iPad Console: Creating your first SlingStudio project files, step-by-step

Getting started with SlingStudio is a matter of knowing where things are. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create your first project.

(Are you using a Mac? If you prefer, you can use SlingStudio Console for Mac. Check the link at the bottom of this article.)

Before you get started: Make sure that you have hooked up your SlingStudio properly and set up the cameras or smartphones that you want to use as video sources. For more information, click the link at the bottom of this page to see How do I set up my SlingStudio?

Also be sure that you've set up any other equipment that you want to use (audio equipment, external monitor, and so on) as well as any Wi-Fi or network cable needed for streaming video.

1. On your Apple iPad, launch the SlingStudio Console app.
   Make sure that your iPad is connected to the SlingStudio hotspot (the Console app walks you through that process if it isn't).
2. When the Console app appears, you are given the option to either create a new SlingStudio project, or to open an existing one.
1. Tap NEW PROJECT.
2. Enter the project name in the PROJECT NAME field. (As this example shows, create a project name only out of letters, numbers, hyphens, underscores, and spaces—don't use any other characters):

   

3. From the VIDEO PRODUCTION menu, choose a resolution/frame rate setting. Think of this as a choice of the number of dots that make up the picture (resolution) and the number of frames per second (frame rate) that are recorded.
   Remember: The higher the resolution and/or frame rate that you choose, the better the video quality … but also the more disk space the production can take per minute of runtime.
   SlingStudio calculates the recording time available on your storage media based on your choice. (Not enough storage space? Consider reducing the resolution and/or frame rate.)
4. Choose the RECORDING OPTIONS that you want. These are the video streams that are included in the production's video folder on your storage media.
1. Program video is your production's finished video.
2. Quad-view video is an encoded multi-view stream that includes all sources, with synchronized audio, encoded into one stream for later decoding in post-production. It can be a useful source for post-production or video assist.
3. Video sources tells SlingStudio to record separate streams for all of your video sources. There is also a stream for audio line-in (audio only) recording if you select video source recording and you have audio coming through the SlingStudio audio line input.
5. VIDEO BIT RATE allows you to choose a video bit rate (the amount of data per second that SlingStudio uses to store your video/audio).
   Again, as with resolution/frame rate, higher quality means more disk space is required. Check to see how much run time SlingStudio has calculated that you have available based on your quality choices.
6. Select the storage media where you want to save your project.
7. Click SAVE when you're ready.
   Your new project opens.
3. Spend a moment reviewing the various buttons and controls that are in the Console app:

   

1. Along the leftmost margin of the Console app, you see several buttons/indicators:
1. Open/close project and set video bit rate
2. Options
3. Dashboard
4. Start/stop recording and Recording Options
2. You also have these indicators in the lower-left margin:
1. SlingStudio Battery charge indicator:

   

2. SlingStudio hotspot signal strength indicator:

   

3. HDMI Out control:

   

3. Along the left portion of the Console app, under VIDEO SOURCES, you see the cameras, smartphones, and/or other devices that you can use to record your production.
   Tip: Want to rearrange the order of your video source thumbnail images? Just tap and drag (SlingStudio Console for iPad) or click and drag (SlingStudio Console for Mac) the video source thumbnails into the order that you'd like.
4. The center and right portions of the Console app screen display the Preview/Audio Mixer view in the upper half of the screen. You see the control just above it:

   

1. Tap PREVIEW to see the Preview screen (video that's next to go "live"). Use the Preview screen to prepare video to go live by adding lower thirds, on-screen text, multiple camera view, picture-in-picture, etc.
2. Tap AUDIO MIXER to see sliding volume controls for the audio portion for each of your video sources.
5. The PROGRAM view is in the lower half of the screen.
   This is the actual display of your program, whether streaming live (such as to YouTube) or being recorded.
4. Choose video sources for Preview by tapping them, or by dragging them to the PREVIEW screen.
   You can also drag your chosen video source directly to the PROGRAM window, where that video becomes live immediately.
5. Use the controls within the PREVIEW window to add lower-thirds, on-screen text, and so on. If you don't see these controls, tap the three dots icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and select SHOW TOOLBAR. (The Toolbar is shown here, its buttons annotated with red text.)

   

6. When you're ready to promote preview video to your program, tap Preview -> Program.
   Next to that, you can choose the transition that you want between shots.
7. Repeat the preview/program process to create your program.

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS CLOSE YOUR PROJECT before switching off the SlingStudio, or before ejecting the SD card on which you've stored your project.