Remote Camera Control and Multiview

I was reading the glossy about the free Blackmagic Camera app for IPhone/IPad/Android and came about the section regarding Remote Camera Control and Multiview feature. Help me understand this. If I have this software on an IPad, and I have several BM cameras - say a couple of BMPCC 6K, a UMP 4.6K G2, a Pyxis 6K - can I install this camera software and control all my 4 cameras and even preview them all in multiview? If so, I am very interested in this and would like to know more about how to use it in this regard.

So no one is using this? Is this just marketing BS? Anyone? Blackmagic, does this work with any of your cameras? Any docs to read up on it?

IMG_1249.jpeg (156.74 KiB) Viewed 1720 times

I’m sure it works using Blackmagic Camera app but when a current iPhone costs an arm and a leg and a future iPhone costs a kidney, perhaps many of us don’t have four compatible devices in close proximity to record simultaneously while we control them on an iPad that costs another kidney.

Edit
My bad as it does work on compatible camera other than the phones and tablets inferred in that capture of web information!

The Blackmagic Camera app can control other instances of the Blackmagic Camera app running on other phones if they are configured as a Remote Camera in the app. I know it also supports the Pyxis based on this video:

Not sure if it supports the Pocket cameras (via usb-c to ethernet cable and the beta firmware), I don't see how that would work as they don't have H.264/H.265 encoders for streaming. Maybe they do it by some other means.

The Blackmagic Camera app also supports the Tilta Nucleus follow focus, that's quite nice.

[Kristian Lam]

Yeah, it's in the Cinema Camera 6K.

If you grab the manual off the website, it should be on pg 100.

Short brief answer:

1. Cameras and Blackmagic Camera mobile app should be on same network. OR mobile is directly connected to camera via USB.
2. Allow remote control on the Blackmagic camera. password is required.
3. Turn on remote control from the mobile Blackmagic Camera app and enter password.
4. Cameras that allow streaming will also allow preview and control. If not, only control is available. You get a black screen in the relevant multiview panel of the camera. You pretty much get the same UI on the mobile app to remotely change settings and toggle record (even simultaneously across multiple cameras).

Thanks Kristian. Bummer that it won’t work with the pocket and URSA 4.6K G2 even though they have wireless/bluetooth connectivity. That would have been nice to use as a wireless multiview and remote controller for any and multiple Blackmagic cameras that has wireless connectivity and not just the phone app. Maybe someday it will be able to do that. We have the SDI Multiview device but that requires wires and a bit challenging to use on location. I was hoping this would do it.

So I could theoretically do the URSA Cine 12K and as well two PYXIS 12K cameras all set up together for camera control. I do plan to test this at some point.

But it’s best to use Ethernet if possible because of the stronger connection. Is it just an Ethernet Modem and Ethernet Router that is needed to do this?


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Thanks Kristian. Bummer that it won’t work with the pocket and URSA 4.6K G2 even though they have wireless/bluetooth connectivity. That would have been nice to use as a wireless multiview and remote controller for any and multiple Blackmagic cameras that has wireless connectivity and not just the phone app. Maybe someday it will be able to do that. We have the SDI Multiview device but that requires wires and a bit challenging to use on location. I was hoping this would do it.

Unfortunately bt is weak and slow wireless to be a transmitter for video signal.


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I’ve been using this a little bit with the Ursa Cine.

I’m sure it will get better, but it’s very much early stages right now. But I LOVE where this is going.

JB

[Kristian Lam]

Also works when the mobile phone is directly connected to the camera via USB. Edited my earlier post to reflect that.

The Latency via Wireless on the URSA Cine definitely needs to be improved. It’s a good 1-2 seconds.

Even if connecting the camera to an iPhone Wireless Hotspot for the network the latency is significant. I feel like the Sony Monitor & Control latency is a bit better when doing wireless connection.

Lots of potential here. Can’t wait to see where this goes.

I’m really hoping for a Wireless PYXIS Monitor that can just connect to the Wireless on the UCine. Monitor and Control with only 0.1ms latency would be good enough.

Maybe a nice big Blackmagic Monitor that can have up to four cameras connected via wireless would also be so neat.

Substantial amount of potential. Exiting times.


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I don’t think the latency can ever be much faster.

It’s effectively streaming to your phone over IP.

JB

I know this is a stretch asking, but is it possible to use the remote camera control and multiview through the UMP4.6KG2 and BM Pocket 6K Bluetooth connectivity, maybe using some kind of a Bluetooth to WiFi hub or something? The slight latency is not a problem if that’s even possible. Thanks.