Mobile Media & Cine Apps

Turn the iPad into a Mobile Production Studio with the Padcaster

By StudentFilmmakers.com
posted Jun 25, 2012, 08:46

(New York, NY) - Designed for video journalists, videographers, DSLR shooters and more, the brand new Padcaster transforms an iPad into an on-the-go production studio, providing an easy and professional way for users to create stunning videos on the iPad, from storyboarding and shooting to editing and sharing. Perfect for professional and amateur videographers alike, the Padcaster is an aluminum frame with a urethane insert that snugly holds your iPad for a secure and solid feel. Threaded holes lining the edges of the frame allow filmmakers to attach external mics, lights and countless other accessories to enhance their finished product. A standard �-20 screw thread and locking-pin design centered on the bottom of the Padcaster lets users connect it to a professional tripod, monopod or shoulder mount for easy, smooth filming.

�The Padcaster is an invention born out of my own needs as a filmmaker. I was shooting interviews with an iPad 2 about a year ago and was frustrated that there was no way to mount it onto a tripod. That�s when I decided to build something myself,� said Josh Apter, founder and president, The Padcaster, LLC. �Now, just about a year later, we have the Padcaster. I�ve been testing the prototype and I have to say, I�m quite pleased with the results. Not only can I record high-quality footage right from the iPad, but I can also cut, add effects, and upload it to our Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo and blog feeds simultaneously � all from the same device, almost instantly.�

The Padcaster�s aluminum frame can also be used as a standalone DSLR cage. Filmmakers can rig a DSLR or other video camera into the cage, enabling them to attach numerous accessories to enhance their shoot. In the future, Apter plans to design urethane inserts to fit other popular tablets and iOS devices, like an iPhone or Android.

As the iPad increasingly makes its way into the world of production and post, the Padcaster serves as the perfect gadget to transform it not just into a mobile production studio, but also into the perfect in-studio or on-location assistant. When paired with the Padcaster, the iPad can become an on-set monitor, teleprompter, film slate, portable light source and more � all held in an incredibly rugged iPad case. With its versatile frame, add-on capabilities and ability to house the world�s most advanced tablet combined with the imaginations of industry creatives, the possibilities are virtually endless with the Padcaster.

Padcaster Accessories � The Lenscaster
For videographers looking for more advanced filming options than what the new iPad or iPad 2 cameras offer, Apter created the Lenscaster � a separate accessory that attaches to the Padcaster and allows users to shoot footage on the iPad with a more powerful lens. Additional lenses can be attached via the Lenscaster to create a wider field of view or bring telephoto capabilities to the iPad�s fixed lens. And coupled with a 35MM lens adapter (not included), shooters can use cinema lenses to add shallow depth of field and better focusing for a DSLR-like feel.

The total Padcaster package transforms the iPad from consumer device to content creator with the ability to produce film-quality footage as an all-in-one production studio on the go.

�The iPad's a great tool for editing and sharing video, and the new model even has an excellent camera, but without multiple lenses, or a tripod mount it's not as usable or versatile as dedicated video cameras. The Padcaster aims to change that: it's a sturdy case that lets you connect your tablet to a tripod and a lens, and turn it into a one-step solution for recording, editing, and sharing video.� � David Pierce, The Verge

Padcaster Specifications

Materials: aluminum frame and urethane insert
Color: frame � brushed aluminum; insert � black
Length: 12.5 inches / 31.75 centimeters
Width: 10.31 inches / 26.19 centimeters
Depth: .75 inches / 1.9 centimeters
Weight: 2lbs 3 oz / approx. 1 kg
10 threads at 1/4-20
14 threads at 3/8-16
2 non-threaded holes for charging port
2 non-threaded holes for headphones





Resources:

www.thepadcaster.com