ARRI have announced a major new recording feature for its ALEXA camera range, offering in-camera support for Avid®’s open standard and widely adopted Avid DNxHD® codec.

The Avid DNxHD recording function for ALEXA will be distributed as a downloadable software upgrade during January 2012, and is now entering beta phase testing with selected broadcast productions.

Avid DNxHD codec data rates of up to 145Mbit/s (bit depth 8 bit) and 220MBit/s (bit depth 10 bit) will be supported in the initial release.

Avid’s highest quality version of the codec, Avid DNxHD 444, will record at 440Mbit/s at 10 bit depth and will be provided as an upgrade for all adopting customers later on during the first quarter of 2012.

In addition, Alexa’s new firmware upgrade (SUP 5) offers an optional high-speed function for shooting up to 120fps – excellent news for Production’s wishing to shoot slow-mo and removing the need to swap camera systems for high-speed shooting on set.