From Tablet App to Mobile Broadcast Control Hub
Mavis Studio is an iPad live production app that combines multi‑camera switching, graphics, audio mixing, recording and streaming into a single touch‑driven workflow, turning the tablet into a compact mobile broadcast control environment that can stand in for a traditional fixed control room for events, education, faith communities, corporate presentations and content creators. The latest Mavis Studio update announced at InfoComm focuses on making iPad live production more portable, more network‑aware and closer to professional broadcast rigs in day‑to‑day use. Multi‑camera operators can now plug an iPad into existing AV networks, manage cameras over IP and route higher‑quality audio directly into the device. According to Mavis CEO Patrick Holroyd, the goal is to give users “the tools of a professional live production system in a format that is far more portable and accessible,” consolidating core control room functions into one touchscreen device.
NDI Preview on iPad: Safer, Smarter Networked Video
The centerpiece of the Mavis Studio update is NDI Preview on iPad, aimed at teams testing or scaling IP‑based live workflows. Mavis Studio already accepted NDI inputs and outputs, but operators previously had to commit before seeing how sources behaved in their own networks. Now, NDI Preview offers five minutes of full NDI access so users can test camera feeds, tally and PTZ control in real time during setup. This trial‑style preview makes iPad live production more practical for AV teams experimenting with mobile broadcast control over existing Ethernet or Wi‑Fi infrastructure. They can confirm bandwidth, latency and compatibility across networked cameras, media players and presentation systems while standing on the show floor or in a classroom. Once the tests are complete, teams know whether an iPad‑based control room can fit smoothly into their current production topology.
Integrated PTZ Camera Control From the Touchscreen
To match traditional control rooms, the update layers PTZ camera control directly into the Mavis Studio interface. Supported NDI cameras can now be panned, tilted, zoomed and focused from the iPad using a redesigned on‑screen control wheel. That wheel adapts to the selected source, switching between PTZ control, media transport and 3D layout adjustment as needed, while customizable buttons give operators quick access to common camera moves or shots. This makes compact multi‑camera setups easier to manage in spaces where there is limited room or crew for separate hardware controllers. A single operator can sit with an iPad, cut between angles, adjust framing and manage overlays without leaving the app. For houses of worship, lecture halls and small venues, this integrated PTZ approach shifts the iPad from a simple switcher into a credible director’s panel.
USB Audio Support Brings Pro Sound into the Mix
On the audio side, Mavis Studio now supports USB audio interfaces, closing a key gap between iPad live production and dedicated broadcast mixers. Users can connect professional audio hardware and route up to four channels into the app’s integrated audio desk, preserving cleaner microphone chains and outboard processing. The same USB interface can also handle headphone monitoring, so engineers can check individual sources or the program mix without extra monitoring boxes. This change helps AV teams fold the iPad into established sound workflows instead of relying on built‑in tablet microphones or basic analog adapters. For mobile broadcast control in corporate or education environments, that means a single iPad can sit alongside existing mixers and stage boxes, yet still maintain enough input flexibility to cover panel discussions, music performances or multi‑presenter events with broadcast‑grade clarity.
3D Layouts and the iPad as a Viable Control Room Alternative
Beyond connectivity and control, the update adds new 3D layouts that give operators more creative flexibility inside Mavis Studio. Sources and graphics layers can be positioned and angled in 3D space, making it possible to build split‑screens, picture‑in‑picture designs and branded compositions without a separate graphics engine. This supports more polished iPad live production for interviews, hybrid events and streamed presentations where visual style matters as much as reliability. Taken together—NDI Preview on iPad, integrated PTZ control, USB audio support and 3D layouts—the features reposition Mavis Studio as more than a convenience tool. It becomes a credible mobile broadcast control platform that condenses the roles of switcher, replay deck, graphics system, audio mixer and PTZ controller into one device. For many venues and teams, that makes the iPad a viable alternative to a traditional broadcast control room.
