ARRI announced the official release of the new ARRI Camera Companion app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon-powered Macs, which allows users to configure their own personalized interface for remote control of their ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, ALEXA Mini, AMIRA, and ALEXA 265 cameras. More detailed information is available on the ARRI website.
Valuable feedback from thousands of industry experts helped shape the final feature set. Following a highly successful beta program, ARRI’s Camera Companion is available now on the Apple App Store.
Available in two subscription options, Camera Companion’s flexible interface streamlines the on-set workflow for camera crews and DITs: the Standard subscription provides comprehensive control of one or two ARRI cameras, while the Premium subscription adds features such as unlimited cameras and MIDI support.
Freeware Version
The free demo version of the app offers basic single-camera controls, access to the camera menu, and a free Standard and Premium trial period, allowing users to familiarize themselves with the control possibilities before deciding which subscription is right for them.
Every new project in the app includes a simulated camera, so you can start exploring even if you don’t have the camera at hand – in fact the connection to the ARRI camera can be implemented via the camera’s own WiFi network or a wider on-set network.
Personalized control is at the heart of the Camera Companion experience: users can choose a predefined layout or drag and drop control tiles to create a custom layout that suits the way they work, putting the parameters they want at their fingertips.
Unlimited app users can assign buttons to literally any camera function they want, then drag and drop them into the user’s personalized layout. With a premium subscription the interface can be organized into multiple tabs, allowing users to create separate tabs for different cameras or shooting situations, or assign specific tabs to functions such as playback controls.
Camera Companion provides flexible and portable access to all the familiar camera controls and status displays of a professional set.
Some of the features praised by beta testers include the ability to save builds per project, separate interfaces for DP and DIT, time savings as the physical camera setup and selection of camera settings can be done simultaneously by different people, instant adjustment of camera settings at the monitor station, quick matching of multiple cameras and, best of all, a customizable interface.
Paid Version
For maximum professional versatility, a premium subscription expands the app’s capabilities with unlimited cameras and tabs, lens control with cforce lens motors, sensor sync shift, CDL control for live grading, and video parameter control (for ALEXA Mini and AMIRA cameras).
It also offers MIDI support for tactile control via physical input devices, allowing control of ARRI cameras with any kind of MIDI-enabled device, opening up almost unlimited opportunities and further expanding the range of individually customized camera control setups.
