Blackmagic RAW

[Craig Seeman]

At this point I think it BMD has no reason to support ProRes RAW and will leave it to Apple to implement. I think the SDK is the gauntlet thrown. I don’t think Apple will implement though.

If Apple doesn’t it may push some people to move to Resolve. While clients don’t care what you edit with, they do care about quality and if BMD RAW looks better than Apple ProRes (if you shoot with BMD cameras and many do) some productions may move from FCPX to Resolve.

Apple may facilitate Arri to implement in their cameras but short of that, I think this is a serious strike to FCPX in some markets where RAW may be important. Arri has its own RAW so that’s not integral to Arri. I’m honestly not sure how Apple competes with this.

[Eric Santiago]

A lot of maybes but man would you edit in Resolve today?

I tried, trust me I tried.

[David Cherniack]

[Craig Seeman] “I’m honestly not sure how Apple competes with this.”

I can’t see it either. This another mind boggling leap from these magnificent freaks.

David
https://AllinOneFilms.com

[Oliver Peters]

A valuable difference between ProRes RAW in FCPX versus BMD RAW in Resolve (and potentially other apps) is that with BMD RAW, you have access to the RAW settings in post, just like with REDCODE RAW. ProRes RAW color processing happens after the DeBayer (demosaicing) step. Also, according to Grant’s video, you can re-render to BMD RAW for consolidation/trimming of the clips.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters – oliverpeters.com

[Michael Gissing]

At 12:1 you are looking at files close to half the size of ProresRAW. I can now see why Grant was so dismissive of ProResRAW at NAB. The Blackmagic RAW is a vast improvement on both cDNG and ProResRAW. With an open SDK it isn’t as proprietary as ProResRAW. I think cDNG and ProResRAW are going to languish. I doubt RED will embrace it but who knows if they and Arri might not offer it as an option instead of ProRes codecs.

Cross platform and open codecs are essential. I think ProResRAW is effectively an isolated format and likely to never gain traction. If X doesn’t include BRAW it will also become isolated. I’m so looking forward to never using quicktime ever again.

[Craig Seeman]

[Michael Gissing] ” if they and Arri might not offer it as an option instead of ProRes codecs.”

I can certainly see Arri using it. I think a big question is licensing.
If the SDK encourages implementation in Avid and PPro then BMD RAW may be to their advantage.
What we don’t know is if BMD intends to license the codec to other camera manufacturers.
We don’t know the business model specifics.

Keep in mind BMD and Apple are businesses. Neither really are dependent on NLE sales for the bulk of their revenue.
Both Apple and BMD are really hardware companies.
Apple wants to sale computers (and phones).
BMD wants to sell cameras, switchers, grading consoles, capture/convertors.
Both may look at codec licensing as part of their business model.
If allowing BMD RAW into other cameras creates competition for BMD cameras it may mean Licensing is an alternate revenue stream. I don’t think they’re going to give that away. Giving it away to NLEs is a different story if it makes BMD cameras a more viable purchase because of a usable RAW workflow.

Apple can hold out implementing BMD in FCPX but I’m not sure what leverage they have at this point.
I can’t see how ProRes RAW is preferable to BMD RAW for camera manufactures though.

[Craig Seeman]

You tested the BMD RAW samples in Resolve 15.1 (just released)?
I’d have thought BMD would have tested that specifically.

[Michael Hancock]

From the Blackmagic website:

“Blackmagic RAW is the world’s only truly modern, high performance, professional RAW codec that is open, cross platform and free. The codec is supported via the free SDK on Mac OS, Windows and Linux systems. Best of all, there are no hidden licenses or ongoing fees. Blackmagic RAW has been designed to provide the industry with an open, elegant and standardized high quality image format that can be used across products and in customer workflows absolutely free!”

This is what ProResRAW should have been from day 1 if it wanted fast, widespread support/adoption.

[Craig Seeman] “If allowing BMD RAW into other cameras creates competition for BMD cameras it may mean Licensing is an alternate revenue stream. I don’t think they’re going to give that away. “

Go to 24:30 in the video. He says it may be possible to implement it in another camera, but doesn’t commit to it.

I’m about 99.99% certain I’ll get BlackmagicRAW files before I ever get ProResRAW. I downloaded the sample clips and have been playing with it a bit. It’s impressive.

—————-
Michael Hancock
Editor

[Eric Santiago]

I honestly thought they should have had this done years ago.
I purchased two BMCC at the start and ended canceling due to their screwed up availability dates.
I am glad they have an option.
We all win 🙂

[Shawn Miller]

[Michael Hancock] “This is what ProResRAW should have been from day 1 if it wanted fast, widespread support/adoption.”

Honestly, this is what I had always hoped for Cineform RAW – but I’m glad BMD is taking this approach. I think this increases the value of BMD cameras (that shoot BMDRAW) tenfold… now, if they would just bring it to the Ursa 4.6k cameras…

Shawn