ARRI is announcing support for the new Apple ProRes XQ, the highest-quality version of ProRes to date, which will be available in the next Software Update Packet for ALEXA cameras.
“Working with ProRes has been great for our customers,” says Marc Shipman-Mueller, ARRI’s Product Manager for Camera Systems. “Up until now, the ProRes 4444 330 Mb/s version has been the workhorse of professional filmmakers using the ALEXA. ProRes XQ has a higher target data rate of 500 Mb/s that makes it the ideal choice for postproduction that requires visual effects processing or extreme color grading.”
“ProRes 4444 XQ is a fantastic choice for high-end mastering and archiving,” says Henning Rädlein, ARRI’s Head of Digital Workflow Solutions. “ProRes XQ offers 12-bit RGB encoding with a low compression ratio of 1:4.5 that maintains the superior tonal range of Log C, while providing the speed, ease of use and familiarity of ProRes. The addition of ProRes XQ continues the ALEXA tradition of letting you choose the recording format that best matches your post workflow, distribution format, and budget.”
Final Cut Pro version 10.1.2 fully supports ProRes XQ for editing, compositing, rendering, and exporting. ARRI ALEXA XT cameras and ALEXA Classic cameras with the XR Module will gain ProRes 4444 XQ capability with ARRI’s Software Update Packet SUP 10, which is scheduled for an open beta in July and a final release in August. ALEXA XR/XT cameras will support ProRes XQ in both HD and 2K resolutions. The ALEXA XR/XT cameras will be the world’s first cameras capable of encoding ProRes 4444 XQ.
Source: http://www.arri.com/camera/alexa/news/alexa-xrxt-supports-new-prores-4444-xq/