ProRes RAW

DJI has updated its Zenmuse X7 camera to support the new ProRes RAW codec from Apple. Enabled through firmware updates, the Zenmuse X7 also gains performance enhancements that deliver improved workflows and image quality. These new features increase the power and efficiency of the Zenmuse X7 and reinforce its role in professional filmmaking as the world’s first Super35 digital camera designed for aerial cinematography. The firmware updates include:

Apple ProRes RAW Support: A free update for users with a CinemaDNG license, the Apple ProRes RAW offers the quality and workflow advantages of RAW with the incredible performance of ProRes.
14-Bit Recording: Newly added 14-bit RAW recording mode enables the Zenmuse X7 to capture cleaner scenes with less noise, delivering smoother tones and color transitions while preserving significant detail in both shadows and highlights.
Faster and Lighter Workflow: Enhanced data processing performance makes the Zenmuse X7 more nimble and capable with improvements to its file system and broader operating system compatibility.

Apple ProRes RAW Support
ProRes RAW from Apple offers the quality and workflow advantages of RAW with the incredible performance of ProRes. Editors can import, edit and grade pristine footage with RAW data from the camera sensor, providing ultimate flexibility when adjusting highlights and shadows, without slowing down their editing workflow. With the RAW activation package, ProRes RAW files are recorded natively in the Inspire 2/Zenmuse X7 and can be transferred directly to Final Cut Pro X for post-production. And ProRes RAW preserves image quality while maintaining smaller file sizes, allowing filmmakers to archive their footage with confidence.

14-Bit Recording
The new firmware allows filmmakers to record 14-bit CinemaDNG at 6K 23.976 fps, capturing less noise, smoother color transitions and tones while preserving significant detail in both shadows and highlights. With an increase to bit depth recording per pixel that improves overall image quality, filmmakers can rely on the Zenmuse X7 as a significant tool on set, capable of delivering high quality footage even in difficult lighting situations.

Faster and Lighter Workflow
A lighter and more agile data processing system makes the Zenmuse X7 easier to implement into the set as a valuable tool. As resolution and duration of recording increases the overall file sizes created, the Zenmuse X7 data system has been adapted to manage and process this information more efficiently utilizing the exFAT file system. The newly added format allows larger recordings of up to 32GB to be saved in one single file, streamlining the workflow by eliminating the need to merge smaller files in post processing. The exFAT format not only improves data management but also offers a wider compatibility among macOS and Windows operating systems.

Availability
The first firmware update offers 14-bit CinemaDNG recording and will be available in late April 2018. A second firmware update offering Apple ProRes RAW support and the newly added exFAT file system will be available in late May 2018. Both firmware updates are free as a download through DJI Assistant 2 or the DJI GO 4 mobile app, while the 14-bit CinemaDNG and ProRes RAW capabilities are only available to those with a CinemaDNG license. For more information on all the new updates, please visit: https://www.dji.com/inspire-2/info#downloads.ProRes RAW is here, a new high-efficiency codec that enables instant playback and editing without the need for any conversion. ProRes codecs have been an industry standard for a long time, but the codecs themselves are getting a little long in the tooth. A testament to how good the ProRes codecs are is that they are still widely used by ARRI as their primary compressed codec options in the Alexa.

The performance of ProRes with the flexibility of RAW. What Apple has done is to create a codec that is as easy to use as the existing ProRes options but with the flexibility of RAW. ProRes RAW allows you to import, edit and grade video with RAW data straight from your camera sensor without slowing down your edit. These RAW files provide maximum flexibility for adjusting the look of your video while extending brightness & shadow detail. This makes it a good solution for HDR workflows.

There are two variations of ProRes RAW. ProRes RAW is the equivalent of ProRes 422 HQ in terms of data rate. ProRes RAW HQ is the equivalent to ProRes 4444XQ. The data rate of ProRes RAW HQ is just a fraction of the of uncompressed 12-bit RAW. Both ProRes RAW and ProRes RAW HQ achieve excellent preservation of raw video content, with the additional quality available at the higher data rate of Apple ProRes RAW HQ. Compression-related visible artifacts are very unlikely with Apple ProRes RAW, and extremely unlikely with Apple ProRes RAW HQ. As is the case with existing ProRes codecs, the data rates of ProRes RAW are proportional to frame rate and resolution. ProRes RAW data rates also vary according to image content, but to a greater degree than ProRes data rates.

An update for FCPX will also be released on Monday that will enable full support for ProRes RAW. Unfortunately, it isn’t currently being supported by Adobe, Avid or anyone else. If you want to take advantage of ProRes RAW then you will need to be a user of FCPX. We do expect to see the NLE systems to support it in the future.

One of the other main benefits of using ProRes RAW is the rendering times. Rendering times for ProRes RAW compared to other RAW recording formats from RED and Canon are dramatically faster. For example, it’s 5.7x faster than rendering RED code 3:1 and 1.5x faster than Canon Cinema RAW Lite that is found in the C200.

Atomos support

Atomos the first company to support ProRes RAW. From Monday, a free firmware upgrade will be made available for owners of the Shogun Inferno and the Sumo 19. This upgrade will allow users to take the RAW signal from compatible camera and record that in ProRes RAW. Once the firmware is installed, it will allow the user to capture RAW images in up to 12-bit RGB — direct from many of the world’s most advanced cameras onto affordable SSD media. ProRes RAW files can be imported directly into Final Cut Pro 10.4.1 for high-performance editing, color grading, and finishing on Mac laptop and desktop systems.

Atomos doesn’t have an exclusive monopoly on ProRes RAW, DJI will also be implementing the codec into the Inspire 2’s Zenmuse X7 camera in May.

The Shogun Inferno and Sumo 19 free upgrade is backwards compatible and will also be available on Monday. The Shogun Inferno and Sumo 19 are the only Atomos products that can support ProRes RAW.

Supported cameras:

• Canon C300 Mark II
• Canon C500
• Sony FS700
• Sony FS5
• Sony FS7/FS7 II
• Panasonic Varicam LT
• Panasonic EVA1