Director Mode is an upcoming iOS app for multicamera productions. It was designed by Claudio Ripalti, a filmmaker and lighting engineer based in Florence, Italy.
Claudio and his team developed Director Mode, based on their extensive work on multicamera productions. It is claimed to bring advanced monitoring and camera control into a unified interface for Canon Cinema EOS (C50, C80, C400, etc.), EOS R mirrorless (beta support), and Sony Alpha/FX cameras, including mixed-brand setups.
Features include WFM monitoring, custom LUTs, anamorphic de-squeeze, touch focus, etc. You can monitor and adjust supported ISO, shutter, iris, exposure compensation, and white balance settings. It also supports touch focus, tracking, focus hold, half-press, and magnification controls during live image.
Additionally, you have the ability to start and stop recording on individual cameras or control the full group with REC ALL, as well as access advanced shooting information and camera status.
You can use Director Mode via Wi-Fi, LAN, or USB-C.
Wi-Fi
The Director Mode app can connect and control via Wi-Fi when both the iPhone and the camera are on the same network. Performance and latency will depend heavily on the type of network being used.
LAN
Supported camera models can connect through a local wired network while the iPhone or iPad remains on the same network. This requires a suitable network adapter or camera connection.
USB
For those situations where your iPhone or iPad is near the camera, selected Sony cameras can connect directly with USB-C.
VERTICAL CONSOLE
The VERTICAL CONSOLE provides advanced camera access and control without losing real-time live view or touch-to-focus controls.
Feature availability:
Live ViewIndividual and group recording controlISO, shutter, iris and exposure compensationWhite balance and Kelvin controlTouch focus and subject trackingFocus hold, half-press and AF controls *Live view magnificationRecording format and frame-rate settings*Advanced camera and media telemetryWaveform MonitorLUT preview and custom .cube LUTsFocus peakingFrame guidesAnamorphic de-squeezeLive audio meters *
*Support depends on specific models. Please check camera compatibility.
Ahead of the App Store launch, the developers are opening applications for a TestFlight beta, and they are looking for other filmmakers to try out the features and share their feedback. There is no current indication about how much the app will be or if it will be a one-time payment or subscription-based.
You may be thinking, not another app, but regardless of how they are being created, it is good to see so many people coming up with apps and software who are giving back to the community. No one is forcing you to use any of them, so I am not sure why anyone should be complaining.
Matthew Allard is a multi-award-winning, ACS accredited freelance Director of Photography with over 36 years’ of experience working in more than 50 countries around the world.
He is the Editor of Newsshooter.com and has been writing on the site since 2010.
Matthew has won 51 ACS Awards, including six prestigious Golden Tripods. In 2016 he won the Award for Best Cinematography at the 21st Asian Television Awards.
Matthew is available to hire as a DP in Japan or for work anywhere else in the world.