Transcript
ALEXA Software Update Packet 2.1.2 Release Notes December 17, 2010 Introduction The ALEXA Software Update (SUP) 2.1.2 provides important features like 60 fps ProRes recording and 3D sync as well as an improvement in the software stability, especially for ProRes recording. All new ALEXAs will have SUP 2.1.2 installed, and all existing cameras can be upgraded with SUP 2.1.2. Please note that SUP 2.1 had an unexpected issue with the updating process, and was be replaced by 2.1.1. In order to assure the best image quality in the ARRI Electronic Viewfinder EVF-1, we had to reduce the maximum brightness of the viewfinder to brightness level 5, which is what most operators had set the viewfinder to anyway. This change is implemented in 2.1.2 Update Recommendation As this update contains important new features and improves stability, we highly recommend for all ALEXA owners to update. However, if you have already updated successfully to SUP 2.1, there is no need to update again to 2.1.2. Both versions have exactly the same features, except that the upgrade process sometimes could fail for 2.1. Downgrading Even though we do not recommend it, it is possible to downgrade back to 2.1 from a camera that has SUP 2.1.2 installed. Before and after the downgrade a “reset to factory settings” should be done. Because there is an issue with the upgrade process in 2.1, we recommend not to downgrade from 2.1.2 to 2.1. It is not possible to downgrade back to 2.0 or earlier software versions.
ALEXA Software Update Packet 2.1 Release Notes
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Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 Update Recommendation.......................................................................... 1 Downgrading ............................................................................................. 1 About Updating ............................................................................................ 3 Download and Registration Process ......................................................... 3 Registration ............................................................................................... 3 Camera Update Procedure via SD Card ................................................... 3 Updating only The Electronic Viewfinder EVF-1 with a Computer ............ 4 Changes ........................................................................................................ 5 Imaging...................................................................................................... 5 QuickTime/ProRes Recording................................................................... 5 Outputs...................................................................................................... 5 Electronic Viewfinder................................................................................. 5 Timecode................................................................................................... 5 Remote Control ......................................................................................... 5 User Interface............................................................................................ 6 Accessories ............................................................................................... 6 Service/Manufacturing............................................................................... 6 Known Issues ............................................................................................... 7 Imaging...................................................................................................... 7 QuickTime/ProRes Recording................................................................... 7 Outputs...................................................................................................... 7 Electronic Viewfinder................................................................................. 7 Timecode................................................................................................... 7 Remote Control ......................................................................................... 7 User Interface............................................................................................ 8 Accessories ............................................................................................... 8 Service/Manufacturing............................................................................... 8
ALEXA Software Update Packet 2.1 Release Notes
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About Updating Download and Registration Process You have to register your ALEXA camera by serial number to download Software Update Packets (SUP). SUPs can then be uploaded to the camera either from an SD card, or from a computer via the ALEXA Ethernet/RJ-45 Cable (3.00m/9.8ft) KC 153-S cable (K2.72021.0). Registration • If you have not registered yet, go to the ALEXA downloads web page at http://www.arri.com/goto/alexa-dl. When the page loads there will be a selection of downloads. Please go to section 'ALEXA Software Update Packet 2.1.2' and click on 'Please -> register to get an account.' The ALEXA customer registration page will be opened. • Fill in the relevant data and make sure to put in the serial number(s) of your camera(s) in the format of K1.71000.0-2xxx. Don't forget to agree to the registration terms at the end of the page • When you hit the 'create account' button the system will send you an acknowledgement email with a link for the activation of your account. After following the link a welcome mail is sent to you containing the login credentials. Please login at http://www.arri.com/login/login.html and navigate to the downloads again. • Most of the downloads, such as technical information and manuals, are downloadable now. To access the software package downloads you have to apply for the activation to be entitled to download software by clicking on '-> Apply for activation to access this file'. A pop-up window will ask you to 'Apply for activation' please do so. • The activation process is a manual procedure so this might take up to one workday. You will receive a mail when your software download has been activated. • Upon access of the software package download you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions of this download. If you agree to these terms the download link is released. Camera Update Procedure via SD Card This package updates the ALEXA camera as well as the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF-1). In order to receive the update the EVF-1 must be connected to the camera when the update is started. Precautions • Make sure the power supply of the camera is stable. The best way to achieve this is by using a mains power supply attached to the battery socket. We strongly recommend against updating an ALEXA that is powered through a battery. Preparing the SD Card: • Have a FAT16 or FAT32 formatted SD-Card ready • Create the following folder structure on the SD-Card o folder named "ARRI" in root of SD card o folder named "ALEXA" inside the "ARRI" folder o folder named "Firmware" inside the "ALEXA" folder • Take the update package .pkg file and copy it to the "Firmware" folder on the SD card. Performing the Update: • Turn the camera on. • Insert the SD card into the SD card slot of the camera. The slot is located below the display on the bottom of the camera. The direction how the SD card has to be inserted is shown on the camera housing. • A card icon will show up in the notification area of the Graphical User Interface (GUI). If not, the card is not recognized by the camera. • If necessary please save your current settings to SD-Card. • Go into the INFO menu by pressing the 'INFO' button. • Dump a camera log file onto the SD-Card by pressing 'SAVE TO SD'. • Press the MENU button. • Turn the wheel until you select "System", then press the wheel. • Turn the wheel until you select "Firmware" then press the wheel. • The Firmware screen shows you which packet is currently installed (Current version: xxx).
