Jake Fruia
When they released the URSA Mini Pro in March, Blackmagic Design previously promised Bluetooth control of the camera from one’s iPad. Well now they’ve delivered, publishing an iOS 10 app that does just that along with Camera 4.4 Update that offers a number of other general updates.
Camera Control App
Utilizing the URSA Mini Pro’s previously disabled bluetooth functionality, the Blackmagic Design Camera Control app allows operators to control a variety of functions on the camera from up to 30ft away. Such functions include powering the URSA Mini Pro on or off, changing all major settings, adjusting and adding metadata using a digital slate and triggering recording. On top of all that, Blackmagic will release their newly developed open protocol in a developer API with sample code “for customers that wish to build their own camera control solutions” later this summer.
Camera 4.4 Update
Blackmagic is also releasing the Camera 4.4 Update, enabling Bluetooth functionality, along with a wide array of updates for the URSA Mini Pro, URSA Mini 4K and more:
New features for Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K
- Enabled Bluetooth LE module in URSA Mini Pro.
- Added pairing security passcode in URSA Mini Pro.
- Added ability to control camera settings via Bluetooth.
- Added ability to update metadata features via Bluetooth.
- Added ability to control URSA Mini Pro’s DaVinci color corrector via Bluetooth.
- Added ability to control camera’s lens via Bluetooth.
- Added Bluetooth page in camera setup menu.
- Added Preset record run timecode functionality.
- Added automatic f-stop and T-stop detection for PL and B4 lenses.
- Added iris, focus and zoom control for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens via EF mount.
- Added record start/stop for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 with ZSG-C10 hand grip.
- Added support for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens image stabilizer.
- Improved lens functionality for EF, PL and B4 lenses.
- Improved status LED functionality.
- Improved slate functionality.
- Fixed bug where focus peaking button did not function in playback.
- Fixed bug where ProRes 422 color was misinterpreted in some applications.
- Fixed bug where taking ‘Stills’ did not update used space in media status page.
- Fixed bug where heads up display disappeared after turning off Color Bars.
- Fixed bug where scaling on 4” display caused monitoring image artifacts.
- Fixed user interface bug in media status page.
- Fixed bug where XLR Phantom Power pad was displayed incorrectly.
- Fixed bug where UI reported wrong power source when powering up unit.
- Fixed bug where SD card icon did not appear on external status display.
- Updated screen grabs and servo zoom lens information in URSA Mini Manual.
New features for URSA Mini 4.6K and 4K
- Added safe area guides and false color options to heads up monitoring options.
- Added automatic f-stop and T-stop detection for PL and B4 lenses.
- Added iris control for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens via EF mount.
- Added record start/stop for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 with ZSG-C10 hand grip.
- Added support for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens image stabilizer.
- Improved Zebras for URSA Mini 4K in low ISO’s when using Video dyanmic range.
- Improved lens support for EF, PL and B4 lenses.
- Improved slate functionality.
- Improved Door LED functionality.
- Fixed bug where ProRes 422 color was misinterpreted in some applications.
- Updated screen grabs and servo zoom lens information in URSA Mini Manual.
New features for URSA Studio Viewfinder
- Fixed bug in where URSA Studio Viewfinder attempted update to invalid software version in Blackmagic Camera Setup utility. Current software for URSA Studio Viewfinder is Camera 4.1.
For more on the new Camera Control App see the press release below. For more on the Camera 4.4 Update visit www.BlackmagicDesign.com/Support/ReadMe
Blackmagic Design Ships Remote Bluetooth Camera Control App for URSA Mini Pro
New Blackmagic Camera Control app for URSA Mini Pro now available for iPad in the Apple app store!
Fremont, California – June 22, 2017 – Blackmagic Design today released Blackmagic Camera Control, a free iPad app that lets customers remotely control their URSA Mini Pro cameras via Bluetooth, along with Camera 4.4 Update for URSA Mini Pro cameras. The new Blackmagic Camera Control app is based on the open protocol for URSA Mini Pro cameras that Blackmagic Design demonstrated at NAB earlier this year.
Camera 4.4 Update can be downloaded free of charge from the Blackmagic Design website. Once installed, customers can download the Blackmagic Camera Control iPad app from the Apple app store.
All URSA Mini Pro cameras feature built in bluetooth connectivity, which until now has not been enabled. The built in bluetooth will allow customers to to send and receive commands from up to 30 feet away. Once the camera is paired with the iPad, customers can remotely power URSA Mini Pro on or off, change all major settings, adjust and add metadata using a digital slate and trigger recording. The Blackmagic Camera Control app is perfect for customers that need to control cameras in hard to reach places such as on cranes, drones, in underwater housings and more.
To make URSA Mini Pro’s Bluetooth support even more flexible, Blackmagic Design has developed a new, open protocol and is publishing a developer API, along with sample code, for customers that wish to build their own camera control solutions. This free API and sample code will be available later this summer.
In addition to the Blackmagic Camera Control app, Blackmagic Design has also released Camera 4.4 Update which enables Bluetooth functionality and adds new preset timecode options on URSA Mini Pro cameras. The update also adds compatibility with Canon 18-80mm T4.4 for iris, focus and record trigger, along with improved EF, PL and B4 support, improved digital slate functionality and improved zebra stripe overlays on URSA Mini 4K cameras.
“URSA Mini Pro has become incredibly popular because of its amazing image quality combined with broadcast features and controls, built in ND filters and interchangeable lens mount,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “The new Blackmagic Camera Control app and open API means that the possibilities are truly endless. Customers are going to have the tools they need to build completely custom remote control solutions of their own design using the new Bluetooth support!”
Availability and Price
Blackmagic Camera Control is available free of charge from the Apple app store. Customers downloading the app must also update their URSA Mini Pro cameras using the free Camera 4.4 Update, which is available for download from the Blackmagic Design website for all existing URSA Mini Pro customers.
Press Photography
Product photos of URSA Mini Pro, and all other Blackmagic Design products, are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/press/images.
About Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com
