New: RIA-1, RF Modules & Camera Control Licenses for the Arri Hi-5

We’ve taken delivery of the new ARRI RIA-1 Brain and radio modules for the Hi-5. This is a powerful addition to the kit and allows the Hi-5 to start to reach its potential.

We also have the camera and FocusBug Cine RT control licences installed on our Hi-5s.

 
 

The RIA-1 acts as the hub for all incoming LCS signals while in host mode and connected to a camera. It allows you to use the new radio modules which are a good improvement on previous generations.

The RF-2400 seems to have a significant increase in performance. The EMIP module also has increased range with the RIA-1, over the RF Motor and built in Alexa Mini / Mini LF radio.

 
 

There are a few things to keep in mind when using the RIA-1:

  • The RF-2400 doesn’t allow you to split control over multiple devices, so if you want to do a separate handset for iris, you will need to use the EMIP module.

  • The radio modules need to match in the handset and the RIA-1. No mixing the 2400 and EMIP.

  • The EMIP module will talk directly to any ARRI white banded radio, like the RF Motor, SXU, Alexa Mini etc., so you can get away without using the RIA-1 but you won’t get any of the benefits of the new modules.

  • The CAM port on the RIA-1 must be plugged into the camera to control things. This is the same connector as the RF motor.

  • There are new cables for the Alexa 35, Mini/MiniLF and Venice. The existing cable for RED cameras works

  • There is now limited camera control for Sony and RED cameras. We hope this will improve with firmware updates from the camera manufacturers.

  • It’s worth watching this in depth video from CVP and Focus Puller Jim Mclean, to find out more:

  • With an RIA-1 set to client mode, it can transmit signals from devices such as the OCU-1 to control the motors.

  • While using up to two motors, one power source is sufficient (the CAM cable). If you add any more than this, you will need to inject more power into the LBUS chain. The voltage from one port isn’t sufficient to power more than this. This is to prevent dropouts and unwanted calibration requests. This can be done with an LBUS to Dtap, standard LBUS cable on the Alexa 35 or the LBUS star cable. This has always been the case, but it’s more of an issue now with the increased power draw of the new radios modules.

  • There is a lot of information in the ARRI Tech Talk on the RIA-1 on Youtube, covering a lot of these points in more detail:

  • The Cine RT License allows up to two distance readouts from the focus bug unit to be displayed on the Hi-5. It also allows control of a lot of the settings from the handset. There is a serial port on the RIA-1 to connect your distance measuring devices so you won’t have to use an LCube as well as the RIA-1. It has a different connector, so that will need a new cable, it’s only a four pin and much smaller than the one on the LCube.

Kristine Mladenova