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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

iPad as a monitor

P

Pasha Patriki

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I have been looking out for a solution for this for a long time... Without Pro I/O, Epic can only do EVF OR LCD, but not both. Many of us got used to having a separate monitor for the AC... So that's where the HDMI connection comes in. I never used it on my R1, but now I think it may finally come into play...
Many monitors out there with HDMI input - Marshall and Manhattan, and Ikan, and many others. However I have been hard time finding a monotor that would have ALL of these features:
- Lightweight
- High-resolution (no 480 lines!)
- Bright (at least 500 nits?)

And of course, ipad offers all of the above in it's display. But how to make it play a video from external source?
Ideas welcome here!
 
We just did a shoot with the teadek system and an MX Red One. It is a fantastic system. Simple and reliable.
 
What is the current delay n the image output to the ipad... i've heard different values and would like to have an accurate number from someone that just used it...
please state model if possible
thanks
 
Diego Querzoli said:
What is the current delay n the image output to the ipad... i've heard different values and would like to have an accurate number from someone that just used it...
please state model if possible
thanks
Click to expand...

I've used the Teradek with the decoder, Macbook Pro and with an iPad. The delay with an iPad is about 3-4 seconds (or about a 1/2 of a second with a decoder or MAC). The ipad doesn't have the power to decode in the same manner as a PC, MAC or the Cube decoder, so the latency and quality take a pretty big hit. Also, using anything other than the decoder becomes an IT nightmare on set (set-up and connectivity issues mostly). An iPad as a director's monitor sounds like an awesome thing in theory, but it just isn't practical yet.
 
You may have been on an older version of the firmware. Everything you said used to be true. Now, however, the latency on the Ipad is about half a second, and there is nothing to set up. You plug in the teradeck, open the app on the ipad and tap the video feed. boom. that's it. It's pretty awesome. The image quality isn't as god as being hooked up to an sdi cable, but it's really stable. Great reception through walls, and such. I'd give it another go. It's really kind of magic.

Nick
 
Diego, that was the teradeck cube sdi version, just updated the software last week, ipad 2.

Nick
 
Sounds like a good and "cool" solution that still needs some firmware updates... hehe..
Hey - what about other tablets - is it worth trying them out, or is it generally agreed that iPad is the most powerfull handheld solution for decoding H264 stream?
And I am inunderstanding this correctly - besides the actual CUBE, you need the $500 license in order to have the app working wirelessly?


Cheers.
 
Nick Gardner said:
Diego, that was the teradeck cube sdi version, just updated the software last week, ipad 2.

Nick
Click to expand...

Tanks Nick! will give it a try... sounds like a great monitoring solution... !!
 
I use this : http://www.manhattanlcd.com/product_p/7005.htm

with a D-tap off my camera battery. $500 . They make a good deep shade that's ok. Not as cool as beaming to your ipad, but very economical. I mostly use the EVF, but this is very handy on cranes or my wing mount. I haven't used it for focus, but the new focus confirm feature on Epic, which works great, may change that.
 
With all the techy geniuses on here, I'm surprised some one hasn't made an app, or a clever jail breaknfor the IPad to Epic monitor.
 
Its been discussed before even with the iPhone for monitoring even a 5D with histograms and all, there was concept art but I think there was an issue with the way in which it can't be fed in video but can feed out, directly that is...

Guessing thats a non-issue now, so suppose it would require a docking to hdmi and a specialized app, chances are though it would need something in between the docking pins and the hdmi cable to transcode to H.264 for the iPad to read and then it could give relative information


There is the iPad mission control app so you could tie it all together nicely to create an iPad version of the 5" touch screen

At least thats my understanding of all this but who knows,

The Teradek will work from the HDMI port right in regards to monitoring? The SDI port teradek is if you want to record?
 
Why not just get a TVLogic or SmallHD? They've got HDMI/SDI with loop through and they're made to be used out in the field.

EDIT: That is, if you're really and truly wanting a second monitor for the AC. As an AC, I don't think I'd appreciate being handed an iPad and a Teradek Cube. I'd rather share the monitor.

http://www.tvlogicusa.com/product/vfm056.php
 
Having used the old software and hating it (and refusing to use it again) the new set-up was like magic. It is not perfect for all uses (not a replacement for video village for instance) but for a very lightweight and completly mobile system, for the director or anybody else who needs to follow what is being shot (not the AC for focus pulling) it is fantastic. We were using it in a documentary situation where we were hurting for space and the camera was hand held. If your needs are mobility and simplicity (no cables) this system is fantastic. For follow focus, or technical evalutation of lighting or color, use a cabled monitor. But for mobility, simplicity and low cost (especially if you already own the ipads) this system is great. The delay is really minimal.
 
Pasha Patriki said:
And I am inunderstanding this correctly - besides the actual CUBE, you need the $500 license in order to have the app working wirelessly?
Click to expand...

The license is for proxy recording. You don't need it for wireless streaming.
 
Hopefully the iPad 3 will allow some form of HDMI input, via an adapter.

As a director I would love to be able to use one for all my set needs. Look at scripts, production schedules and yes, as a portable video assist.

The AC, etc, should use professional stuff, but for a director an iPad (specially with the rumored future retina display) would be perfect.

I think that one day most professional cameras will have a built-in wifi transmitted video stream and we'll think of today as the dark ages.

Small production companies will be able to receive live signals from crews in real time and this will change and improve things so much.
 
Last edited:
Thomas Church said:
As a director I would love to be able to use one for all my set needs. Look at scripts, production schedules and yes, as a portable video assist.

The AC, etc, should use professional stuff, but for a director an iPad (specially with the rumored future retina display) would be perfect.

I think that one day most professional cameras will have a built-in wifi transmitted video stream and we'll think of today as the dark ages.

Small production companies will be able to receive live signals from crews in real time and this will change and improve things so much.
Click to expand...

Been using the cube for some time now. Like everyone has said, some of the early firmware versions were a little buggy and often required doing a hard reset on the cube and rebooting the device, which could take up to 10 minutes. Now with the latest firmware and shorter boot times, I am amazed at how well it works. We usually hardwire our cube to our router & MBP, and then take an sdi out signal from a monitor in the video village. This allows us to have an insanely stable and nearly latency free signal. We have also been doing some testing with that setup + Light Iron's liveplay app. Their wireless metadata and playback system also works really well. I could see directors, script supervisors, AC's, etc really loving this app: http://lightiron.com/services/live-play

Teradek has also released a new set of cubes that can connect to an LTE network and is integrated with livestream. I have yet to test it out, (The internet connections are far too slow in Beijing), but it definitely sounds like it could be an insanely useful tool.
 
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