QTAKE Monitor User Guide 4.5

About

QTAKE Monitor is the client-side application used to connect to QTAKE Stream, QTAKE Server, QTAKE Cloud and other software or hardware products from the QTAKE ecosystem. It provides multi-camera live monitoring, clip browsing with advanced metadata filters, synchronized playback of multiple clips, metadata collaboration and more. When used on film location or inside a studio, it uses a local wired or wireless network to connect to the stream source. However, it can also connect to QTAKE Cloud over the internet to provide the most advanced remote workflow solution from around the world. QTAKE Monitor app is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

Live Streaming

QTAKE uses proprietary QLS protocol designed to provide secure, ultra-low latency audio, video and metadata streaming. QTAKE Stream has less than 2 frames of latency on the local network and less than 4 frames latency over the fast internet connection. Internet connection to live stream requires QTAKE Cloud Stream service.

Playback and Notes

QTAKE Server is used to provide independent clip playback and metadata editing through the QTAKE Monitor for iOS and Mac over the local network. Internet access to clips and metadata requires QTAKE Cloud Sync service.

Installation

Download the app from the Apple App Store on your selected device.

  • QTAKE Monitor for iOS, iPadOS, macOS Catalina or later, and tvOS

iPad, iPhone and Mac

The iOS and macOS version of QTAKE Monitor is the most advanced one. In addition to receiving up to 9 local or cloud streams, it provides access to QTAKE Server. This means users can independently browse and playback recorded clips as well as edit rich clip metadata. QTAKE records proxy media on the fly, so remote playback in QTAKE Monitor is available just seconds after the camera cuts.

iOS and macOS System Requirements

Any iPhone, iPad or iPod running iOS 13 or later. Any Mac running macOS 10.15 or later.

Apple TV

The tvOS version of QTAKE Monitor can currently be used for local and cloud streams only.

tvOS System Requirements

Any 4th or later generation Apple TV device running tvOS 12.2 or later.

Windows, Linux, Android

Native QTAKE Monitor app is available only on Apple devices. For clients who wish to connect to QTAKE Cloud Stream from Windows, Linux, Android or other platforms, there is a web interface available. See QTAKE Cloud for more info.

Configuration

Ports

In most cases, no additional configuration is required to use QTAKE Monitor on your network. However, users on restrictive networks may need to allow traffic on certain ports depending on the QTAKE Monitor functionality they want to use.

QTAKE Stream

To stream over the local network, enable traffic to and from the following ports on the QTAKE Video Assist System:

  • TCP 7000, 7007
  • UDP 8567

For QTAKE Cloud Stream, enable traffic to and from the following QTAKE Cloud ports in addition to the above:

  • TCP 443, 8500
  • UDP 8550, 8551

The QTAKE Cloud Service uses the following domain names:

  • api.qtake.cloud
  • live.qtake.cloud
  • sync.qtake.cloud
  • stream.qtake.live

Never rely on any particular IP addresses these currently resolve to. The stream.qtake.live record is updated on each new deployment of QTAKE Cloud service instances, which can happen at any time. If you use it to configure your firewall, make sure it is set up to poll for changes every few minutes.

QTAKE Sync

To access independent playback over the local network, enable traffic to and from the following ports on the QTAKE Server System:

  • TCP 8500 – 8600
  • TCP 44443

For QTAKE Cloud Sync, enable the above ports for the domain you received as part of your project link.

User Account

After running the QTAKE Monitor app for the first time on any platform, you should create your user account. User account is not required for local streams, but it is mandatory for cloud streams and playback.

App Login

Open the QTAKE Monitor app and click the top-left button.

Click the LOG IN button inside the PROJECTS window.

Enter your EMAIL address and click LOG IN.

Enter a strong PASSWORD. The password must contain at least 3 of the following: lowercase letters, uppercase letters, digits, special characters.

Optionally enter your FULL NAME for your co-workers to recognize you.

Click the SIGN UP button and wait for the activation email.

Web Login

Alternatively, you can use the web interface to create your user account. Click the following link to open your web browser and load the QTAKE Cloud login page.

Note that the initial page is used for existing users. If you haven’t registered for a QTAKE Cloud account, click the Don’t have an account? link. This will load the Sign Up page.

Enter your EMAIL and a strong PASSWORD. Optionally enter your FULL NAME to allow your co-workers to recognize you. After entering all required information, click the CREATE ACCOUNT button and wait for the activation email.

