Download Black Magic RAW Codec for Free and Unlock the Full Potential of Your Camera
How to Download Blackmagic RAW
If you are looking for a way to capture stunning video footage with high quality, efficiency, and flexibility, you might want to consider using Blackmagic RAW. This is a new and revolutionary codec that combines the advantages of raw recording with the speed and ease of video formats. In this article, we will show you how to download, record, edit, and export Blackmagic RAW files for your next project.
download black magic raw
What is Blackmagic RAW and why use it
Blackmagic RAW is a video codec developed by , a company that produces professional cameras, recorders, monitors, switchers, and software for filmmakers. It is 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.
Blackmagic RAW offers many benefits over other formats, such as:
Superior image quality: Blackmagic RAW preserves the full dynamic range, color depth, and detail of the sensor data, resulting in visually lossless images that are ideal for high-resolution, high-frame-rate, and high-dynamic-range workflows.
Smaller file sizes: Blackmagic RAW uses advanced compression algorithms that reduce the file size by up to 80% compared to uncompressed raw, while maintaining the same quality. This means you can record longer durations, use less storage space, and transfer files faster.
Faster editing performance: Blackmagic RAW moves part of the de-mosaic processing from the computer's CPU into the camera itself, resulting in incredibly efficient encoding that can be decoded by GPU or CPU. This means you can edit multiple streams of Blackmagic RAW in real time without proxies or rendering.
Extensive metadata support: Blackmagic RAW embeds rich metadata in every frame, such as camera settings, lens data, color science, timecode, slate information, and more. This allows you to access and modify these parameters in post-production, giving you more creative control over your footage.
Cross-platform and license-free: Blackmagic RAW is supported by a free SDK that is available for Mac OS, Windows, and Linux systems. It also works with popular software applications such as DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Avid Media Composer, and more. You don't need any hidden licenses or ongoing fees to use Blackmagic RAW.
What are the requirements and compatibility of Blackmagic RAW
To use Blackmagic RAW, you need a few things:
A camera or device that supports Blackmagic RAW: Currently, only some models of to record Blackmagic RAW from other cameras that output raw over SDI or HDMI.
A software or plugin that supports Blackmagic RAW: You can use the free for Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Avid Media Composer, and more.
A computer system that meets the minimum specifications: To work with Blackmagic RAW files, you need a computer system that has at least a 64-bit operating system, 16 GB of RAM, a dedicated GPU with 4 GB of VRAM, and a fast SSD or HDD. For optimal performance, you may want to use a more powerful system with a multi-core CPU, 32 GB of RAM or more, a high-end GPU with 8 GB of VRAM or more, and a RAID array or NVMe SSD.
How to record Blackmagic RAW
Once you have a camera or device that supports Blackmagic RAW, you can start recording your footage in this format. Here are some steps to follow:
Update your camera firmware: Make sure your camera firmware is up to date and supports Blackmagic RAW. You can download the latest firmware from the . Follow the instructions on how to install the firmware on your camera.
Format your media card: Insert your media card into your camera or recorder and format it using the exFAT file system. This will ensure compatibility with Blackmagic RAW files. You can also use HFS+ or NTFS file systems, but they may have some limitations.
Select your recording settings: On your camera or recorder menu, select Blackmagic RAW as your recording format. You can also choose the compression ratio and resolution for your Blackmagic RAW files. The compression ratio determines how much data is compressed and affects the file size and quality. The resolution determines how many pixels are recorded and affects the image detail and sharpness. You can choose from the following options:
Compression RatioDescriptionFile Size (per minute)
3:1The highest quality option with minimal compression.About 1.5 GB
5:1A high quality option with moderate compression.About 900 MB
8:1A good quality option with higher compression.About 600 MB
12:1A medium quality option with even higher compression.About 400 MB
18:1A low quality option with the highest compression.About 300 MB
Q0A variable quality option that adapts to the scene complexity and motion.Depends on the content
Q5A lower variable quality option that adapts to the scene complexity and motion.Depends on the content
ResolutionDescription
Full Res (e.g. 4K DCI)The full resolution of the sensor (e.g. 4096 x 2160 pixels).
Film Res (e.g. 4K Film)A slightly lower resolution than Full Res that matches the aspect ratio of film (e.g. 4096 x 1712 pixels).
HD Res (e.g. HD)A lower resolution than Film Res that matches the standard HD resolution (e.g. 1920 x 1080 pixels).
Proxy Res (e.g. Proxy)A very low resolution that is suitable for offline editing and previewing (e.g. 960 x 540 pixels).
You can also adjust other settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance, ISO, and audio levels according to your preferences and needs.
Start recording: Press the record button on your camera or recorder and start capturing your footage in Blackmagic RAW. You can monitor your recording on the camera or recorder screen or on an external monitor. You can also use the on your smartphone or tablet to remotely control your camera settings and start or stop recording.
Stop recording: Press the record button again to stop recording. Your Blackmagic RAW files will be saved on your media card in a folder named after the date and time of the recording. Each file will have a .braw extension and a .sidecar file that contains the metadata. You can review your files on your camera or recorder screen or on an external monitor. You can also use the on your computer to view and play back your files.
How to edit Blackmagic RAW
After you have recorded your footage in Blackmagic RAW, you can edit it using your preferred software application. Here are some steps to follow:
Import your Blackmagic RAW files: Connect your media card to your computer and copy your Blackmagic RAW files to a folder on your hard drive. Launch your software application and import your files into a new or existing project. You can use the if your software application does not natively support Blackmagic RAW.
Convert your Blackmagic RAW files: Depending on your software application, you may need to convert your Blackmagic RAW files to another format before editing them. You can use the to batch convert your files to other formats such as ProRes, DNxHD, DNxHR, H.264, or H.265.
Adjust color, exposure, and metadata in Blackmagic RAW: One of the advantages of Blackmagic RAW is that you can change the color science, exposure, white balance, ISO, tint, contrast, saturation, and other parameters of your footage in post-production without affecting the quality or requiring rendering. You can use the to create custom applications that can read and write these parameters.
Edit your footage as usual: Once you have imported and adjusted your Blackmagic RAW files, you can edit them as you would normally do with any other video format. You can trim, cut, splice, sync, add transitions, effects, titles, and more. You can also use the powerful color grading tools in DaVinci Resolve to enhance the look of your footage.
How to export and deliver Blackmagic RAW
When you have finished editing your footage in Blackmagic RAW, you can export it to another format for delivery or distribution. Here are some steps to follow:
Select your export format and codec: Depending on your target platform and audience, you may want to export your footage to different formats and codecs. For example, if you want to upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo, you may want to use H.264 or H.265 as your codec. If you want to create a master file for archiving or further processing, you may want to use ProRes 4444 XQ or DNxHR 444 as your codec. You can use the to find out more about the recommended formats and codecs for different purposes.
Optimize your export settings for quality and speed: To ensure that you get the best quality and speed for your export, you may want to adjust some settings such as resolution, frame rate, bit rate, color space, gamma curve, audio settings, and metadata settings. You can use the to find out more about the optimal settings for different formats and codecs.
Export your footage: Once you h