Mavis Camera supports remote camera control from SKAARHOJ panels, including RCP Pro and Color Fly. This lets you adjust supported camera settings from physical controls without touching the iPhone.
This is useful in multi-camera productions where an operator needs to adjust exposure and match the look of several cameras from one position.
What is SKAARHOJ?
SKAARHOJ makes configurable hardware control panels for live production. The Mavis Camera integration uses SKAARHOJ Reactor on the Blue Pill platform to connect a panel to the app over a local network.
The available buttons, menus and dial assignments depend on the panel configuration.
Requirements
Before starting, ensure you have:
- An iPhone running the latest version of Mavis Camera.
- Remote support unlocked in Mavis Camera. The Film Kit includes remote support.
- A SKAARHOJ panel configured with Reactor and the Mavis Camera device core.
- A computer or other device with a web browser for configuration.
- A local network accessible by the iPhone, SKAARHOJ system and configuration device.
- The appropriate network connections and power supply for your SKAARHOJ hardware.
Connect the devices
- Connect and power the SKAARHOJ hardware following the instructions for your panel.
- Connect the iPhone and configuration device to the same local network.
- Find the network IP address of the Blue Pill unit running Reactor. For Blue Pill Inside hardware, this can be found on the display after connecting to the network.
- Enter that address in a web browser and sign in to open the configuration interface.
For help opening the interface, see SKAARHOJ’s Accessing Blue Pill guide.
Find the iPhone’s IP address
- In Mavis Camera Settings, open Device Network Info.
- Note the IP Address for the connection to your local network.
You will enter the iPhone’s address in Reactor. This is separate from the Blue Pill address used to open the configuration interface.
Enable SKAARHOJ in Mavis Camera
- Open Mavis Camera.
- Tap More - the three dots - and then Settings.
- Find Hardware Control and enable Skaarhoj.
Add Mavis Camera in Reactor
Mavis Camera must be running on the iPhone while you add it in Reactor and use the panel to control it.
- In Reactor, open the Devices section.
- Use the manual device-add option and select Mavis Camera.
- Enter the iPhone’s local IP address in the device details.
- Check that the device is set to Active.
- Add the Mavis Camera device to the camera selector for your panel configuration. For configurations using a settings table, select it as the Bound Device and check the Camera Config matches the Mavis Camera integration.
- Select that camera on the panel.
See SKAARHOJ’s guides to Devices and Populating Settings Tables for more detail. The Mavis Camera device-core page lists available releases and supported parameters.
Test the connection
- Return to the main camera interface on the iPhone.
- Select manual exposure using the panel’s exposure controls.
- Adjust the control assigned to ISO.
- Check that the ISO value changes in Mavis Camera.
A control used for iris on another camera may have a different assignment when controlling Mavis Camera.
Mavis Camera displays Connected under Hardware Control when the integration is connected. Confirm both the connection status and a visible response to a panel adjustment.
Using the panel
RCP Pro and Color Fly can have different control layouts. A setting missing from the current page may need a different menu or a change to the configuration. Use Reactor’s Configuration tab to customise the controls for your workflow.
Tally can also be forwarded from a vision mixer to the iPhone through the SKAARHOJ system. This requires the appropriate tally configuration for your production.
Troubleshooting
The configuration interface does not open
- Check that the SKAARHOJ hardware has power and has finished starting.
- Confirm that the browser device and Blue Pill are on the same local network.
- Check that you entered the Blue Pill’s network address rather than the iPhone’s address.
The panel does not connect to Mavis Camera
- Confirm that the iPhone and SKAARHOJ system are on the same local network.
- Check the iPhone’s current IP address against the address entered in Reactor. If it has changed, update the device details.
- Confirm that Skaarhoj is enabled in Mavis Camera and remote support is unlocked.
- Check that the Mavis Camera device is Active in Reactor.
The connection is active, but a control does not respond
- Confirm that the correct camera is selected on the panel.
- Check the camera binding and configuration in Reactor.
- For the ISO test, select manual exposure.
- Check which parameter is assigned to that button, dial, joystick or fader. Panel layouts can differ.