Account Activation

After creating an account in the QTAKE Monitor app or using the QTAKE Cloud website, you will receive an activation email, which is used to confirm your email address. Click the link contained in the activation email to finalize your QTAKE Cloud account registration.

Two-Factor Authentication

In order to provide a higher level of security, your QTAKE Cloud Account can be protected using two-factor authentication (TFA). Click the orange ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION button below the email address.

Alternatively, switch to the USERS list and swipe left on the user to reveal ACCOUNT SETTINGS.

Turn on TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION and allow push notifications. You can authorize multiple devices for TFA and use account settings to manage them.

Authorizing Additional Devices

Authorized devices receive push notifications with verification codes when logging in to your account. You can authorize multiple devices at the same time. To authorize an additional device,

  1. Open the Users section in QTAKE Monitor (located to the left of the Projects tab) on an already-authorized device.
  2. Swipe left over your email in the list and choose Account Settings.
  3. You will be prompted for your account password.
  4. Find your device in the list of logged in devices and select it.
  5. Click Authorize.

Recovering Account Access

After enabling TFA, you will receive an email containing your Account Recovery Key. Store this key in a secure location.

In case you lose access to your authorized device,

  1. Open the attached key on a new device and choose Copy to QTAKE Monitor (this option may be hidden under More).
  2. You will be prompted for your account password.
  3. On the screen that appears, disable Two-Factor Authentication.
  4. Re-enable Two-Factor Authentication. This will authorize your new device in addition to any previously authorized devices.
  5. Optionally, review the list of authorized devices below and remove any devices you no longer have access to.

Removing Account

If you want to remove your account from the list of users, you can do so by tapping the Edit button in the top left corner of the window and then tapping the red minus button next to your user account. This will reveal the DELETE button which will remove your account from the list. Please note this will only remove the account from the current device, not from QTAKE Cloud.

Deleting Account

In case you want to permanently delete your QTAKE Cloud Account, you can do so in the Users tab of QTAKE Monitor. Either tap Edit, then the red minus button next to your user account, or just swipe left over the account. Both will reveal an Account Settings button, which opens a view with account deletion (among other things).

Local Streaming Instructions

To start local streaming, you will need to establish a network connection between the streaming device and the device running QTAKE Monitor. A standard Wi-Fi router will do the job. Existing studio infrastructure can be used too, but it is recommended to use a dedicated Wi-Fi network.

Enable Stream in QTAKE

Launch QTAKE and create a new project or load an already created project. To enable remote discovery via Bonjour you will need to enable STREAM in QTAKE. Click the STREAM button in the bottom row of the interface to display the toolbar. Now click the STREAM button to enable it. See STREAM Menu for more information.

Scan QR Code in QTAKE Monitor

QTAKE Monitor application uses bonjour network discovery to find QTAKE projects on the local network. That means that both the streaming device and the device running QTAKE Monitor need to be connected to the same network.

Launch QTAKE Monitor on the iPad, a window listing available QTAKE projects will appear. If there are no projects listed, click the SCAN PROJECT LINK button.

Once the QR code is scanned, the project name will appear in the list. Tap on the project name to connect. QTAKE Monitor will now display two views with the text “Waiting for approval…”.

Approve the connection from QTAKE

When QTAKE Monitor attempts to connect to QTAKE one of the sixteen buttons in the STREAM toolbar will become active displaying the name of the device attempting to connect. The connection can be approved by clicking on the button. This will start streaming to the QTAKE Monitor application.

Long clicking the STREAM button brings up the STREAM SETUP window. From here you can get an overview of the clients connected to QTAKE. This window also allows you to enable TALKBACK from one of the connected clients as well as setting a CLIENT TITLE that will appear in the STREAM toolbar. The FORGET button allows you to manually disconnect a client to make room for other clients to connect. Note that an active client will try to reconnect even after being disconnected.

Talkback

When TALKBACK is enabled that client will see a TALK button in the iPad app (bottom right of the interface) this can then be used by the QTAKE Monitor client to talk back to the QTAKE operator. Only one client at a time can have talkback enabled. Talkback can also be enabled directly from the STREAM toolbar by long clicking the corresponding client button. The button will appear brighter and “Talk” will be added to the label as an indicator that TALKBACK is enabled.

