We are proud to announce the release of AMIRA Software Update Package 1. 1 for all ARRI AMIRA cameras. This version expands functions for all AMIRA models as indicated below.
SUP 1. 1 includes major improvements for AMIRA and we strongly recommend installing this update at your earliest convenience on all AMIRA camera models.
New features & changes overview:
- Pre Record Function
- Bluetooth audio monitoring & comment track
- Remote control
- White Balance Auto Tracking
- HD-SDI out setup (status overlay)
- Faster boot up time
- Waveform monitor in EVF & Fold-out Monitor
- SMPTE Color bars
- ENG lens control (auto iris, return, start/stop recording)
- HD SDI sync (Genlock)
- Audio channels decoupling
- Simplified messaging
- Playback button behavior
- EF lens iris control
- New improved de-bayering
- Many UI and Menu improvements
- H + V image flip (for UWZ support)
- LDS Quicktime metadata support
- LDS data display in EVF/Monitor/SDI (Iris, Focus, Zoom)
- Image Sharpness & Detail parameters
- Improved viewfinder zoom & Peaking function
- Temporary license support
- High Humidity mode
- Audio Line input level enhanced
- Support for new generation SanDisk 128 GB card
Prerecord Function:
- Activating this function enables the camera to continuously loop-record to an internal buffer. Pressing the REC button starts the recording and prepends the buffered content to the beginning of the recorded clip.
- Go to MENU > Recording to set the desired prerecording duration. You can activate prerecording by assigning it to a user button in MENU > User buttons.
Bluetooth audio monitoring & comment track:
- With SUP 1. 1 audio can be monitored while recording or playback using a Bluetooth headset.
- Supported protocols are HFP (handsfree 1. 5/1. 6) and A2DP. With the HFP protocol, there is also a talk back channel, which is recorded as an individual audio track in the QuickTime clips (track 5). This may be used for adding comments while recording.
- The Bluetooth setup can be found the audio SETUP menu on the left side of the camera.
Ethernet Remote Control:
- You can control the camera menu using a web browser on a laptop (or another device with support for Ethernet connection) that is connected to the camera with an Ethernet (RJ-45) cable.
- Connecting with WiFi is not supported yet with SUP 1. 1, this feature is now planned for a later SUP.
- If your device does not support Bonjour (Apple), you have to set your device's IP to the IP range of the camera and connect to the camera using the IP address. Use the INFO button (lower round button next to the (i) icon) > Network info to see the IP address of the camera.
White Balance Auto Tracking:
- This function continuously measures the color temperature of the captured image and adjusts the white balance of the camera in steps of 10 K respectively 0. 1 CC.
- To configure white balance tracking, go to HOME > WB > OPTIONS and set WB Tracking… to On. This will enable dynamic tracking auto white balance for the WB switch position IV.
HD-SDI out setup (status overlay, format):
- The HD-SDI outputs can be set to show status overlays and frame lines in different configurations.
- To configure the HD-SDI outputs, go to MENU > Monitoring > SDI > SDI processing
Faster boot up time:
- AMIRA now boots in about 13 seconds.
Waveform monitor in EVF & Fold-out Monitor:
- A luminance waveform display can be activated for the monitor and the viewfinder, offering a further exposure control beside Zebra and False color.
- The waveform display can be enabled by assigning it to a user button in MENU > User buttons. With the viewfinder monitor live image mode, pressing the upper middle soft button toggles the monitor waveform on/off. Waveform can be activated independently for the EVF and the monitor.
- Note: The waveform readout is normalized for gamma, and represents the gamma of EVF/Monitor and not necessarily the recording path.
SMPTE Color bars:
- The camera can now output SMPTE color bars to set up a connected monitor. To enable color bars, go to MENU > Monitoring and set Color bars to On.
- Note: The color bars are displayed on EVF/Monitor and HD SDI out, but are not recorded on CFast 2. 0 cards.
ENG lens control (auto iris, return, start/stop recording):
- With an ENG style lens, like the Fujinon Cabrio or the Canon CN17x7 with PL mounts or also a standard 2/3’ lens with B4 mount, connected using a Hirose 12/20 pin lens camera cable, new functions are supported.
- Beside start/stop recording (already in SUP 1. 0), the iris can be set automatically by the iris button on the lens servo. There is also the option to assign a user button function for the “Return” button.
- These functions are not available through LDS contacts, but only when a lens camera cable is connected.
Genlock sync with HD SDI signal:
- To sync AMIRA with other cameras or screens, you can feed a 1, 5G HD-SDI signal into the “Sync In” connector and activate the Genlock function.
