What the New Mavis Studio iPad Update Delivers
Mavis Studio’s latest iPad update is a live production software release that adds NDI preview control, PTZ camera operation, USB audio, and 3D layouts to turn the tablet into a practical alternative to a traditional switcher, graphics engine, and audio desk in one portable device. First launched only months ago, Mavis Studio already combined multi-camera switching, media playback, graphics, audio mixing, recording, and streaming in a single app aimed at AV teams, integrators, venues, educators, houses of worship, and content creators. The new version, announced at InfoComm, keeps that core but sharpens its role as a portable live streaming and event platform. By focusing on IP video workflows, soft PTZ control and direct audio interface support, the update tries to close the gap between an iPad rig and a fixed control room for many small to mid-scale productions.
NDI Preview Control and Networked-Video Workflows
The headline feature is NDI Preview, which gives Mavis Studio iPad users five minutes of full NDI access before any subscription is required. During that window, teams can test networked cameras, confirm tally, and check PTZ camera iPad control, which is significant for anyone building portable live streaming around IP video infrastructure. This trial mode matters because IP-based switching is only as solid as the underlying network. Being able to see whether NDI HX or other NDI sources behave as expected, without upfront commitment, helps AV teams validate switches, cabling, and wireless links in real conditions. According to Mavis, the preview is intended to show how Mavis Studio fits into existing production environments and to surface network performance issues during prep days rather than in the middle of a live show.
PTZ Camera Control on iPad Through a Smarter Wheel
The update’s PTZ control brings networked camera operation directly into the Mavis Studio iPad interface. Supported NDI PTZ cameras can now be panned, tilted, zoomed and focused from a touch-first control wheel that changes behavior depending on the selected source. When a camera is active, the wheel becomes a PTZ tool; when media or graphics are selected, it switches to transport or layout control. Customizable buttons surround the wheel for quick access to actions like focus or camera presets. This approach puts Mavis Studio in the same conversation as other NDI-aware hubs that integrate PTZ control, but shifts everything onto a touchscreen instead of a separate hardware joystick. For small crews and tight spaces, it means one operator can manage switching and camera moves from a single screen instead of juggling extra control surfaces.
USB Audio Support and 3D Layouts for Richer Shows
On the audio side, the Mavis Studio update adds support for USB audio interfaces, letting up to four channels feed directly into the app’s integrated mixer. That means a compact box such as a small desktop audio interface can handle microphones, line feeds, and headphone monitoring without extra converters. For mobile live production teams, this reduces setup complexity while keeping sound routing inside the same touch interface used for video. Visual design gets attention too through new 3D layouts. Operators can position and angle layers in three-dimensional space, stacking titles, picture-in-picture windows, and branding in a more dynamic way without bringing in a separate graphics system. Combined with the control wheel’s 3D layout mode, one operator can manage composition depth, transitions, and on-screen motion as part of the same live workflow.
iPad as a Control Room: Who This Update Is For
With NDI preview control, PTZ integration, USB audio, and 3D layouts, Mavis Studio pushes the Mavis Studio iPad workflow closer to a full control room in a bag. AV teams and systems integrators can now design portable rigs around an iPad, a few NDI cameras, and a compact audio interface, instead of racks of hardware. Venues and educators gain a flexible setup that can move between spaces, while houses of worship and solo content creators get a more capable but still approachable live production software tool. Mavis CEO Patrick Holroyd states that the goal is to give people “the tools of a professional live production system in a format that is far more portable and accessible.” For many live events, that now means the iPad can be the primary switching, graphics, audio, and streaming surface.
