What First Rush 2.1 Is—and Why It Matters
First Rush 2.1 is a native macOS SDI multicam recording application that automatically follows the camera’s REC flag to capture Apple ProRes files, complete with timecode and metadata already structured for major NLEs, turning a Mac into an on-set ProRes recorder and live grading station for multicamera productions. Built by working on-set editor Jinkyu Han, the software aims squarely at the space between premium systems like QTAKE and Pomfort Reeltime Pro and the needs of independent crews. Instead of dedicated hardware recorders and complex video village rigs, it uses Apple Silicon Macs and SDI interfaces to run professional video workflows from a cart or small studio. According to CineD, First Rush 2.1 is now available through the Mac App Store as a single subscription that includes multicam SDI capture, live CDL color tools, scopes, compositing, playback, and an iPhone or iPad companion viewer.
SDI Auto-Record to ProRes: Turning a Mac into a Multicam Recorder
The core of First Rush 2.1 is SDI auto-record: the app listens for the SMPTE RP 188 record flag on each SDI feed and starts or stops recording in sync with the camera, removing the need for a separate operator to manage transport controls. Confirmed triggers with cameras such as the ARRI ALEXA, Sony VENICE, DJI Ronin 4D, and Blackmagic URSA cover the bodies most likely to feed an on-set cart. Each take is recorded directly to Apple ProRes on the Mac, positioning First Rush as a ProRes recorder for Mac users who want multicam SDI recording without investing in external recorders. The software writes reel, scene, take, and camera name into the .mov file and can even use HUD OCR to read clip, reel, ISO, white balance, and shutter from the camera display when those values are not embedded, so footage arrives in Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve labeled and ready to cut.
On-Set Color Grading with Live CDL and Scopes
First Rush 2.1 extends beyond capture into on-set color grading, bringing ASC CDL controls and full scopes into a single macOS interface. Color tools include CDL slope, offset and power, plus exposure, contrast, color temperature and tint, with the option to bake the look into the recording so that ProRes files match the on-set monitor. Per-camera looks can be saved as presets, copied between sources, or imported and exported as ASC .cdl files, and each source can have its own 3D LUT via .cube, which keeps creative intent consistent from set to post. The scope suite covers luma waveform, RGB parade and overlay, vectorscope with I/Q lines and 75/100 percent targets, and RGB histograms, updated in real time. False color, zebras and focus peaking provide quick checks for exposure and focus, making First Rush 2.1 a practical on-set color grading station instead of a simple recorder.
Real-Time Compositing and iPhone Companion Monitoring
Version 2.1’s standout upgrade is real-time compositing built directly into the SDI multicam recording workflow. Editors or DITs can pull in a previous take, a still image, or another camera’s live signal and combine it through green or blue chroma key with spill suppression, edge choke and matte preview. Additional modes like blend mix, angle-and-feather wipe, and difference view support quick VFX checks, continuity comparisons and greenscreen confirmation on set, with the composite displayed in its own tile so source feeds remain clean. That composite can be routed to a dedicated monitor, sent back out over SDI or recorded when needed. The release also folds in an iPhone and iPad companion viewer, giving directors and department heads wireless access to feeds and controls from anywhere on set, which fits neatly into modern professional video workflows that expect flexible, device-agnostic monitoring.
Affordable Subscription and Mac App Store Delivery
First Rush 2.1’s pricing and distribution aim to democratize professional multicam SDI recording for smaller teams. CineD reports that the app’s full feature set—auto-recording, multicam SDI capture, live CDL grading, scopes, compositing, SDI clip playback, chapter markers and the iPhone or iPad companion viewer—is bundled into a single subscription that costs around $140 per year. By targeting individual on-set editors rather than large video village installations, it lowers the barrier to entry for independent productions seeking a streamlined professional video workflow built around a Mac. Mac App Store availability further simplifies installation, licensing and updates for crews already invested in the Apple ecosystem: they can deploy First Rush on Apple Silicon laptops or desktops alongside tools like Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve, turning a standard Mac into a practical on-set SDI multicam recorder with integrated grading and review.
