ARRI Sound Devices PIX 240i Manual

INTERCONNECTION AND SETUP OF
ARRI ALEXA WITH
SOUND DEVICES PIX 240i
®
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Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Introduction
Sound Devices PIX 240i recorder is a powerful, flexible recording companion for the Arri
Alexa. The Alexa’s built-in recorder records to removable SxS cards. Recording to the PIX 240i
provides a secondary recording destination for immediate back up, a different storage medium
type, and a different codec. Because the PIX 240i records to either Apple ProRes or Avid
DNxHD files, a connected PIX 240i can be set differently from the camera to provide files for
different purposes. One common application for the PIX 240i files is as REC 709 proxy files for
instant dailies along with LOG C files recorded to the SxS cards.
To get the most out of the PIX 240i, proper connection and setup are necessary. Various settings
in both the Alexa and PIX 240i are described in this note.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Interconnection
Connect the PIX 240i to either of camera’s REC OUT SDI connectors. Connect to SDI IN on the
PIX 240i.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Alexa Menu Settings
Numerous menu setting on the Alexa are necessary for proper interconnection with the PIX
240i including:
• HD-SDI format type
• Output frame rate
• Scan format
• Output range
• SDI remote
• Color gamma
• Time code
Each step is described below.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Alexa Menu
Access the “REC OUT” settings in the Arri Alexa’s menu by navigating to Menu > Recording >
REC OUT.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Frame Rate - Alexa Setting
This setting controls the frame rate being
sent to the REC OUT SDI outputs used
to send the digital video signal to the PIX
240i. The PIX 240i will accept any frame
rate compatible with the PIX 240i.
HD-SDI Format - Alexa Setting
When recording 4:2:2 on the PIX 240i,
this should be set to 422 1.5G SL.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Scan Format - Alexa Setting
Available options include “psf”
(progressive segmented frame), and
“p” (progressive). Both options result
in a usable signal being sent to the PIX.
Progressive is recommended because no
scan conversion takes place.
Output Range - Alexa Setting
Set to Legal. An image encoded in 10-bit
legal range has a code value range from
64 to 940 (876 code values), and a 10-bit
extended range signal has a code value
range from 4 to 1019 (1015 code values).
Apple specifies that ProRes should use the
legal range.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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SDI Remote - Alexa Setting
Set SDI Remote to “On”. Once set, the
SDI start/stop trigger is sent to the SDI
outputs of the Alexa. This tells the PIX
240i to start and stop recording along
with the Alexa. If off, the PIX 240i will not
start and stop with the Alexa.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Gamma - Alexa Setting
The Alexa’s digital video output can be set to different colorspaces. From the home screen press
the center circular button under the LCD labeled “COLOR”. Next, press the button labeled
“GAMMA”. Set the SDI output to REC 709 for accurate color representation on the PIX 240i
screen. If set to any other colorspace, color grading is required after recording.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Timecode - Alexa Setting
This setup describes the Alexa as the master timecode source, with its timecode signal carried
over SDI. Verify the timecode settings of the Alexa. On the Alexa, press the blue button labeled
“TC” and the press the button labeled “OPTIONS” on the bottom left of the LCD. Set “Source”
to “Int TC”. Set “Mode” to “Free Run”.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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PIX 240i Settings
Once the Arri Alexa has been properly configured, the PIX 240i must be set to accept start/stop
flags and to read Alexa filename metadata.
Press Menu and set the following:
• Video > Video Input > SDI
• Video > File Resolution/Rate > Same as Video Input
• File Storage > File Name Format > Arri File Format
• System > Rec Start/Stop > SDI Flag - Arri
• Timecode Sync > Timecode Mode > Ext TC (SDI,HDMI)

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Video Input - PIX 240i Setting
To set the PIX 240i to receive its video signal
from the SDI input, press the Menu button
and select Video. Set the Video Input option
to SDI. The PIX 240i will begin using the SDI
input.
File Resolution/Rate - PIX 240i Setting
When the PIX 240i is set to Same as Video
Input, it records the files in the exact format
as the input. If set to anything other than
Same as Video Input, the onboard hardware
scaler activates and converts the PIX 204i
output and recording to the set rate. This
setting controls both the SDI and HDMI
outputs of the PIX 240i.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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File Name Format - PIX 240i Setting
To set the PIX 240i to read the embedded
SDI metadata from the Alexa and write it
to the recorded files, select File Storage.
Set the File Name Format option to Arri
File Format in the drop-down menu. The
PIX 240i will extract the Unique Camera
ID, Reel, and Clip Counter from the Alexa
and apply them to the file’s CamID, Reel
number, and Clip number respectively. This
is important when using PIX 240i files as
off-line edits that will be replaced with the
Arri files later in post.
ARRI File Name
The illustration below shows the file name syntax, carried over from the Alexa, applied to
recorded PIX 240i files.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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REC Start/Stop - PIX 240i Setting
To set the PIX 240i to start and stop
recording along with the Alexa, enter
the System menu. Set the Rec Start/Stop
option to SDI-Flag Arri in the drop-down
menu. The PIX 240i will now begin to
record and stop with the Alexa.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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Timecode Mode - PIX 240i Setting
To set the PIX 240i to read the embedded
timecode metadata within the SDI stream,
enter the Timecode/Sync menu. Set
Timecode Mode to Ext TC (SDI,HDMI).
The PIX 240i will now receive its timecode
from the embedded timecode metadata
in the SDI input.
Because the Alexa is the master timecode generator in this setup, make certain to verify the
Alexa timecode settings.

Interconnection and Setup of Arri Alexa with Sound Devices PIX 240i www.sounddevices.com
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More
For more information on Sound Devices PIX 240i visit the web pages linked below:
• PIX 240i Technical Notes
• PIX 240i Product Overview
• Arri Alexa Web Page
• ARRI Alexa FAQ