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• Press the wheel to select the update file. • The list shows you all firmware files that are available on the SD card. • Choose the desired package and press the two lower outer screen buttons simultaneously to start the update. • DO NOT REMOVE THE SD CARD WHILE THE PACKAGE IS COPIED TO THE CAMERA! • When the copy dialogue screen disappears, you can remove the SD card if desired. • The update process will take 10 to 20 minutes. Wait until the update process has finished. This is indicated by a green screen telling that the update process is completed. • When updating from software package 1.0 to package 2.1 the camera’s display displays ‘Success’ for APIC, CMC, and ACOM at the end of the update process. The camera must then be rebooted manually even though the screen still says ‘Update in progress – do not power off the camera!’ This is done by pressing the ON/OFF button until the camera switches off, then pressing the button again. • The camera firmware is now updated and you can use the camera. • If the update process fails, try to repeat the update procedure. A failure would be indicated by a red screen. Updating only The Electronic Viewfinder EVF-1 with a Computer In the rare case that a viewfinder has not been updated with the camera, it is also possible to update an individual EVF-1 separately by using a computer. • Connect the EVF-1 to the camera • The ALEXA update page can be accessed by connecting the ALEXA Ethernet Cable (3.00m/9.8ft) KC 153-S to a computer. • Then enter the following URL into your browser: http://alexaXXXX.local/update.html (XXXX is the camera’s serial number). • On the resulting web page, click the button 'Update EVF' • You can watch the progress of the update on the screen • When the update is done, the last line on the screen reads successfully updated EVF. The update is now finished even though the web browser continues to refresh the page. This is normal.
ALEXA Software Update Packet 2.1 Release Notes
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Changes Imaging No changes QuickTime/ProRes Recording Higher Speeds When using SxS PRO cards purchased from ARRI, ALEXA can record from 0.75 to 60 fps with ProRes (Proxy), ProRes (LT), ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 (HQ). ProRes 4444 can be recorded from 0.75 to 40 fps. Erase and Quick Format When formatting SxS PRO cards in ALEXA, there are now two options: ERASE and QUICK FORMATTING. ERASE will overwrite all data on the card, and is recommended only after a show is finished so no footage is left on the cards. QUICK FORMATTING, as the name implies, is faster than ERASE. However, QUICK FORMATTING will erase only the directory entries of the card. The existing data on the card will remain there until it is overwritten with new data. Info Screen: Maximum fps Rate The Info screen now shows the maximum achievable frame rate for the SxS cards. ProRes/QuickTime Bugs Fixed • Fixed corrupt QuickTime files after editing in FCP. • Fixed "File exists" error when recording clip 0032. • Fixed spontaneous creation of separate folders and missing file system entries. • Recording was blocked when remaining time on card was less then 2 min. • Fixed random setting of playback speed of QuickTime clips to 24 fps. Outputs 3D Sync Precise synchronization of sensor timing and HD-SDI output timing between two ALEXA cameras for 3D applications is now possible. HD-SDI output phase jitter between two ALEXA cameras is below 40 ns. Synchronization of fps, shutter, timecode, sensor timing and the HD-SDI output is achieved through the “ALEXA EXT to EXT Cable (2.00m/6.6ft) KC 155-S (K2.72032.0)”. Settings Sync To simplify setting up two cameras for 3D applications, it is also possible to synchronize the settings of two cameras in a master/slave mode, called “Settings Sync” in the menu. The slave camera finds the master camera automatically. When recording to SxS PRO cards, a camera pair starts recording exactly at the same frame. Settings Sync is achieved via the “ALEXA Ethernet to Ethernet Cable (2.00m/6.6ft) KC 156-S (K2.72033.09)”. When settings sync is active, files recorded to SxS PRO cards are identically named except for the camera index and camera ID prefix. The phase between master and slave camera can be adjusted in increments of one HD clock tick (17ns) over a range of +/-30 ticks (1020 ns total) on each camera. ALEXA 3D Cable Set Please note that both cables are also available as a set with the order number K0.71032.0. Electronic Viewfinder No changes Timecode Timecode Bugs Fixed • Fixed dropped frames when synchronizing to timecode using EXT TC/REGEN with shutter wide open. • Improved lagging timecode display in home screen. Remote Control