- To activate Genlock, go to MENU > System > Sensor and set Genlock to Slave or Master.
- Set to Master if AMIRA is used to sync other cameras, set to Slave if AMIRA is synced by another camera.
Audio channels decoupling:
- The stereo input channels A1 and 2, as well as the mono input channels B and C no longer have a ganged level setting, when the gain is set to MAN + L (manual gain with limiter) and AUTO (automatic gain).
Simplified messaging:
- The user messaging system has been simplified and restructured. The (!) button on the HOME screen shows the ALERTS screen that lists all critical system states. The (i) button shows the new INFO screen with all camera information on a single page. Status icons and popup messages have replaced the info states and events lists.
Playback button behavior:
- Press and hold the playback button for about one second to activate playback on the viewfinder. This should prevent accidental activation of the playback mode.
EF lens iris control:
- The iris for EF mount lenses can be controlled by the camera user interface. There are different methods available:
a) For dialing in an iris value, go to Home > EI > Iris: the iris can be adjusted with the viewfinder jog wheel. Pressing the jog wheel changes step size between full stops and sub-stops. Sub-stop precision depends on the lens type and is automatically set by camera.
b) On the Live screen, iris adjustment can be activated and deactivated by pressing the lower, round button. Keep pressing activates the iris adjustment only for the duration of the button pressing. While active, the iris value can be adjusted with the jog wheel. Pressing the jog wheel changes step size between full stops and sub-stops. Sub-stop precision depends on the lens type and is automatically set by camera.
c) Assign a user button with "Open iris" and another one with "Close iris" to control the iris. Short press triggers sub stops steps, long press triggers full stops steps. See the user button chapter in the manual on how to assign user buttons.
d) Auto Iris: Go to Home > EI > Iris > Options
New improved de-bayering:
- SUP 1. 1 includes a new and improved de-bayering algorithm, further improving the image quality of the AMIRA.
Many UI and Menu improvements:
- The home screen parameter adjustment is simplified: For FPS, SHUTTER, EXP TIME, EI, LOOK and WB, the SET functions have been moved from the lower middle screen button to the jog wheel. This allows faster adjustments with less finger movements.
- The DELETE functions in delete screens have also been moved to the jog wheel, while CONFIRM still remains a screen button for safety reasons.
- The Project settings sub-menu is now under MENU > Recording, for project related settings.
- The Audio setup screen has been prepared for a hardware upgrade, supporting to switch between 8 and 24 dBu maximum line level inputs. This will be functional only on cameras with this specific audio hardware integrated (IOAU2).
- Instead of displaying single licenses, the camera license model is shown under MENU > Licensed features. Pressing the FEATURES button displays the detailed features of a license model. With the DELETE button, the camera can be downgraded to Advanced (for Premium cameras) or Eco (for Premium and Advanced cameras). Upgrade back to the previous license can be done with the appropriate individual license files loaded from a USB stick.
- Change of project rate matches sensor fps: When setting the project rate, the sensor fps is automatically matched to result in real time recording. Checking SDI frame rate is also suggested by a popup message, including a direct link.
- Note: When the user switch is set to FPS, a popup message will display the correct fps for real time recording.
- Non-real time warning: When the sensor fps setting does not result in real time recording (quick-motion or slow-motion), the FPS labels in the home screen, the monitor live screen, the EVF and the SDI overlays turn orange to prevent accidental recording at un-intended frame rates.
- Battery and Media capacities are flashing grey/orange when reaching warning levels (battery warning levels as user defined, card warning level at a capacity < 2 minutes. ) on home screen, monitor live image, EVF and SDI overlays.
- Smart User Button Behavior: For several functions the user button behavior has been changed, so that a short press toggles the assigned function, while a long-press (press and keep) activates it temporarily. Functions supported: EVF peaking, EVF exp. tool, EVF zoom, EVF Gamma, EVF surround, EVF frame lines, Return In, SDI frame lines, SDI gamma, SDI surround, SDI peaking, SDI exp. Tool, EVF Waveform, Monitor Waveform
- Popup when a switch position was changed while the camera Lock was activated
H + V image flip (for UWZ support):
- For certain use cases and when using the ARRI Ultra Wide Zoom, the camera image can be mirrored horizontally and/or vertically.
- To activate image mirroring, go to MENU > System > Sensor and set Mirror image to V”, “H” or “V+H”.
LDS Quicktime metadata support:
- With a lens, supporting lens data (ARRI Lens Data System LDS, Cooke /i, ENG-style lenses) the iris/focus/zoom settings are recorded as metadata within the ProRes QuickTime files.
