Using the SlingStudio Console for iPad Auto-Switch feature

In your videos, are you both the talent and the director? Would you like to auto-switch cameras so that you can focus on what you do best ... being the talent?

Are you a one-person video show ... director, cameraperson, lighting person, and audio mixer? Would you like a way to automate camera direction so that you have one less thing to do?

During long productions without much action, would you occasionally like to take a break?

If any of those are true, then the SlingStudio Console Auto-Switch feature is for you!

You can use it for these things and more:

• Sequential or random switching: Set video sources to auto-switch, either in sequential or in random order, with each video source's shot holding for the duration that you select. You can also select a main camera for Console to switch back to between each auto-switch.
• Voice-activated switching: Have SlingStudio Console for iPad auto-switch to a video source when it detects audio on that source. Example: A talk show setup with a video source for each subject. When a subject speaks, Console auto-selects that video source for the Program window. There's also an option to designate a safety camera if more than one person speaks—ideal for a camera that's aimed wide for a group shot that can show multiple people speaking. The safety camera can also be used if there's no audio on any source.

Note that you could also use the Voice-activated switching feature for video conferences, along with the SlingStudio Console Video Conferencing-Low Delay project setting.

First, an important note: Auto-Switch locks the screen while in use

The SlingStudio Console for iPad Auto-Switch feature is designed to be used unattended. When the Auto-Switch feature is activated, the Console screen is locked and you cannot access any features. To indicate this, a green STOP AUTO-SWITCH box appears at the top of the Console screen, and a green outline appears around the Console window.

If you need to access any SlingStudio Console for iPad features, you must first tap the green box at the top of the Console screen to deactivate the Auto-Switch feature. When you are finished, you can tap the AUTO box (next to the PREVIEW TO PROGRAM button) to re-enable Auto-Switch.

Setting up the Sequential or Random Auto-Switch feature

If you'd like to have SlingStudio Console for iPad auto-switch video sources, either sequentially or in random order:

1. Create a new SlingStudio Console for iPad project, or open an existing one.
2. In the upper-left corner of the main window, tap the three horizontal lines icon to reveal the options panel, and then tap Auto-Switch Settings.
   The Auto-Switch Settings dialog box opens.
   
   
   


3. Tap Preset.
   The Preset dialog box opens.
   
   
   


4. Tap to select the video sources that you want to include in the auto-switching sequence.
5. If you're using Sequential auto-switching, you can tap/drag to reorder the video sources so that they appear in the sequence that you want.
6. Set the auto-switch duration that you want for each video source:
1. Tap the time duration that's shown next to each video source.
   The AUTO-SWITCH DURATION dialog box opens.
2. Spin the minutes and seconds wheels to set the duration that you want for that video source.
3. Tap the left arrow in the upper-left corner of the AUTO-SWITCH DURATION dialog box to return to the PRESET dialog box.
7. Tap the Switching Order drop-down list, then choose Sequential or Random switching.
8. If you'd like to have SlingStudio Console alternate a single video source between each of the other sources, tap the Main Camera drop-down list and select the camera that you'd like to use for this purpose. Scroll the list as needed to see all of the video sources that you have chosen.
   Choose None if you don't want to specify a Main Camera.
   Note: Choosing a video source as a Main Camera removes it from the sequential or random order. For example, if you choose sequential auto-switching with video source order of 1, 2, 3, 4 ... and you choose source 4 as your Main Camera ... then the auto-switching order with the Main Camera specified becomes 1, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4 (repeat).
9. Tap the X in the upper-right corner of the Auto-Switch Settings dialog box to close it.
10. Tap the AUTO button (next to the PREVIEW TO PROGRAM button) to turn on auto-switching.
    Remember (as noted above) that the Console screen is locked when the auto-switch feature is active.

Setting up the Voice-Activated Auto Switch feature

If you'd like to have SlingStudio Console auto-switch video sources based on voice (or other audio) that is detected on a particular source:

1. Create a new SlingStudio Console for iPad project, or open an existing one.
2. In the upper-left corner of the main window, tap the three horizontal lines icon to reveal the options panel, and then tap Auto-Switch Settings.
   The Auto-Switch Settings dialog box opens.
   
   
   
3. Tap Voice-Activated.
   The VOICE-ACTIVATED dialog box opens.







4. Tap to select the video sources that you want to use for voice-activated auto-switching.
5. If you'd like to have Console auto-switch to a "safety camera" if audio is detected on more than one video source at a time (or if there's no audio detected on any source):
1. Tap the drop-down list under Safety Camera.
2. Tap to select the video source that you'd like to use for this purpose.
3. Choose None if you don't want to specify a Safety Camera.
   Note: You can include a video source in an auto-switch sequence as well using it as a Safety Camera.
6. Tap the X in the upper-right corner of the Auto-Switch Settings dialog box to close it.

Note: Although you can certainly include a line-in audio source with your project, you cannot use a line-in audio source to trigger the voice-activated Auto-Switch feature.

Don't want the Auto button to display?

If you'd rather not have the AUTO button appear between the Preview and Program windows:

1. Create a new SlingStudio Console project, or open an existing one.
2. In the upper-left corner of SlingStudio Console for iPad, tap the three horizontal lines icon to reveal the options panel, and then tap Auto-Switch Settings.
   The Auto-Switch Settings dialog box opens.
3. Deselect Show Auto-Switch Button.
4. Tap the X in the upper-right corner of the Auto-Switch Settings dialog box to close it.