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No changes User Interface Camera Stops Recording Bug Fixed • Fixed various issues that caused recording to stop immediately after starting. Accessories No changes Service/Manufacturing • A bug was fixed that could lead to very long update times and in a worst case scenario to an unsuccessful update process.
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Known Issues This is a list of known issues with this particular software update packet. For a listing of answers to frequently asked questions, please look on the web at http://www.arridigital.com/alexa/faq. Imaging No known issues QuickTime/ProRes Recording SxS Error During Long Recordings Sometimes when a long clip is recorded and the recording stops because the card is full there is also an error saying ‘Cards 1&2 Write error - Reboot!, Unexpected stop recording 14’. The recorded data is not affected. This usually occurs only when a single clip is being recorded using ProRes 422 Proxy or LT and the card is almost full, but in rare cases may also happen with other codecs and/or when there is still some space left on the card Interrupted Recoding Requires Re-formatting If a recording is interrupted, for instance by a power cut or by removing the card without stopping the recording, the card should be backed up and reformatted before recording onto it again. The contents of the card are readable, but the file system may become compromised if recording continues without reformatting. Previously formatted SxS Card not Usable If an SxS card had been formatted with Software Update Package 1.0, the camera display will show ‘Wrong file system’ upon insertion of the card. Re-format the card to make it usable. Outputs No known issues Electronic Viewfinder Flashing EVF Image at 8.xxx fps The viewfinder will show a flashing image if the camera sensor is set between 8.000 and 8.786 fps. Effects on other outputs have not been observed so far. Timecode Display of COUNTER/JAM SYNC Menu Item Even though jam synching is not possible in Int TC mode, ‘Generator: Jam Sync’ is shown as an option in the menu. This has no influence on the camera functions. 1 Frame TC Offset In Synchronized SxS Recordings Sometimes the timecode of clips recorded on master and slave cameras are offset by one frame when recording with a synchronized camera pair using EXT sync and settings sync at 59.94fps or 60fps. The sensors are still in sync, only the time code is affected. Both clips start at the same time code, but the content is shifted by one frame between the cameras. This problem only occurs at 59.94fps and 60fps. ALEXA Does Not Sync To !Lockit TC Generator ALEXA currently cannot synchronize to an external LockIt time code generator. For frame accurate synchronization please use an Ambient ACC501 master controller which is capable of tuning the ALEXA's time code clock to an accuracy of better than one frame per 8 hours. Remote Control Web Remote And EVF Menu Allow Changing Of Settings During Recording The web remote and the EVF menu do not block access to the sensor parameters during recording like the camera GUI. Changing these parameters while recording may cause the recording to stop due to a frame timeout error. Web Remote Is Slow in Internet Explorer Some of the web 2.0 technologies used by the ALEXA's web remote GUI are not compatible with Internet Explorer. The remote GUI is still displayed in Internet Explorer, but live updating is slow and usability is generally not as good as in Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.
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User Interface Frame Line Names Can Be Too Long It is possible to create an XML file on the SD card with frame line names that are too long for the ALEXA camera display. This is ugly but does not stop you from choosing the frame lines and has no influence on any other camera functions. Accessories No known issues Service/Manufacturing No known issues
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