--- title: "ARRIRAW to Streamable Proxy: A Cloud Workflow That Keeps Originals Attached" author: "Cutsio Team" date: "2026-05-06" lastmod: "2026-05-06" category: "Storage & Performance" excerpt: "Learn the cloud workflow that converts ARRI RAW files into streamable review assets while keeping the original .ari, .mxf, and .arx files attached for conform and finishing." tags: ["ARRI RAW","ARRIRAW","Proxy Workflow","Cloud Transcode","DIT Workflow","Post Production","Alexa","Review Pipeline"] --- ## What is the best cloud workflow for converting ARRI RAW to streamable proxies? The best cloud workflow uploads ARRI RAW originals (.ari, .mxf, .arx) to Cutsio, which transcodes them into streamable review assets in the cloud, indexes every frame with Visual Intelligence, and retains the original camera files as downloadable attachments for conform and finishing. The result is a review-ready library without tying up the DIT's local hardware. ARRIRAW is ARRI's uncompressed or lightly compressed raw sensor format used across the Alexa 35, Alexa Mini LF, Alexa SXT, and Alexa Classic. The native file extensions — .ari (legacy ARRIRAW container), .mxf (Material eXchange Format for Alexa 35 and Mini LF), and .arx (ARRI RAW Xpress) — store the full Bayer-pattern sensor data without debayering. A single minute of 4.6K ARRIRAW can exceed 10 GB. For a 40-day feature shoot, the total raw media can easily surpass 60 TB. Traditional proxy workflows force the DIT to render the entire day's footage to ProRes or DNxHR on a local workstation before anyone can review it. That render ties up the DIT's laptop for hours, consumes expensive SSD write cycles, and creates organizational debt from managing two versions of every clip. Cutsio replaces this with a cloud-native pipeline that handles the transcode on the backend while preserving the original files intact. ## How does the Cutsio cloud proxy workflow work for ARRI RAW? The Cutsio cloud proxy workflow uploads native ARRI RAW files to the cloud, transcodes them into streamable review assets server-side, indexes every frame with Visual Intelligence, and stores the original camera files as downloadable attachments — all without any manual intervention on the DIT's local machine. The workflow breaks down into five stages: | Stage | What Happens | Who Does It | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1. Upload | DIT uploads ARRI RAW files (.ari, .mxf, .arx) to Cutsio from set or DIT cart | DIT | | 2. Cloud Transcode | Cutsio's backend debayers and transcodes RAW into optimized streamable review assets | Automatic | | 3. Visual Indexing | Computer vision indexes every frame for Visual Search | Automatic | | 4. Original Retention | Original ARRI RAW files stored as downloadable attachments | Automatic | | 5. Review & Share | Team accesses review streams through share links with commenting | Director, DP, Editor | ### Stage 1: Upload directly from the DIT cart The DIT uploads ARRI RAW files directly from the set or DIT cart. Cutsio supports resumable uploads, so a dropped connection does not restart the transfer. Files can be uploaded as individual clips or in folder structures organized by scene and take. ### Stage 2: Cloud transcode server-side Cutsio's backend transcodes the ARRI RAW files into optimized streamable review assets. This happens in the cloud, not on the DIT's laptop. The DIT can close their laptop, pack up the cart, and move to the next setup while the transcode completes remotely. ### Stage 3: Visual Intelligence indexing Simultaneously, Cutsio's Visual Intelligence engine analyzes every frame of the review stream — detecting objects, scenes, actions, and transcribing any scratch audio. The result is a fully searchable footage library before the DIT arrives back at the hotel. ### Stage 4: Original files retained as attachments The original .ari, .mxf, and .arx files are stored as attachments in the Cutsio library. They are available for download at any time — unmodified, uncompressed, exactly as they came off the Alexa card. The review assets are separate files generated from the originals, not replacements for them. ### Stage 5: Review and share instantly Once the review assets are generated, the team can access them through share links with password protection, expiration dates, view tracking, and frame-accurate commenting. The director, DP, and editor can all watch and comment on the same clips simultaneously. ## Why is cloud-based proxy generation better than local transcoding for ARRI RAW? Cloud-based proxy generation is better than local transcoding because it frees the DIT's hardware for critical set-side tasks, eliminates the bottleneck of a single render queue, and makes the review assets available to the entire team the moment they finish processing. Local transcoding has several inherent limitations: | Limitation | Impact | | :--- | :--- | | Ties up DIT laptop | The primary verification machine is occupied for hours | | Single queue | Only one transcode can run at a time per machine | | Heat and power | Laptops throttle under sustained render loads | | Storage management | Proxies consume local SSD space needed for card offloads | | No redundancy | If the laptop crashes mid-render, the entire batch must restart | Cloud transcoding eliminates all of these. Cutsio's backend scales to handle multiple concurrent streams, the DIT's laptop stays free for checksum verification and card management, and the review assets are delivered directly to the team's browsers without any additional file transfer step. ## How does Visual Search make the proxy review process faster than traditional dailies? Visual Search transforms the proxy review from a passive viewing session into an active search experience — the director and editor can find specific frames instantly by describing what the camera saw, rather than scrubbing linearly through the dailies. Traditional dailies review requires the director to watch every take in sequence, often at 2x speed to get through the volume. If they remember a specific moment — "the third take of the master shot where the actor stumbled on the