XDCAMera Log

Out in the Western Solomon Islands, desperately in need of a reflector (that I forgot to pack). A solution was at hand, including three helpers.

I say ‘almost’ due to the fact my iPad won’t arrive till next week. It’s been a few months of seeking out prompting systems that are light in weight, easy to set up, adaptable to use with a super wide lens and a unit that is light on power.

The ProPrompter looked like a good option, and they now have a unit that works with the iPad, controlled via Bluetooth remote sync from another iPad or iPhone. The iPhone to iPhone version works well and is controllable for short pieces to camera, tapping and swiping on the screen. One problem encountered, so obvious, when someone calls you on the iPhone, couldn’t believe it, nobody rang all day till the point when you start using it as a prompter! Of course the solution is to turn it to ‘airline mode’. Changing the script can be a pain on such a small device too, I guess it’s just a matter of time till one gets used to it – though with another iPad and keyboard the problem may be solved. Their latest software update allows for multiple iPhones or Pads to be remotely connected and synced. Though, I have had experience where they actually go out of sync, now whether this is loss of signal or a software bug…dunno.

For this techno-tragic I wait in anticipation to try a neat app for the iPad, Air Display.

This app promises to use the iPad as a wireless display for a Mac OS X computer “…on a typical Wi-Fi network, mouse cursor refreshes are indistinguishable from a wired mouse.” Yes, that iPad window will supply the scrolling text, the Macbook Pro with a Griffin Powermate scrolling the words The script being able to be edited normally on the MBP.

The hunt is on now for a portable Wi-Fi device (powered by USB) that will feed the iPad.

That’s the theory – hopefully I can update the story next week claiming success!

UPDATE

The grand experiment failed. The wifi connection lagged by about half a second as well as the scrolling becoming ‘jittery’. Though it could be used to ‘prompt’ on a single page.

I emailed Bodelin , makers of the ProPrompter and they are hopeful of making a remote device for easier scrolling once Apple ‘frees up’ on some of their software limitations on both the iPhone and iPad.  Stay tuned.

It would seem these pages should have been called anything but XD, however there are some great products emerging that compliment XD cameras. Here’s one such product from a US company, Small HD.

They’re about to release the DPslr, a 5.6″ 1280×800 monitor. The HD/SDI version also has inputs for HDMI and component. Price varies from the model you want / require from US$899 to $1199.

I’ve not seen it – but have heard from those that have at NAB this year, they’re impressed. The DP1x also looks impressive as a field monitor, though lacks an HD/SDI input.

Check the website: SMALL HD