Vizzywig was one of the sponsors of our #CESlive coverage, but I have nothing to do with the sponsorships around here, and I hadn't spent much time with the app before walking onto the stage. Now, having seen it in actions for several hours a day over the course of the week, both watching Geek Beat's John P. handling it, and handling it myself, I was blown away. With it, we shot all the close ups for all the interviews — almost 80 in total — over the course of just 4 days. Here's how!
i4software's Vizzywig does a few things very well. More importantly, it does them all in the same app. First, it shoots video. Point. Capture. Done. Second, it lets you edit that video. Take your shots, move and manipulate them until they're just exactly where and what you want, add transitions and titles, and you're good to share. If that sounds a lot like a combination of Apple's built-in Camara app and downloadable iMovie app, it's because that's pretty much exactly what it is, just with the convenience of an all-in-one. But it's only the beginning. The real magic of Vyzziwig is remote cameras. You can take up to 10 iOS — or Android! — devices, send them out, and the switch between them in real-time. It's not something we were able to use this time, but it's absolutely something we're looking at for the future.
The Vizzywig interface is big, and bold, and usable, but it'd be nice to see it get some iOS 7-style pixel love (especially that old-school disk save icon!). Also, at $30, Vizzywig may not be for everyone. However, it's certainly some of the best money any aspiring videographer can spend on mobile. As someone wants more incredibly powerful, incredibly sophisticated software on mobile, I love that it exists. And that it allowed us to do something we likely couldn't have done, and certainly not as easily, without it.
What was of most interest to most of us here at iMore and Mobile Nations was the speed of workflow Vizzywig enabled. I've long been envious of my MacBreak Weekly co-host, Alex Lindsay's ability to work as a one-man video crew at shows like CES and MacWorld. He captures, edits, and uploads video straight from his iPhone, straight from the show floor, with incredible turn-around time. Vizzywig is the first tool we've tested that might just be easy enough for us to do likewise. (Stay tuned for more on that.)
Our #CESlive setup also included an iPad mini — Vizzywig works on both iPhone and iPad — which ran straight into the live broadcast thanks to an HDMI-out cable. The iPad itself was in an iOgrapher case. While iPhoneography is far more common, and strangely accepted, than iPadography, it's not uncommon to see pro cameras and displays as big, if not bigger, than iPads in production. Sometimes you really need to see what you're shooting! However, those cameras typically also enjoy things like one or multiple shoe mounts for flashes, lights. boom mics, Wi-Fi mic receivers, and other components, and tripod mounts for the rig. That's where iOgrapher comes in. It not only gives you 3 shoes right on top and a mount below, it gives you big, easy to use handles on both sides, and a lens attachment so you can go wide-angle, telephoto, or fisheye and really up the iPad's shooting game.
Taken together, the setup feels like an example of what Apple's promoting with their what will your verse be? (opens in new tab) and I think a good one. If you're into video, let me know — how important are the iPhone or iPad to your workflow, and how important would you want them to be?
- $29.99 - Vizzywig - Download now (opens in new tab)
- $65.00 - iOgrapher - Buy now (opens in new tab)
