One useful option for 3DTV owners is to convert full side by side videos into something 3DTVs can accept.
One can create Half Side by Side Videos by going to the Dimensions tab and then changing the Resolutions and Scaling options. Turn off "Optimal Size" and then check "Allow Upscaling". Manually enter 1920x1080 and the Aspect Ratio should be 16:9. Encode and test on your 3DTV. Try different quality settings until one is happy.
The amazing Blackmagic Camera app for iOS features "Remote Camera Control" that allows linking of multiple iPhones running the Blackmagic Camera app.
You can start and stop recording on all linked iPhones from the controller phone. The files recorded have timecode. (I guess I won't need that Tentacle Sync E for now?).
Is it "frame accurate"? (TBD, but it appears about 1 frame off which requires nudging in editing.)
You can change the settings on the controller phone (shutter speed, ISO, white balance) and the linked phone also changes to match the controller phone.
Is this a game changer for 3D folks? Maybe. It is definitely convenient compared to manually changing settings on one phone and then trying to match other one and starting and stopping each phone.
There is lots more fiddling if doing manually. (It's a pain trying to change settings to match).
UPDATE: Both phones have to be on wifi network for this feature to work.
UPDATE 2: Peter Chamberlain from Blackmagic says the feature currently works on wifi or WIRED connection. It didn't occur to me until later that I could connect both phones via Lightning and a USB camera adapter. Lo and behold... it seems to work! (If I had another USB-C iPhone.. this would be a no brainer).
Blackmagic Camera Remote Camera Control requires the phones to be connected via wifi or wired connection. I grabbed my Apple USB Camera adapter and a Lightning cable and it works!
The files have timecode! Here are the first tests outdoors with both connected to each other via Lightning cable. Some of the raw clips were 1 frame off and I had to fix in editing. Pretty nice.
Final Cut Pro 11 includes Spatial Video editing features, but it assumes the files are properly aligned and good to go.
(It will allow adjustment of convergence but no features like vertical, rotational or size disparity.) Folks using two cameras like me will need another solution. (I'm using the discontinued Dashwood Cinema StereoToolbox LE)
The Apple Compressor app allows converting separate left and right files into the Spatial Video format/container but both tracks have to be same time and length. That's fine if you have a professional synced and perfect aligned 3D camera setup, but not so much for what I'm doing where each file is manually started, although now synced by Timecode.
For side by side files straight out of the Qoocam Ego, (and I assume the XR Real Beam Pro)–just import the clips as normal.
Select the clip(s) and in the inspector properties -- set Stereoscopic Conform to "Side By Side"
Create a spatial video project.
In the viewer-> View>Show Stereoscopic as Anaglyph
Once the clip is on the timeline, there is a"Stereoscopic Convergence adjustment". Use anaglyph glasses to perform the adjustment.
One cool thing is that now you can stabilize SBS clips directly in Final Cut Pro
When your masterpiece is completed, you can export the video as Full SBS (using any of the codecs) or as Spatial Video (MV-HEVC) for the Apple Vision or any device that natively plays MV-HEVC format.
Pretty nice! I just wish they had more support for two camera setups.
If you are doing only straight Spatial Videos from the iPhone..... then new workflow is great.
I was recommended to check out the Atomos UltraSync Blue for a way to synchronize a pair of iPhones for 3D video capturing.
The UltraSync Blue generates Timecode that is passed via Bluetooth to six devices. (iPhones and supported Audio Recorders)
Using the Mavis Pro Camera app, it adds timecode to the video clips.
It makes editing in Final Cut Pro X so much easier, as I don't have to manually massage the clips. (The sync is frame perfect I think).
Downsides? It maxes out a 30fps. It cannot sync faster than that. The Ultrasync can let the Mavis Pro Camera know what frame rate you have selected.
However, you can choose to shoot at 60fps.. and then only take the timecode from the box.
The iPhone 6s stutters trying to record 4K, 30fps with the Mavis app. (Update 4K, 24fps, 30mbit works, but not 4K 30fps)
One bug with the older version on the iPhone 6s, it prefers 23.98 vs straight 24p(?). (Best to manually select frame rate in the app, and not the Ultrasync blue) You don’t want to mix it up and have phones stupidly record at different frame rate.
The only video recording iOS app that supports the blue is the Mavis Pro Camera app. I wish more recording applications would support it.
(Unrelated, but the BlackMagic Camera app and seems to have some synchronization features built in, but I do not have another iPhone test with).
Here is some sample footage with a pair of iPhone 6s running the Mavis Pro Camera app.
The shutter speed is locked on both phones.
Strobing is an issue with higher shutter speeds, so ND filters should be used outside to smooth it out.
At 1080 60fps and match shutters on both phones and it works great.
