Blackmagic Camera Field Setup

iPhone 17 Pro + iPad — Service Point Training Videos

Project Configuration

Why These Settings

HEVC instead of ProRes — ProRes 4K runs around 735 Mbps and pushed the SSD past its sustained-write speed. HEVC 4K runs roughly 60–100 Mbps. Quality is visually indistinguishable for talking-head and demonstration content, and it solves the speed problem with margin.

Apple Log with a Rec. 709 LUT applied on the phone — More dynamic range than Rec. 709 for situations where lighting is less than ideal. A Rec. 709 LUT is applied in-app on the phone for monitoring, making the footage look natural on screen. The iPad cannot take a LUT — it will show a flat, desaturated image. Use the phone display as the primary color reference. Edit in FCP (Premiere as fallback) — both have solid tools for applying and managing LUTs in post.

30 fps — Standard for informational and web-first content. Pairs with a 1/60 shutter for natural motion.

Day-Before Prep

• Charge iPhone and iPad to 100%. Bring two power banks or a wall charger.
• Bring at least one spare USB-C cable known to carry data at speed. Use the Insta360 cable — the DJI cable does not work reliably.
• Format the SSD as exFAT, confirm free space.
• Update the Blackmagic Camera app to current version. Do not update mid-shoot.
• Do a 60-second test recording at home with all final settings. Play back from SSD on a Mac. Confirm no dropped-frame warnings.
• Pack: external mic, mic cables, headphones, white card, lens cloth, tripod plate, monitor hood for iPad if available.

Part 1 — Device Calibration

Do this on both the iPhone and the iPad before opening the Blackmagic Camera app. The goal is to lock both displays to a consistent, predictable state so what you see during a take matches what gets recorded.

In iOS Settings (both devices):

• Display & Brightness → True Tone: OFF (shifts white balance based on room light)
• Display & Brightness → Night Shift: OFF (warms the screen toward orange)
• Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Auto-Brightness: OFF
• Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Reduce White Point: OFF
• Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Color Filters: OFF
• Brightness: set to a fixed level on both, matched by eye. ~75% indoors, max outdoors. Do not touch it once shooting starts.
• Do Not Disturb: ON during shooting (no banners or call interruptions over the preview).

Part 2 — Network Setup

Both devices must be on the same network before the app can pair them.

• Option A (location Wi-Fi): Connect iPhone and iPad to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Option B (Personal Hotspot): iPhone Settings → Personal Hotspot → ON. Connect iPad to iPhone's hotspot. Use this if location Wi-Fi is crowded or causing lag.

Part 3 — App Settings (iPhone / Camera)

Open the Blackmagic Camera app on the iPhone. Tap the gear icon and work through each section.

Record / Project

• Codec: Apple H.265
• Quality: HQ / High (highest HEVC option)
• Resolution: 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD)
• Frame rate: 30 fps
• Project frame rate: 30 fps (match)
• Proxy Recording: ON (1080p) — required for iPad playback
• Storage location: External — confirm the SSD name appears. If not: check cable seating, confirm SSD is formatted exFAT, try a different USB-C cable.
• Project name: ServicePoint_Training (or per location)

Exposure & Shutter

• ISO: Manual. Base ISO 100 in bright light, 400–800 indoors. Lock before each take.
• Shutter: 180° angle (1/60 at 30 fps). Cinematic motion default.
• White balance: Manual. Set with a white card at each location. Auto WB will drift between takes.
• Tint: Leave to post. Don't adjust tint during production — it's difficult to judge accurately on set and can be dialed in much more precisely on a studio monitor in post.

Focus & Framing

• Focus: Autofocus — no focus wheel available on this rig. Will be a shot-by-shot decision if the camera isn't locking on the subject. Focus peaking ON as a reference.
• Zebras: ON at 95%. Anything striped is blown — faces should never zebra.
• False color: ON. Use it to match exposure between shots and confirm skin-tone exposure precisely.
• Frame guides: 16:9 (matches delivery aspect for training video).

Audio

• Source: External mic if connected (lav, shotgun via interface). Phone mic is scratch/backup only.
• Levels: Set manually. Peaks at −12 to −6 dB. Never touch 0.
• Headphone monitor: ON. Always listen during the take, not just check meters.

Stabilization & Misc

• Image stabilization: OFF on tripod, ON handheld.
• LUT preview: Apply the Rec. 709 LUT on the phone for monitoring. This gives you an accurate-looking reference on the phone display. The iPad will show flat/desaturated Log — that's expected.
• Gridlines / level indicator: ON for framing.
• Lens selection: Use the main (1×) lens by default — best sensor, lowest noise, sharpest. Use the telephoto only if reach is needed; avoid the ultra-wide unless the shot specifically calls for it.

Remote Control Tab

• Remote Control: ON
• Use This Device As: Camera

Part 4 — App Setup (iPad / Monitor)

Open the Blackmagic Camera app on the iPad.

