ARRI ALEXA Mini LF Ready to Shoot V-Mount Set (LPL) - Manual (Page 111)

Metadata 111
24 Metadata
An ARRI camera automatically collects metadata when shooting. This metadata is stored in the header
of recorded MXF/Apple ProRes and MXF/ARRIRAW files. The data is also stored in separate Avid
Log Exchange ALE files, which keep track of all statics that are recorded on one recording media.
Additionally, ARRI cameras can record lens data dynamically frame-by-frame. Static and dynamic
metadata can be extracted e.g. from all recording formats by using ARRI Meta Extract , a free ARRI
tool.
Internal Recording
HDSDI
ARRI V3 Header
SDI stream carrying metadata
[w/o some data, e.g. look file)
Codex Compact Drive
MXF/ARRIRAW
*.mxf
Apple ProRes
*.mxf
Avid Log Exchange
*.ale | Sidecar File
Open EXR
*.exr
Open EXR
*.exr
Holds the same
metadata as a file
converted with
ARRIRAW Converter
ARRI Look File 2
*.aml
Compatible with
ALEXA Mini LF,
ALEXA LF,
ALEXA 65,
ALEXA Mini,
ALEXA SXT
and AMIRA
3rd party software
mastering/grading/vfx
Digital Picture
Exchange
*.dpx
ProRes
Quicktime *.mov
or MXF *.mxf
Container
ARRIRAW Converter ARRI Meta Extract ARRI Color Tool
ARRI Metadata Bridge SDK
Metadata
File
*.csv
The most important metadata for post production workflow is the tape name, as it will be one of
the primary identifiers used in the EDL. The term tape name is an existing post-production naming
convention that is also used for nonlinear media. The terms tape name and reel name may be used
interchangeably. The tape name of ALEXA files is limited to 8 letters to match the CMX 3600 EDL
standard. It consists of the camera index, reel counter and the camera ID. Based on the previous
example, the tape name of the clip would be A004R18T. Even if the user forgets to assign different
camera indices to two cameras on the same project, the camera ID metadata guarantees unique tape
names.
In post-production, lens data and other metadata can be accessed and visualized directly in the
ARRIRAW Converter . ARRI Meta Extract on the other hand is able to export all metadata, audio as well
as look files from any ARRI original camera negative. The third option is the so called ARRI Metadata
Bridge (AMB), a software development kit, which can be implemented by 3rd parties to gain direct