Blackmagic Forum

So Arri just did a big release for their new app to wirelessly control their cameras.



And, it got me thinking how Blackmagic does need to update their App. Now this is the Bluetooth Camera Control App that needs some updating. They have the ability to use the Cam App to control the cameras, but I feel like it should be simpler than setting up the Monitor & Control with that.

I love the idea of what you could do with the Bluetooth Camera Control App. However, it seems time that it gets some updates. For starters it needs to expand past the iPad only. It should be available on both iOS and iPad devices. As well, I love the idea of the MacOS app that Arri did with their app.

Unlike the Monitor & Control feature within the Camera App it's nice to have simple camera control without needing to monitor on the same screen. Especially when you can have zero latency with a wireless video transmission system into a good on set monitor. Control of camera settings from an iPad, iPhone, or even MacOS would be amazing.

Years ago the Bluetooth+ App surpassed Blackmagic's own app. iPhone control and MacOS control was possible. And, with the Pocket 6K Pro ND control was possible. The Bluetooth apps currently don't have control of the internal ND of the URSA Cine, but the Camera App via Monitor and Control does have that internal ND control. So the Camera App via Monitor and Control is hands down better now than either of the other options. However, if we don't need to monitor in the app then control is all we really need.

I hope that Blackmagic can work on improving the whole App Control experience. It's good right now. But it can be even better.

FYI, you can disable the video feed on the Blackmagic Camera app when controlling cameras.

We have provided APIs/manuals/Sample code to empower developers to make their own solutions. What the Bluetooth+ app did is a good example of what we wanted to see happen. The newer REST API and WebSockets improves what's possible for devs even further.

You can also currently download sample code from here, and build with Xcode to get a Mac app that will control our cameras over bluetooth/usb/web - https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/develo ... d-software

Out of the box the sample app allows a bunch of control, and is an amazing starting point for devs to go further.

Personally I think spending time on this, rather than solely on our own app(s) creates a really cool opportunity for custom tools to be created that serve users/productions uniquely. Someone could create their own version of an app for our cameras just like the ARRI one.

I don't believe ARRI provides any similar APIs or sample code?
I think its also worth pointing out the pricing model of their new app when making this comparison:

CaptainHook wrote:FYI, you can disable the video feed on the Blackmagic Camera app when controlling cameras.

We have provided APIs/manuals/Sample code to empower developers to make their own solutions. What the Bluetooth+ app did is a good example of what we wanted to see happen. The newer REST API and WebSockets improves what's possible for devs even further.

You can also currently download sample code from here, and build with Xcode to get a Mac app that will control our cameras over bluetooth/usb/web - https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/develo ... d-software

Out of the box the sample app allows a bunch of control, and is an amazing starting point for devs to go further.

Personally I think spending time on this, rather than solely on our own app(s) creates a really cool opportunity for custom tools to be created that serve users/productions uniquely. Someone could create their own version of an app for our cameras just like the ARRI one.

I don't believe ARRI provides any similar APIs or sample code?
I think its also worth pointing out the pricing model of their new app when making this comparison:

Hook, I appreciate the response. Will look further into this next week. Going dark for a bit as I just lost a childhood friend.


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