So you want to do some live multicamera switching on location? As long as you've got wifi and four friends with iPhones or iPads then Collabracam makes it easy. We know the FCP question that will follow!
The obvious Final Cut Pro question is "Wouldn't this be great if it worked in conjunction with multicam editing in Final Cut Pro?" Yes it would but at the moment it doesn't. I'm sure we are going to see many Apple and third party add-ons for the iPhone and iPad when FCPX gets released. Just take a look a the Adobe range of apps for Photoshop such as Color Lava.
Back to the main story of CollabraCam
Apptopus have launched a $5.99 mobile live camera switching app for the iPhone and iPad. Hang on a minute, what about needing a vision mixer, cables, talkback etc? Amazingly, technology has boiled all of this down into handheld devices and wifi.
Not only can you do a cut by touching the live camera previews, but you can also send instructions to the "iPhone cameramen" such as 'pan left' along with the essential tally lights. We have to admit our heads are starting to hurt with the possibilities this app brings for the future. Although the resolution and framerate might not be brilliant, this will all improve over time and we can imagine people in the future cutting and streaming live events using a system like this.
A feature especially for us editors out there is the App allows the exporting of all the streams so that they can be recut afterwards. If the manufacturer could find a way to stream proxies from broadcast cameras then this app would be a real winner!
Here is a user review from YouTube. They hit audio problems and get some black inserts on cuts. Still cool though.
Here is a list of the features and a link to the User Guide
Director Features:
- Direct a multi-camera video on any iOS device over local Wi-Fi
- Connect with up to four iPhone 4, 3GS or iPod Touch 4G cameras
- Title your video for the credits with an optional copyright notice
- View, record and edit streaming video on-the-fly, in real-time
- Record from one camera while placing another camera on standby
- Send camera move or angle cues to the camera operators
- Save a session with automatically generated credits
- Resume a saved session with the same crew or a different one
- Export a rough cut movie at 640x480, 480x320 or 192x144
- Export video clips to the camera roll to edit in a video editing app
- Save video clips via File Sharing in iTunes to edit on your computer
- Copy a session to maintain an original and create alternate endings
- Delete a session to free up space for a new production
Camera Operator Features:
- Operate a camera with an iPhone (4 or 3GS) or iPod Touch 4G
- Receive notification if your camera is on standby or recording
- Receive camera move or angle cues from the director
- Use the iPhone 4 flash as a light to brighten your video
- Save space on your iPhone, clips are only saved to director
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