line" — they must scrub back through the timeline to find it. With Cutsio's Visual Search, the director types "master shot actor stumbles on line" and the system returns the exact frame. The review session shifts from "watching everything" to "searching for what matters." ## How do you structure ARRI RAW Collections for the proxy review pipeline? Collections in Cutsio organize ARRI RAW review assets and original files into visual hubs by shoot day, scene, or camera card — making it possible to navigate a multi-terabyte production without folder drilling. The recommended structure for a feature film or commercial shoot: ``` Production Name ├── Shoot Day 01 │ ├── Scene 1 — Master │ ├── Scene 1 — Close-ups │ └── Scene 2 — Masters ├── Shoot Day 02 │ ├── Scene 3 — Interior │ └── Scene 3 — Exterior └── Selects ├── Director's Favorites └── VFX Plates ``` Each Collection contains the review assets for instant playback and search, with the original ARRI RAW files attached as downloadable source. The assistant editor can browse the entire shoot visually, mark favorite takes, and share the Collection as a single review link for the director. ## How do you share ARRI RAW proxy review links securely? Cutsio's Share feature generates secure, branded review links from the streamable review assets — with password protection, expiration dates, view tracking, and frame-accurate commenting — so the director and clients can review proxies without downloading anything. Once the review assets are generated, the DIT or assistant editor creates a share link in seconds: 1. Select the video or Collection. 2. Configure access settings — password, expiration, view tracking. 3. Copy the branded link and send it via email or production chat. The director opens the link and sees the ARRI RAW review stream playing in their browser. They can leave timecoded comments directly on specific frames. "At 00:12:04:15, this take has the best performance — mark as favorite." The team sees these comments instantly, linked to the exact frame. ### How view tracking protects your proxy delivery View tracking shows exactly when the director opened the link, how much of the footage they watched, and whether they shared it with anyone else. This eliminates the "I never received the link" friction that delays approval schedules. ## How does Agentic Chat help the team search proxy review assets? Agentic Chat in Cutsio is a conversational AI interface that lets any team member search the proxy review library using natural language — without learning folder structures or search syntax. Team members simply ask: - "Which takes from Day 3 have the actor entering frame right?" - "Show me all the close-ups where the lighting is warm and backlit." - "Find the clip where the boom mic dips into frame." - "Are there any master shots where both actors are visible?" Agentic Chat combines Visual Search, metadata, and Collection context to return precise results. For ARRI RAW footage, it can also query available technical metadata from the original file headers. ## How does Storage pricing work for ARRI RAW originals and proxy assets? Cutsio's Storage uses a pay-for-minutes model that separates storage cost from file size — critical for ARRI RAW workflows where a single production can exceed 60 TB of raw data. Traditional cloud storage charges by the gigabyte, making it prohibitively expensive to keep ARRI RAW originals online alongside proxy files. With Cutsio, you pay for the total minutes of footage. The review assets remain streamable and searchable, and the original ARRI RAW files are retained as attachments for download and conform when needed. | Cost Factor | Traditional Cloud | Cutsio | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Pricing model | Per gigabyte | Per minute of footage | | 60 TB ARRI RAW library | ~$1,200–$1,800/month | Based on duration, not file size | | Original files stored | Separate bucket, extra cost | Included as attachments | | Proxy files | Separate transcode and storage cost | Included as review assets | ## How do you export ARRI RAW proxy selects for the NLE conform? Once the proxy review is complete and selects are marked, Cutsio exports a selects EDL or FCPXML that references the original ARRI RAW file names and timecodes — so the assistant editor can import it directly into DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, or Avid Media Composer for the conform. The export workflow: 1. Search and curate selects using Visual Search and Collections. 2. Mark preferred takes with approval flags. 3. Export a selects EDL or FCPXML. 4. Open your NLE, import the EDL, and link it to the original ARRI RAW files on your local RAID. The original ARRI RAW files are never modified. The EDL simply references them by their original file names and timecodes. The conform happens against the exact same sensor data that came off the Alexa cards. ## FAQ ### Is ARRI RAW cloud proxy generation available for all Cutsio accounts? ARRI RAW cloud proxy generation is available as an enterprise add-on for qualified production accounts. Contact the Cutsio sales team to enable raw format support for your production. ### What happens if the upload connection drops mid-transfer? Cutsio supports resumable uploads. If the connection drops, the upload picks up from where it stopped — no restart required. ### Can the team watch the review stream before all files finish transcoding? Yes. Cutsio begins generating review assets as soon as each file is uploaded and processed. The first clips become available while the rest of the card is still ingesting. ### How long does it take to transcode 1 hour of ARRI RAW in the cloud? Transcode time depends on the cloud processing capacity allocated to your enterprise account. Contact the Cutsio sales team for specific timelines. ### Are the original ARRI RAW files compressed or modified in any way? No. The original .ari, .mxf, and .arx files are stored as downloadable attachments, unmodified and uncompressed. They are byte-for-byte identical to the files that came off the Alexa card.

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