LDS data display in EVF/Monitor/SDI (Iris, Focus, Zoom):
- The lens data for iris, zoom and focus can be displayed as an overlay on the monitoring outputs.
- To check lens metadata, go to HOME > (i) > Lens data.
- To display lens metadata on the monitor or in the viewfinder eyepiece, go to MENU > Monitoring > EVF/Monitor > EVF overlays or Monitor overlays > Status components and activate Lens data.
- The setting for SDI can be found in MENU > Monitoring > SDI > SDI processing > SDI overlays > Status components.
Image Sharpness & Detail parameters:
- The parameters for Image sharpness and Image detail allow adjusting the image for a generally sharper (or also a softer) look. This may be helpful for matching different lens types or for an overall harder (or softer)looking image.
- The sharpness parameter adjusts the definition of edges. Higher values will result in a larger local i. e. harder contrast. Lower values result in a softer looking image.
- The detail parameter defines the resolving power for showing smaller image details.
- Both parameters range from -5 and +5. “0” is the default value and matches the Sharpness and Detail settings used in SUP 1. 0.
- Please make sure to judge the resulting image with an appropriate monitoring device, ideally a HD-SDI connected professional monitor with sufficient quality.
- To configure sharpness and detail, go to MENU > System > Sensor.
- The image sharpness increases from top to bottom. The image detail increases from left to right.
- The center image shows the default values (0) which match the sharpness and detail settings in SUP 1. 0.
Improved viewfinder zoom & Peaking function:
- The Zoom function for the viewfinder has a higher zoom factor and an increased visibility for details, offering an enhanced judgment for focus. It might also be used to check the image for the new Sharpness and Detail settings (if no HD-SDI connected monitor is at hand).
- The Peaking has a improved mapping and value range.
Temporary license support:
- Temporary licenses are now available in the AMIRA license webshop for “Advanced”, “Premium” and “Advanced to Premium” model upgrades.
- Temporary licenses are valid for one week (7 calendar days). The countdown only starts once the license is activated in the camera.
- Multiple licenses can be purchased and installed for extending the duration. Just make sure to activate the licenses according to the number count of the license.
- Purchase, download, installation and a finally the activation in the camera is done in the exactly same way as with permanent licenses.
- The license end time can be observed under MENU > System > Licensed features
High Humidity Mode:
- SUP 1. 1 includes a High Humidity Mode (available only for cameras which has been calibrated for that mode). The High Humidity Mode minimizes potential issue with fogging on the sensor, in environments with very high temperatures combined with a very high humidity (like in ranges of 40°C and 100% humidity). To enable High Humidity mode, go to MENU > System > Sensor and set Sensor temperature to High Humidity
- Note: This mode implies potential restrictions in image quality; please use it only when applicable.
Audio Line input level:
- For cameras with the new audio board (IAOU2), an increased audio line input level at 24dBu can be activated. This allow higher signal levels as used by some devices. To activate, please go to to SETUP > Maximum line levels and choose between +8 DBu and +24 dBu for IN A, B and C.
- Note: For cameras with IAOU1 board generation, these parameters are disabled.
Support for new generation SanDisk 128 GB cards:
- Beside the current SanDisk 60 GB and 120 GB CFast 2. 0 cards, SUP 1. 1 supports the new generation SanDisk 128 GB cards with firmware HDX 14. 14.
- Unfortunately SanDisk’s 64 GB cards (firmware HDX 14. 02 and HDX 14. 14) and 128 GB cards with firmware HDX 14. 02, are NOT supported due to technical limitations of the cards.
- Please note that no other cards can work with AMIRA running SUP 1. 1. Once new cards are supported, they will be enabled in a future SUP.
Camera Update Procedure:
- After the download, please double click the downloaded file (.zip) in order to unpack it or unpack it manually.
- If not done prior, prepare the USB stick for use with AMIRA by connecting it to the camera, navigating to MENU > Media > Prepare USB medium, and pressing CONFIRM. This will create the required folder structure on the USB stick.
- Connect the USB stick to your computer and place the downloaded SUP file in the folder ARRI/AMIRA/SUP on the USB stick.
- Then place the downloaded .lic file in the folder ARRI/AMIRA/LICENSES on the USB stick
- Make sure the camera is connected to a cable power source, or is powered with a full battery to avoid power loss during the update process.
- Connect the USB stick to the camera and navigate to MENU > System > Camera update.
- Select the SUP file from the list and press the jog wheel.
- In the following message, press CONFIRM to start the installation.
- Check the audio screen for the update process.
- After the update process has finished, a success message is displayed on the monitor.
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