
SUP 10 Feature Overview
• ProRes 4444 XQ recording up to 75 fps
(ALEXA XT and XR)
• Support for SxS PRO+ 64GB and 128GB cards
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• 180° Image Rotation
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• Open Gate Support for ALEXA M (ALEXA XT M)
• REC OUT = Clean MON OUT
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• ARRIRAW 4:3 Cropped recording for 96 fps
with anamorphic lenses (ALEXA XT and XR)
• Fast regular/high speed switching
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• Dimmable status information
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• Monochrome status icons
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• Colored camera index letter
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• “Lens Squeeze Factor” metadata filed
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)
• Independent Peaking setting for playback
(ALEXA Classic, XT and XR)

8
Overview
The Home Screen

9
Overview
Home Screen Soft Buttons
The soft buttons lead to screens where the respective
settings can be changed. In the home screen, the
following info is displayed:
FPS: Set sensor frame rate
AUDIO: Set audio preferences
When on = audio levels are shown
OFF = turned off
DISABLED = sensor is not running at
sync-sound speed
SHUTTER: Set shutter angle (and turn mirror
shutter on/off for ALEXA Studio)
EI: Set exposure index (and insert internal
ND filter for ALEXA Studio).
COLOR: Set gamma for REC OUT output (REC)
and internal recording of ProRes or
DNxHD (INT).
{ blue_int_icon } = The selected
ARRI Look File is applied to internally
recorded footage.
{ blue_REC_icon } = The selected
ARRI Look File is applied to REC OUT.
{ red_int_icon } = (blinking) The CDL
server connection has been enabled,
but the CDL server cannot be reached.
WB: Set white balance, consisting of a Kelvin
value for red-blue correction and a CC
shift value for green-magenta correction
(shown as exponent).
ALEXA Studio Icons
Name Icon Description
Mirror
Shutter
Flashing Icon when the
Mirror Shutter is spinning.
View
Position Mirror Shutter in View position
Gate
Position Mirror Shutter in Gate position
ND filter ND filter active
V
M
S
G
ND

10
Overview
Home Screen Center Bar
TC Displays current timecode source
INT = internal TC source
EXT = external TC source
hh:mm:ss = timecode value without
frames
@24 = time base, 24 fps in this case
MASTER Only visible when camera is in external
synchronization mode (MASTER = this
camera is the master, SLAVE = this
camera is the slave)
Settings sync is active so multiple
cameras in external synchronization
mode share the same settings
BAT 1 Voltage level of power source present
at BAT connector, or percentage of
remaining capacity of attached battery
if it transmits this information.
BAT 2 Voltage level of battery attached to top
and/or back onboard battery adapter,
or percentage of remaining capacity if
attached battery transmits this
information.
REEL Identifies current reel. Consists of
camera index letter and reel counter.
CLIP Identifies current clip. Consists of clip
index letter and clip counter.
DUR Duration of current clip during
recording or length of last recorded
clip during standby. Shown as
h:mm:ss.
16:9 Active sensor mode (16:9, 4:3 or
OG (Open Gate))

11
Overview
ProRes 2K Displays active recording format
(ARRIRAW, ProRes (HD or 2K) or DNxHD).
SxS Pro Drive SxS PRO adapter or XR Capture Drive
inserted into slot.
00:19:28 Remaining capacity of loaded magazine.
FULL Loaded Magazine is full.
No Media No Magazine in slot.
Type Magazine does not support the
currently selected Recording format.
SxS 1 24:26 1 Remaining capacity of card in SxS slot
1 in minutes. Calculated for the set
frame rate and codec.
Note: these are only approximate values.
SxS 1 INHIB 1 Card 1 is write protected.
1 not available on ALEXA XT
SxS 1 FULL 1 Card 1 is full.
< Marks the active card.
• STBY The camera is in standby and
ready to record.
• PRE The camera is recording frames into
its ring buffer.
• REC The camera is recording.
• ERROR An error occured. Recording is not
possible. Press the INFO button for
more details. If nothing is shown
(neither the red/green bar), the
camera works properly, but no SxS
PRO card is present for recording.
INT/SxS Look
CDL Server active/connected
CDL Server active/not connected

12
Overview
Icons on Home Screen
Name Icon Description
General Important information
Warning waiting on the info
screen. Press the INFO
button for more details.
General An error occurred.
Error Press the INFO
button for more details.
Temperature Slight sensor temperature
Warning offset. Image quality might
be affected.
Temperature Great sensor temperature
Error offset. Image quality might
be affected seriously.
Lock Camera is locked.
Name Icon Description
SD Card SD Card present.
Turns orange during
card access.
Grab Still frame is being captured
to the SD card. A new still
frame can only be captured
when this is completed.
High Sensor is in high humidity
Humidity mode in very humid conditions
Mode (e.g. indoor swimming pool).
WRS Radio WRS radio is active.
Only on ALEXA Plus
and Studio.

