Redefining iPad Live Production for Professional AV
Mavis Studio’s latest update is a live production software release that turns an iPad into a multi-camera, networked, audio-capable control surface able to switch, mix, record and stream professional video in environments that once depended on fixed hardware. Built around the portability and processing power of Apple’s tablet, the app combines switching, media playback, graphics, audio mixing and streaming in a single touch interface that targets AV teams, venues, educators, houses of worship and content creators. At InfoComm 2026, Mavis framed the new release as a step toward making professional video production on iPad a practical alternative to conventional racks of hardware. By adding tighter IP video integration, camera control and USB audio, the update positions iPad live production as a portable option for IP-first installations and smaller crews that want fewer boxes and cables in their workflow.
NDI Preview Streaming and Networked Video Integration
The headline feature for connected workflows is NDI Preview streaming, which builds on Mavis Studio’s existing NDI input and output. Teams can already pull networked cameras and sources into an iPad-based switcher; now they get five minutes of full NDI access to test camera feeds, tally information and PTZ camera control before subscribing. That trial window matters when AV engineers need to confirm network performance, check latency and verify that their mix of NDI cameras and encoders will behave reliably with the app. It turns the iPad into a practical test bench for IP-based production, instead of forcing integrators to commit to subscriptions before they know if a deployment will meet their standards. For facilities migrating from SDI to IP, this kind of NDI preview streaming lowers the risk of adopting an iPad live production workflow.
PTZ Camera Control from a Single Touch Interface
Mavis Studio’s new PTZ camera control targets one of the most common pain points in compact multi-camera setups: the need for separate hardware controllers. With supported NDI PTZ cameras, operators can now pan, tilt, zoom and focus directly from the iPad. A smart control wheel adapts based on the active source, switching between PTZ control, media transport and 3D layout adjustment, while customizable buttons provide fast access to frequent actions. This means an operator in a small control room, lecture hall or worship space can handle framing, switching and playback without additional panels or joysticks. It also aligns with the broader move toward software-defined control rooms, where IP-connected cameras, switchers and graphics tools share the same network, letting the professional video production iPad act as both mixer and controller for an entire system.
USB Audio and 3D Layouts Expand Creative Control
The update also strengthens audio and visual design, two areas that often separate casual streaming from professional results. USB audio support lets users connect external audio interfaces, bringing up to four channels of professional microphones or line sources into the app’s integrated audio desk. The same interface can handle headphone monitoring, reducing the need for extra mixers or recorders in smaller rigs. On the visual side, expanded 3D layouts allow operators to arrange layers in three-dimensional space, angling and positioning video, graphics and branding elements for more dynamic compositions. Events, interviews and presentations can benefit from layered picture-in-picture, branded frames and multi-camera layouts that would usually require a separate graphics system. Together, these Mavis Studio features help an iPad live production workflow move closer to the creative range of traditional broadcast switchers and graphics engines.
A Cost-Effective Route to Professional iPad Live Production
Beyond feature checklists, the update is about lowering the barrier to professional video production on iPad. A single device can now switch NDI sources, control PTZ cameras, mix multi-channel USB audio and build 3D layouts, which reduces the number of dedicated hardware units and operators needed on site. Patrick Holroyd, CEO of Mavis, said that Mavis Studio gives people “the tools of a professional live production system in a format that is far more portable and accessible.” The app is a free download, with the free tier applying a watermark on outputs; that watermark can be removed on subscription, and NDI activation sits in a higher tier. For education spaces, corporate environments and houses of worship that need to stretch budgets, this packaging turns an off-the-shelf tablet into a flexible live production hub rather than a secondary device.
