BRAW

A Hybrid Approach to Raw Video

Blackmagic RAW, or BRAW, is a modern and innovative video codec developed by Blackmagic Design for use in their cinema cameras. It was created to solve the traditional dilemma of raw video: the choice between the massive file sizes of uncompressed raw and the image compromises of conventional compressed codecs. BRAW is a ‘hybrid’ codec that intelligently bridges this gap.

Partial De-mosaicing in Camera

Unlike traditional raw formats (like ARRIRAW or Redcode RAW) which save the unprocessed sensor data for the computer to decode, BRAW performs a partial ‘de-mosaic’ process inside the camera. The de-mosaic process is how the single-color values from a camera’s Bayer pattern sensor are interpolated into a full-color image. By offloading part of this computationally intensive process to the camera’s hardware, BRAW creates a file that is:

• Flexible like Raw: The file still contains the raw sensor data, giving the user full control over metadata parameters like ISO, white balance, tint, and color space in post-production.
• Efficient like a Codec: The resulting files are significantly smaller and less processor-intensive than traditional raw files. This makes them much easier and faster to edit, even on a laptop, without the need for creating proxy files.

BRAW offers different compression levels, from lossless (3:1) to heavily compressed (12:1), allowing filmmakers to choose the best balance of quality and file size for their specific project. This combination of quality and performance has made it an extremely popular format in the independent film, documentary, and high-end YouTube production spaces.