Before recording always make sure to set up your audio settings for iOS devices.

Within OpenReel there are 3 different audio settings when using iOS devices:

By default, when the recording starts, the Director and all Collaborators are muted to the Subject. This is so that any background noise from the Director and Collaborator’s side does not interfere with the Subject's final footage.

For the Subject to hear the Director during the recording, choose the audio setting based on the type of audio equipment you’re using.

NOTE: To change the audio settings, first make sure to connect the Subject’s iPhone/iPad to the session.

Please review the 3 use cases outlined in detail below.

For Subjects using an External Microphone (example: a wired Lav mic from this list of recommended equipment) make sure that they plug the microphone into their device prior to joining the session. The default audio setting in OpenReel is already set to ‘External Mic’, so there is no need to change this, but the Director will need to turn on the Admin Talkback feature if they will need to communicate during the recording.

Think of this feature as a push to talk button.

When an External Mic is plugged in, the iOS device (iPhone/iPad), registers the mic as headphones and loses the ability to output audio. When you start recording, the External Mic gets turned on and the Subject wouldn't be able to hear the Director anymore.

The AdminTalkback feature allows the Subject to hear the Director, and for the Director to communicate with the Subject during the recording.

Step 1: Enable Admin Talkback

Go to Session Options and toggle on Admin Talkback and click Save.

Audio Feed options dictate who the Subject can hear when the Director "clicks to talk" during recording.

Step 2: Click Record

You'll notice that Admin Talkback is toggled on so once you name your take, click Start Recording.

Step 3: Click the Mic Icon to Talk

To talk to the Subject, click on the mic icon on the Subject’s screen. This temporarily turns off the Subject’s External Mic and re-enables the Subject’s built-in microphone and speaker on their iOS device.

The Director will see a red border around the Subject’s screen. This indicates that the Director has the ability to speak freely to the Subject.

The Subject will also see a red mic icon with a line across it on their iOS device’s screen, indicating that their External Mic is temporarily turned off so the Director can communicate with them.

Step 4:  Click the Mic Icon to Resume Recording with the External Mic

Once the Director is done talking to the Subject, the Director will click the mic icon again to re-enable the External Mic, turning off the Subject’s built-in mic and speaker on their iOS device, and muting the Director (and other Collaborators) to the Subject.

If you are using external mics and have multiple Subjects who need to freely communicate with one another, you may need to set up an external conference line on a separate device. Please also review our Multicam guide.

This setting allows for all participants in the room to communicate to the recording subject during the recording without the need to start and stop the recording. If the Subject is not using an External Mic or Headphones for a recording, they will need to change the audio settings to ‘No External Mic’. The Subject will use their built-in microphone and speaker from their iOS device, to communicate with the Director. This will enable a two-way channel of communication between the Subject and Director at all times.

Step 1: Navigate to Session Options

Step 2: Select "Remote Devices", then select the 3 dots next to the paired device

Step 3: Select the "Mobile Mic" Menu

Step 4: Select "No External Mic" from the drop-down and closeout of session options

If your Subject is using headphones, the Director will need to change the audio settings to ‘Headphones’ in Session Options.

With this setup, during a recording, the Subject will hear the Director through their headphones and the Subject's audio will be captured through the headphone’s microphone.

Step 1: Navigate to Session Options

Step 2: Select "Remote Devices", then select the 3 dots next to the paired device

Step 3: Select the "Mobile Mic" menu

Step 4: Select "Headphones" from the drop-down, then close out of Session Options