See the TALKBACK section for more information on setting up TALKBACK in QTAKE.

You can control the name of the machine running QTAKE as it appears in the app by going to System Preferences - Sharing and changing the Computer Name field.

Cloud Streaming Instructions

QTAKE provides remote streaming over the internet in case clients need to connect to QTAKE stream from a remote location. This is called CLOUD STREAM, because it uses QTAKE Cloud to provide a secure connection between a computer running QTAKE and a client device running QTAKE Monitor.

Enable Cloud Stream in QTAKE

On QTAKE side, cloud streaming works the same way as local stream with few exceptions:

  • QTAKE computer has to be connected to the internet.
  • QTAKE user has to be logged in to QTAKE Cloud. See more in the QTAKE Cloud Login section.
  • QTAKE Cloud Account has to have stream data. See more in the Cloud Stream Data section.
  • QTAKE operator needs to invite QTAKE Monitor client. See more in the Cloud Stream section.
  • After the client connects, a prompt in QTAKE will appear asking to enable cloud stream for this client.

On the client side, following steps need to be taken in order to receive cloud stream:

  • Device running QTAKE Monitor has to be connected to the internet.
  • QTAKE Monitor user has to be logged in into QTAKE Cloud.
  • Client needs to open an email from the QTAKE operator and click the link.
  • QTAKE Monitor will open and load the project.
  • After connection is approved by the QTAKE operator, streaming will start automatically.

Open Cloud Stream Project on Apple TV

After logging into QTAKE Monitor for Apple TV, active projects associated with your QTAKE Cloud Account will automatically appear in the app. If there is no active stream from QTAKE at that time, the project will not appear.

UI

QTAKE Monitor supports up to four views, just like QTAKE HDx4. These views are mirroring the four views of the connected QTAKE system in their default, automatically patched state.

MAIN SCREEN in QTAKE Monitor consists of top bar, view area, sidebars and toolbars.

Top Bar

Top bar of the main screen is always visible to allow access to most important functions. The only exception is a full screen mode which is accessed by reverse pinching the view.

OPEN PROJECT

The top-left button shows the title of the active project. Tap this button to open the PROJECTS window with the list of available projects. Each project has a name on the left side and the label on the right side. Tap the project to initiate connection to QTAKE.

  • Orange LIVE label means the project is available for local network streaming.
  • Pink LIVE label is used when the project is available for cloud streaming over the internet.
  • Green PLAY label marks the project available for clip playback and metadata editing.
  • Gray PLAY label shows that the server is offline, but local playback is available or your user is not approved by QTAKE Server.
  • Gray OFFLINE label means that the server is offline.

HELP SCREEN

Tap the HELP button in the project window to reveal touch controls.

  • Tapping a view will make that view active. QTAKE Monitor will only play audio from the active view.
  • Double tapping on either view will toggle between DUAL/QUAD and SINGLE view.
  • Long press on either view will show VIEW MENU.
  • Swiping up or down will switch to the previous or next clip.
  • Panning left or right will scrub the clip to beginning or end.
  • Swiping down using three fingers you can pause that view.
  • Swiping up using three fingers you can lock the screen, mute the audio or access settings.
  • A reverse pinch will bring a view into fullscreen mode.
  • Two-finger tap will take a screenshot.

SET ACTIVE VIEW

Next to the project button you will see a button with V1, V2, V3, V4 segments. This control is used to switch the active view. Active view is marked with white outline. When QTAKE is recording, the outline will change color to red. QTAKE Monitor will only play audio from the active view.

VIEW LAYOUT

Long press this button to switch between DUAL VIEW and QUAD VIEW mode. To switch to a single view mode, double tap the view you want to watch.

REPLAY

This button is used to quickly access the last recorded take. Tap the arrow on the right side of the REPLAY button to show RECENTLY SHOT and RECENTLY PLAYED clips and tap any of them to load that into active view.

BROWSE

Tap this button to enter the BROWSER screen. Long press it to switch between FULL SCREEN and SPLIT SCREEN browser modes.
If the BROWSE button is not displayed, this could be because your user has not been approved by QTAKE Server or your user has no user role assigned.

LIVE

This button is used to load LIVE clips. Live clip is the clip which is currently being shot. As soon as the camera cuts, a new live clip is created. Turn on this button when you want to edit metadata of the current take, shot or scene.

CLIP | MONITOR

Next button in the top bar consists of CLIP and MONITOR segments.

