The Road Forward
What we are building and how you can help keep RED ONE MX cameras alive
Is Not Done Yet
RED stopped. We did not. The r1mx project is actively developing new firmware, replacement hardware modules, and the documentation needed to keep these cameras running for another decade. This page is an honest account of where we are, what we are building, and what it takes to get there.
Where We Are Now
The r1mx project has spent several years reverse engineering the RED ONE MX camera body: documenting PCB boards, identifying every key IC, decrypting and analyzing firmware builds, and researching the SSD storage subsystem. The foundation is solid.
What remains is the hard part: turning research into reliable, reproducible hardware and firmware that anyone can use to repair or extend the life of their camera.
What We Are Building
Any-SSD Support
The RED ONE MX firmware validates replacement SSDs against a hardcoded approved-drive list. Build 32.1 removes this restriction, allowing any compatible SATA SSD to be used inside a REDMAG housing. This is the single most impactful thing we can do for camera owners today.
SSD Module
A drop-in replacement REDMAG housing designed in FreeCAD. Uses a standard off-the-shelf 2.5" SATA SSD. FreeCAD models already exist for the enclosure and SSD board. The goal is a design that anyone can print and assemble, or receive as a pre-built kit.
Replacement
The SSD side module is the physical enclosure that attaches to the camera body and houses the REDMAG. Without it, REDMAG SSD storage cannot be used at all; cameras configured for CF or Hard Drive require this module to switch to SSD. FreeCAD models are in progress. Combined with the replacement REDMAG design and Build 32.1 firmware, this completes the full storage replacement path.
Buy, Sell, Trade
A dedicated marketplace for RED ONE MX cameras, components, and accessories. Peer-to-peer, community-run. No fees, no middlemen. Just a trusted place for RED ONE MX owners to find what they need.
Camera Inspection
Send your camera in for a full inspection and functionality test against the r1mx diagnostic checklist. Cameras that pass receive a "Certified by Kyle" designation, giving buyers confidence in the used market.
All Boards
Complete KiCad schematics for every PCB board in the RED ONE MX: AUDIO_PCI, CPU_IO, UI, SENSOR, and POWER boards. The foundation for understanding every possible failure mode.
How to Get the Hardware
Everything this project produces is open and free. The design files, BOMs, firmware patches, and build instructions will all be published in the repository. There are two ways to turn those files into a working part:
- Download FreeCAD models and STL files from the repository
- Print the enclosure on any FDM printer (PLA or PETG)
- Source parts from the published BOM (all off-the-shelf components)
- Flash Build 32.1 firmware to your camera
- Follow the step-by-step assembly guide
- Community support via GitHub Issues
- Receive a kit with all parts pre-sourced and verified
- Printed enclosure included, ready for assembly
- Detailed assembly instructions included
- Pre-assembled option available: pay for assembly time
- Proceeds go directly toward continued r1mx research
- Contact Kyle via the repository to arrange
The Real Cost
This is honest accounting. Research and hardware development has real costs:
| What costs money | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Prototype prints and iterations | Every design revision requires printing and testing to verify fit and function. A single REDMAG revision costs ~$20-40 in materials and several hours of time. |
| Component sourcing | Verifying BOM accuracy means buying and testing multiple parts. A single BOM validation run for the REDMAG module costs ~$80-150 in parts. |
| Firmware testing | Testing firmware patches requires having multiple camera bodies. Camera bodies cost $800-$2,000 each on the used market. |
| Time | Every hour spent on r1mx is an hour not spent on paid work. The research phase alone has consumed hundreds of hours. |
None of this is asking for investment in a product. It is asking for support to continue research that benefits every RED ONE MX owner who will never send a dollar.
Support This Project
Keep RED ONE MX Cameras Running
If this project has helped you, or if you want to see Build 32.1 and the replacement REDMAG module become a reality, consider sponsoring the work. Every contribution goes directly toward hardware prototyping, component testing, and the time required to turn research into reliable, publishable designs.
Other Ways to Help
Sponsorship is not the only way. These contributions are equally valuable:
- Share your repair experience - open an issue with anything you have found while debugging your camera
- Contribute measurements - probing components with a multimeter and submitting readings helps complete the schematics
- Test firmware patches - if you have a working RED ONE MX and are comfortable with firmware upgrades, become a tester
- Send your broken camera - cameras that no longer function are valuable for destructive analysis
- Spread the word - the more RED ONE MX owners who know this project exists, the larger the knowledge base becomes
Future Vision: Marketplace and Certification
The long-term goal is more than repair documentation. It is a sustainable ecosystem for people who choose to keep shooting on RED ONE MX cameras.
Community Marketplace
A dedicated space for RED ONE MX owners to buy, sell, and trade cameras and components. The used market for these cameras is scattered across eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and forums, with no shared understanding of what a camera is worth or what condition it is in. A focused marketplace changes that.
Certified by Kyle
A voluntary inspection and certification service. Send your camera to Kyle, and it is tested against the full r1mx diagnostic checklist:
- Firmware version and functionality
- All storage interfaces (CF, SSD, RED DRIVE)
- All video outputs (HD-SDI, HDMI)
- Audio input and output
- Power system and battery compatibility
- Sensor functionality and black shade calibration
- Physical condition assessment
Cameras that pass receive a dated “Certified by Kyle” designation with a public record in the r1mx registry. This gives buyers in the marketplace a meaningful baseline for what they are purchasing.