In September 2024, Blackmagic Design introduced that it was working to deliver BRAW performance to Sony’s Cinema Line cameras. A firmware replace for the Blackmagic Video Help recording screens is scheduled to be launched this month that can lastly make {that a} actuality.
What’s BRAW?
Blackmagic RAW, or BRAW, is a video codec that delivers the advantages of RAW recording with smaller recordsdata which can be simpler and sooner to work with in post-production. The corporate additionally calls BRAW “the world’s quickest RAW format.” RAW video recordsdata historically document your digital camera’s sensor information with none picture processing. Nevertheless, BRAW strikes a part of the processing, referred to as demosaicing, again into your digital camera. Consequently, the BRAW video recordsdata play again easily with out requiring highly effective laptop processors.
Plus, you get all the advantages of RAW video, together with with the ability to change the ISO and white steadiness of the clips when colour grading.
Cross-platform open commonplace
The BRAW codec is an open commonplace that’s cross-platform and free. It’s obtainable on Home windows, Mac OS, and Linux techniques. The corporate has additionally made the SDK (software program improvement equipment) publicly obtainable to builders, utterly freed from cost with no licenses or charges ever. So, many third-party producers have now added help for BRAW recording to their cameras. These embrace cameras from Canon, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Leica, Nikon, Sigma and Z Cam. Nevertheless, generally, you have to to make use of Blackmagic Design’s Video Help monitor recorder to document BRAW externally.
Sony and BRAW
In September 2024, Blackmagic Design introduced that it was collaborating with Sony to introduce exterior BRAW recording capabilities to the Cinema Line collection of cameras. On the time, the FX9 was scheduled to get the improve first, earlier than rolling it out throughout the vary. Nevertheless, these priorities modified over the intervening 12 months, in order that now Sony’s FX3, FX3A, and FX30 are first in line for BRAW help. Sony launched firmware updates for these cameras final month, which added a menu possibility for exterior BRAW recording. Now it’s over to Blackmagic Design to replace the firmware for its Video Help 12G merchandise so as to add compatibility with the Sony cameras. That replace is due for launch this month. Earlier than the tip of the yr, the FX6 and FX9 ought to acquire BRAW recording as effectively.
What we predict
There are some within the video world who eschew BRAW for not being a real RAW codec. It is because some processing nonetheless occurs in-camera with the format. Nevertheless, to all intents and functions, you may deal with BRAW identical to you’d with different RAW codecs in post-production. Anybody who has labored with BRAW will even attest to how clean and straightforward it’s to play again, edit and colour grade.
If you’re a Sony shooter, you’ll quickly have the ability to expertise how good BRAW is as effectively, although you have to one of many newest 12G Video Help fashions. As well as, Blackmagic Design needs to be given enormous credit score for making BRAW freely obtainable to all builders and producers. A lot of its opponents intently guard their proprietary applied sciences with restrictive licenses and costs. BRAW is simply one other instance of Blackmagic Design serving to to make cinema-grade video extra accessible to everybody.
