Become a sponsor to Kyle Simukka

Keeping RED ONE MX Cameras Running

The RED ONE MX is a discontinued 4.5K digital cinema camera still in active use around
the world. But when something breaks, there is almost no public documentation to help.
RED stopped supporting it. The r1mx project did not stop.

I have spent years reverse engineering the RED ONE MX from the ground up: documenting
every PCB board, identifying key ICs, decrypting and analyzing all known firmware builds,
and researching the SSD storage subsystem. The goal is to turn that research into
actionable repair guides, open schematics, and replacement hardware that any owner can
use.

What I am actively building

• Firmware Build 32.1 - a patched firmware that removes the hardcoded approved-drive
  list, allowing any compatible SATA SSD to work in a REDMAG housing
• Replacement REDMAG module - a 3D-printable drop-in housing using standard
  off-the-shelf 2.5" SATA SSDs, designed in FreeCAD with a full public BOM
• Replacement SSD side module - the physical enclosure that attaches to the camera
  body; without it, SSD storage cannot be used at all
• Full KiCad schematics for every board in the camera: AUDIO_PCI, CPU_IO, UI, SENSOR,
  and POWER

Why sponsorship matters

Every design revision requires printing and testing prototypes. Validating a BOM means
buying and testing components. Testing firmware patches requires having multiple camera
bodies. Camera bodies cost $800-2,000 each on the used market.

Everything this project produces is free and public. The design files, firmware patches,
BOMs, and build instructions will all be in the repository. Sponsorship funds the
hardware, prototypes, and time required to turn research into reliable, publishable
designs that benefit every RED ONE MX owner - including the ones who will never send a
dollar.

If you shoot on a RED ONE MX, rely on one for your work, or simply believe that the
people who own complex precision equipment should be able to repair it - this project is
for you.