13
Overview
ALEXA Studio left side. Additional buttons VIEW & GATE for mirror control.

14
Overview
MON OUT Icons

15
Overview
Name Icon Description
General Important information
Warning waiting on the info
screen. Press the INFO
button for more details.
General An error occurred.
Error Press the INFO
button for more details.
Temperature Slight sensor temperature
Warning offset. Image quality might
be affected.
Temperature Great sensor temperature
Error offset. Image quality might
be affected seriously.
Lock Home screen is locked.
Grab Stil frame is being captured
to the SD card. A new still
frame can only be captured
when this is completed.
Audio Audio recording
enabled/disable
Name Icon Description
Peaking Peaking enabled for EVF
and/or MON OUT.
Smooth mode Smooth mode active/in-active
on EVF
Recording Displays current SxS
resolution resolution (HD or 2K).
Gamma Displays Gamma
setting for EVF
or MON OUT.
Look active A look is active/burned-in
on EVF, MON OUT and/or
Internal recording.
CDL server
connected/disconnected.
Return IN Return is active, image from
RET/SYNC IN input is shown.

16
Overview
For internal recording, ALEXA Classic cameras have
an SxS Module. They can record QuickTime/ProRes or
MXF/DNxHD files to Sony SxS PRO/SxS PRO+ cards.
ALEXA Classic cameras with an XR Module upgrade or
ALEXA XT cameras have the XR Module instead, which
allows them to record to XR Capture Drives, Sony SxS
PRO/SxS PRO+ cards and CFast 2.0 cards.
Uncompressed ARRIRAW can only be recorded to
XR Capture Drives, but ProRes and DNxHD can be
recorded to all three media. SxS PRO/SxS PRO+ or
CFast 2.0 cards require a mechanical adapter from
ARRI. XR Capture Drives share the same mechanical
interface as other Codex Capture and Transfer Drives,
but only XR drives can be used for recording on
ALEXA cameras.
Recording Media
For detailed information on data- and frame-rates
within the ALEXA Classic and ALEXA XT cameras have
a look at our “ALEXA SUP 11 Data Rates” and
ALEXA SUP 11 Max Frame Rates” documents within
the “Technical Information” section at http://www.arri.
com/camera/alexa/downloads.

17
Overview
CFast 2.0 Card
CFast 2.0 Adapter
XR Capture DriveSxS PRO Card SxS PRO+ Card
SxS Adapter

18
Overview
ALEXA XT Recording Matrix
1 DNxHD 444 is not available in High Speed Mode
2 ProRes 2K is limited to 30fps on 32GB SxS PRO cards
3 ProRes 3.2K is available for ALEXA XT and ALEXA Classic cameras with the XR Module upgrade only.
Recording
Media
Internal recording
onto XR Capture Drives
Internal Recording
with SxS or CFast 2.0 Adapter
(onto SxS PRO/SxS PRO+/CFast 2.0 card)
External
recording
Recording
Format
ARRIRAW
uncom-
pressed
HD
ProRes
& DNxHD1
HD
High
Speed
ProRes
& DNxHD
2K
ProRes
3.2K
ProRes3
HD
ProRes
& DNxHD
HD
High
Speed
ProRes
& DNxHD1
2K
ProRes2
3.2K
ProRes3
HD
uncom-
pressed
16:9 2880x1620
(0.75-120fps)
1920x1080
(0.75-60fps)
1920x1080
(60-120fps)
2048x1152
(0.75-60fps)
3164x1778
(0.75-30fps)
1920x1080
(0.75-60fps)
1920x1080
(60-120fps)
2048x1152
(0.75-60fps)
3164x1778
(0.75-30fps)
1920x1080
(0.75-60fps)
4:3
Full
2880x2160
(0.75-90fps) – – 2048x1536 (0.75-48fps) –––2048x1536 (0.75-48fps) – –
4:3
Cropped
2578x2160
(0.75-96fps) –––––––––
Open
Gate
3414x2198
(0.75-75fps) –––––––––
Sensor Mode

19
Overview
uncompressed2x REC OUT
ARRIRAW
(16:9, 4:3, 4:3 cropped
or Open Gate)
HD-SDI 16:9 Clean image
HD-SDI with
information overlay
1 or 2x MON OUT HD-SDI 16:9
1x XR Capture Drive
ProRes 422
ProRes 422 HQ
ProRes 4444
ProRes 4444 XQ
1x XR Capture Drive
or SxS PRO/PRO+ card
or CFast 2.0 card
QuickTime 16:9 HD,
16:9/4:3 2K or 16:9 3.2K
MXF 16:9 HD
DNxHD 145
DNxHD 220x
DNxHD 444
ALEXA XT Output Overview

20
Overview
ALEXA Classic Recording Matrix
Recording Media
Internal Recording
onto SxS PRO/SxS PRO+ cards
External recording
via T-Link
External recording
via HD-SDI
Recording
Format
HD
ProRes &
DNxHD
HD
High Speed
ProRes &
DNxHD1
2K
ProRes2
ARRIRAW
uncompressed
HD
uncompressed
Sensor
Mode
16:9 1920x1080
(0.75-60fps)
1920x1080
(60-120fps)
2048x1152
(0.75-60fps)
2880x1620
(0.75-60fps)
1920x1080
(0.75-60fps)
4:3 – – 2048x1536
(0.75-48fps)
2880x2160
(0.75-48fps) –
1 DNxHD 444 is not available in High Speed Mode.
2 ProRes 2K is limited to 30fps on 32GB SxS PRO cards.