Multicam gives you, the Director, the ability to pair multiple devices to the same Session, thus allowing you to record multiple Subjects from different locations or multiple angles of one Subject in one location.

Think of each device as a separate camera, each recording its own discreet, isolated video feed.

When you click Record, you'll be able to select which device(s) you want to begin recording simultaneously.

Pair Multiple Devices

Click Send Invite at the top of the Session to manage invites for all of your Participants. 

Mobile Devices

Optimize Mobile devices: Make sure that each Subject’s device is optimized to use OpenReel. 

Download OpenReel Capture: Make sure each mobile device has the latest version of the OpenReel Capture app!

Invite Subject(s) into the Session: Once all the Subject devices are set up, you need to invite the Subjects into the Session. You can do so in two ways:

1. Session ID: Provide any Mobile Subjects with the four-digit Session ID, which can be found by clicking on the “Send Invite” option at the top of the screen. The Subject can then enter their Name and the Session ID on the app, and check the box to agree to the Terms and Conditions. Then, click the Enter button.
2. Subject Access Link:  From the Participants window, the first option you’ll see is The Public Access Link. Simply click the Copy option to the right, and send the link to your Subject. By clicking this link the Subject bypasses the need to enter the Session ID.  By clicking the link the Mobile Subject will be brought directly to the session lobby page.

Paired: After the Subject hits the Play button on the Lobby screen the Subjects’ Mobile devices are now paired to the Session and are ready to be recorded.

Webcams

Optimize Webcam Devices: Make sure that each Subject’s device is optimized for best performance with OpenReel. 

Send out Session Invite: You need to send each Subject an invite. You can do so in two ways:

1. Email Invite: Click Send Invite at the top of the screen within the session. The Participants window will appear, in which you’ll find another Send Invite option. You can enter the name, email, and role of the invitee (in this case, subject), and click Invite. 

The Subject will receive an email invite from no-reply@openreel.com. If they don’t see the invite after a few minutes, they may want to check their Spam or Promotions folders. The Subject needs to click on the Accept Invite to Record button in the email, and then again on the new page that opens, to access the Session. 

2. Subject Access Link: From the Participants window, the first option you’ll see is The Public Access Link. Simply click the Copy option to the right, and send the link to your Subject.

When they click on the link, they will come to a page where they will need to enter their name. The four-digit Session ID will automatically be populated for them. Click Enter to move to the next page. They will then be able to select the webcam and microphone they wish to use (whether built-in or external), and select Enter Session. 

Paired: When the Subjects pairs into the Session, their browser prompts them to allow microphone and camera permissions; make sure that each Subject accepts those permissions. Once they have accepted these permissions, the Webcam Subjects are now ready to be recorded.

The Webcam Subject Prep Sheet covers these permissions, so send this to your Subject!

Advanced Settings on Remote Devices Paired to Your Room

You will need to adjust the camera settings on each individual device that is in the room. 

To access these settings: Open the Adjustments tab. Select the Subject device you want to adjust from the dropdown. Then, you will be able to adjust various camera settings for that Subject's device, such as Frame Rate, Resolution, and Focus. If any of the options are not supported by that device, you will receive a notification stating so.

Recording Multiple Devices Simultaneously

When you click the record button with multiple devices connected, a pop-up box will appear. You can select which devices will be included by toggling them to the Record position. Inactive devices will not record.

Then click Start Recording. All active devices will record locally. When the files have been uploaded, all recorded clips will be in sync, with the same naming conventions and time stamps.

Recording Multiple Devices Separately

Sometimes while filming multicam videos, you may need one Subject to reshoot something without recording the other Subjects. Other time, you may need to stop one device mid-record while another continues. Whatever the case may be, you have the ability to stop and start recording for each individual Subject. Instead of using the big central recording button, use the recording buttons on each Subject’s feed to individually control their feeds.