Arri RAW data rate

[Neil Sadwelkar] " did search for 'data rate' for ArriRAW files on this forum and came up with no results. "

Does not surprise me Neil, I don't believe the question has come up before.

There are 2 main issues when working with ArriRaw, first is that it cannot be recorded as compressed content so ArriT-Link certifications are limited to Uncompressed recording devices from companies like Stwo, KG and Codex.

the D21:
2880 x 2160 RAW 12 bit Bayer data @ 23.976p, 24p, 25p
2880 x 1620 RAW 12 bit Bayer data @ 29.97p, 30p

Alexa:
2880 x 1620 RAW 12 bit Bayer data @ 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94,60 PsF requires a recorder with Variframe support. Recording ARRIRAW requires an ARRIRAW T-Link certifed recorder

So for standard production frame rates (24 & 25) you are looking at roughly 250MB -300 MB per second for the ArriRaw data rate when recorded via Arri's T-link (a modified

Since ArriRaw is a true LOG format, that 12 bit sensor data actually holds the same amount of data as a 16bit RGB linear that would require a data rate OVER 460MB per second to playback.


This is why everyone is so excited over working in ProRes4444 in LogC, as a 12bit Log recording- especially a compressed one - offers users far beyond what has ever been possible in post, as data streams this rich have been as rare as unicorns in production, everyone knows they exist but no one has ever seen one.

gary adcock
Studio37

Post and Production Workflow Consultant
Production and Post Stereographer
Chicago, IL

http://blogs.creativecow.net/24640

2880 x 2160 D21 footage recorded on s.two (RAW wrapped in DPX) is about 11 MB per frame. That makes current Alexa model 8 MB per frame I think.

The ecosystem s.two tries to built around Arri digital cameras looks good on paper but in real life it doesn't work as advertised yet. Their a.dock can back up to LTO just fine but I would like to see a real person who managed to pull selects back from storage with an EDL.

It's actually a 1.5 megapixel difference. At 12 bits per pixel.