Remote Control Tab

• Remote Control: ON
• Use This Device As: Controller
• Activate by tapping the 3 dots, then the phone-with-wifi-waves icon.

Connection Sequence

1. Plug SSD into iPhone (wait for "USB-C" indicator in app).
2. On iPad, tap the Camera icon (top left).
3. Select iPhone (or your named device) from the list.
4. Verify: You see the live video feed.
5. Test: Hit Record on iPad. Stop. Play back via the Media tab — confirm proxy plays smoothly.

Part 5 — Monitoring on the iPad

The iPad shows a transmitted, slightly compressed preview of what the iPhone sensor sees. Good for framing, focus, and gross exposure. Not pixel-accurate for color.

Trust the iPad for:

• Framing and composition
• Focus (with peaking ON)
• Gross exposure — is the subject clearly too dark or too bright?
• Action, blocking, performance

Do not trust the iPad for:

• Exact color rendering (the iPad has no LUT — it shows flat Log, not the graded image)
• Fine exposure decisions
• Subtle contrast or saturation judgments

For color, trust the phone display — the Rec. 709 LUT is applied there. It's the most accurate live reference on set.

Trust the camera's exposure tools instead:

• Zebras at 95% — faces should never zebra
• False color — precise exposure map
• Histogram — watch for clipping at either end
• Audio meters — peaks at −12 to −6 dB

If those four are clean, you are exposed correctly regardless of how the iPad looks.

iPad positioning: Keep the iPad out of direct sun and harsh overhead lighting. A small monitor hood helps significantly. The iPad is the director's view for framing and action. The iPhone display is the color reference — use it for critical color checks.

Part 6 — Calibration Test (once per location)

Before rolling on real material at each location, do this once. Takes five minutes, saves the rest of the day.

1. Frame a subject in the lighting you will actually shoot in. A person is ideal — skin tones are the giveaway.
2. Record a 30-second clip with all settings dialed in. Move the camera during the test to check for gimbal overcorrection.
3. Pull the file off the SSD onto a Mac with a known-good display.
4. Compare what was recorded to what the iPad showed during the take.
5. Note any consistent shift ("iPad reads slightly cool," "iPad pushes contrast") and mentally correct for it the rest of the day.

Part 7 — Pre-Roll Checklist

Run through this before every take. Once it's muscle memory it takes about 20 seconds.

• ☐ SSD connected, name visible in app
• ☐ Storage shows enough capacity
• ☐ Codec, resolution, frame rate confirmed (HEVC / 4K UHD / 30 fps)
• ☐ ISO locked manually for current lighting
• ☐ Shutter at 180° / 1/60
• ☐ White balance set for current lighting (white card if changed)
• ☐ Focus locked on subject (autofocus — confirm lock before rolling)
• ☐ No zebras on faces or important highlights
• ☐ Audio source confirmed (external mic, not phone mic)
• ☐ Audio levels peaking −12 to −6 dB
• ☐ Headphones monitoring live audio
• ☐ Stabilization matches mode (tripod = OFF, handheld = ON)
• ☐ Brightness on iPhone and iPad unchanged from calibration
• ☐ Rec. 709 LUT applied on phone display
• ☐ Frame composition checked on iPhone display, not just iPad

Part 8 — End of Shoot

• Confirm every take is on the SSD before disconnecting anything.
• Stop and exit the Blackmagic Camera app cleanly — never yank cables mid-write.
• Eject the SSD properly from iOS (Files app → external drive → eject).
• Back up the SSD contents during lunch and again at end of day — don't wait until everything is wrapped. Data rate is approximately 300 GB per 10 minutes of footage. Target at least 1 TB free on the backup drive.
• Back up as much as possible to cloud overnight.
• Note any issues encountered for the next shoot day — pass to Jonathan if relevant.

Troubleshooting

SSD not appearing in app

• Re-seat both ends of the cable
• Confirm exFAT formatting
• Use the Insta360 cable — the DJI cable does not work reliably
• Force-quit and restart the Blackmagic Camera app

Frame drops or recording stops unexpectedly

• Confirm codec is HEVC, not ProRes
• Check SSD free space
• Phone overheating? Move out of sun, reduce screen brightness, give it a 5-minute cool-down
• Close other apps in the background

iPad preview lagging or disconnecting

• Switch to Personal Hotspot if on crowded location Wi-Fi
• Lower iPad preview quality in app settings if available
• Disconnect and reconnect the multi-device session

Black screen on iPad

• Tap the iPhone screen to wake it

No SSD detected after connecting

• Force-quit app → plug in SSD → re-open app

Audio sounds wrong

• Verify external mic is selected in the app, not phone mic
• Check interface power and gain (if using a USB audio interface)
• Watch levels in real time — peaks at −12 to −6 dB
• Listen through headphones during the take, not just between takes

Phone overheating

• Move out of direct sun
• Reduce screen brightness
• Take a 5-minute cool-down between takes
• A passive heatsink case helps significantly for long shoot days