Blackmagicdesign URSA Mini - Choosing the Codec, Resolution and Sensor Area; Choosing Frame Rates

Choosing the Codec, Resolution and Sensor Area
Your Blackmagic URSA Mini and URSA Mini Pro 4.6K can record using CinemaDNG RAW with
achoice of lossless RAW or compressed RAW, as well as Apple ProRes compressed codecs.
Sensor frame rate options will vary depending on the codec and resolution you choose.
It’s worth noting that clips recorded using CinemaDNG 3:1 and CinemaDNG 4:1 compression are
compatible with DaVinci Resolve, but may be incompatible with other software applications.
Ifyou plan on using other editing software, you should check its compatibility with compressed
RAW formats before filming.
Choosing Frame Rates
Your camera's sensor frame rate can have a big impact on the 'look' of footage. The table
belowlists the maximum sensor frame rates available at each resolution and codec offered
byyour camera. While the 'touchscreen controls' section of this manual details how high frame
rates can be used to create creative slow motion effects, it's also worth considering some
everyday settings.
The consistent use of particular frame rates and shutter angles over the last 100 years of
cinema has conditioned audiences to associate the characteristics of certain camera settings
with a 'filmic' look. Frame rates of 24 or 25 frames per second, combined with a 180º shutter
angle, typically achieves this look, notable for a certain amount of motion blur. The equivalent
setting for shutter speed is 1/50th of a second.
When shots dictate the use of fast pans, however, these frame rates can introduce an
unpleasant judder effect. That's why broadcast content, such as sport and news reportage,
tends to use faster frame rates. Setting your camera to 50, 59.94 or 60frames per second
allows you to capture smooth motion at the loss of some cinematic 'feel.'
Depending on the style of your project, be it cinema, documentary, broadcast and so on,
achieving the appropriate style may mean adjusting your sensor frame rate or filming technique,
with a particular emphasis on camera movement and pan speed.
TIP If you're shooting ProRes HQ and lower with the URSA Mini Pro 4.6K, you can
record onto SD cards as they provide the speeds required. Blackmagic RAW 8:1 and
12:1 will also allow continuous recording to SD cards.
36Recording