CLIP MODE

In the CLIP mode, the QTAKE Monitor user is in control of playback. Users can decide which clip to load and review. This mode also gives users access to shared metadata for each clip, based on access permissions. Use this mode when you want to review takes independently of video village or when you want to edit notes.

MONITOR MODE

In the MONITOR mode, QTAKE Operator is in control of playback. This is a classic, video village style of centralized control where QTAKE Monitor users are passively monitoring video assist feeds. Use this mode when you want to remotely monitor whatever QTAKE is performing on set.

SELECT VIEW SOURCE

Last button in the top bar is the SOURCE selector for each view. Based on project type and access permissions there can be various sources available. When the number of active streams changes, a red badge with the number of available streams appears on top of this button to notify the user.

MONITOR

The MONITOR section will show available live stream sources. Usually there is a separate stream available for each camera.

DEVICE

The DEVICE section will show available devices, such as internal camera or ScreenPort SDI+ device if the user is approved to record or import clips.

DISK

The DISK section will show camera letters of recorded clips available for playback. Setting each view to a different camera letter lets you easily navigate through multi-camera projects.

REHEARSAL

If the CLIP is marked as REHEARSAL in TAKE metadata, the view outline in the view area will be dashed. This metadata attribute can be changed in QTAKE SHOOT ROOM -> CLIP toolbar -> TAKE or directly in QTAKE Monitor by clicking R in the CLIP metadata TAKE section. The user however has to have appropriate permissions granted by QTAKE Server administrator.

The bottom-right button is used to show sidebar controls. This is a multi-purpose area, which can be switched between various modes, depending on the project type and access permissions.

If any of the buttons bellow are not displayed, this could be because your user has not been approved by QTAKE Server or your user has no user role assigned.

META

The META sidebar shows metadata for the active clip or project. Click the METADATA button to switch between clip and project metadata. Each metadata group uses a different color to make the navigation easier. Access permissions are also based on metadata groups. You can have read, write, add and remove field permission for each group, based on your user role. If you need to edit metadata for multiple clips at the same time, select clips in the split browser and use the same sidebar to edit values.

IN-OUT

The IN-OUT sidebar shows in-out ranges for the active clip. Ranges marked by QTAKE Operator are using green color. User ranges are blue. Each user can mark his own range and annotate it with a text or a drawing.

FX

FX sidebar is used to apply view effects.

DVE

DVE is used to apply simple 2D effects, such as scale, position, flip and flop.

MASK

MASK effect is used to mark the region of interest and dim the outside area. Specified rectangle can also be used to crop the image using the CROP TO MASK tool.

ADMIN

If the user role is set to Administrator by QTAKE Server, the ADMIN sidebar will become available. This sidebar is used to approve users and devices, assign and edit roles and edit watermark settings.

Views

Views are used to display video. QTAKE Monitor supports up to 4 views on iPhone and 9 views on iPad and Mac. Each view can display a live stream or a recorded clip. Use the top-right SOURCE button to select the source for each view. Basic touch controls of the views are described in the HELP SCREEN section.

PLAYBACK CONTROLS

Playback controls in QTAKE Monitor are invisible in order to avoid obstructing the image. Tap in the middle of a view to reveal them.

  • PLAY PAUSE command is located in the bottom center of the image.
  • PREVIOUS FRAME command is located in the bottom-left corner of the image.
  • NEXT FRAME command is located in the bottom-right corner of the image.
  • GO TO IN MARK command is located in the top-left corner of the image.
  • GO TO OUT MARK command is located in the top-right corner of the image.
  • SCRUB command uses the middle part of the image from left to right edge.

VIEW MENU

Long press any view to access VIEW MENU. This menu provides quick access to VIEW LAYOUT, CLIP OR MONITOR mode, BROWSE screen and playback of the last recorded take.

HDR

QTAKE Monitor supports High Dynamic Range video in both live stream and playback modes. For best results please set the Rendering to Deep Color (16-bit) in the Settings.

Screenshot and screen-recording prevention

When a high level of content protection is required, QTAKE Operator can turn off Screenshot permission for both live stream and playback modes. This will prevent system level screenshots and screen-recordings as well as in-app screenshot functionality.

Settings

Various aspects of QTAKE Monitor functionality can be adjusted using the SETTINGS page. You can access Settings using a three-finger swipe.