There have been a couple of iOS apps introduced recently that might be of interest to those working in post. One aims to control your NLE as you kick back on the couch for viewing a cut, one is an update to an ever useful timecode calculator and one is a rather specialized color grading tool. There can probably never be enough iOS apps for post, so I welcome them all, especially the useful ones.

The first is Editmote, an iPhone app that offers up simple playback control of Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer or Adobe Premiere (as well as QuickTime Player). Download the $5 app on iTunes, install the Editmote Preference on your Mac and you can have playback, marker and volume control of your NLE timeline right from the device. One thing that’s missing is direct IP address support, which means that on one of my Macs I can’t get it to run as an app, since apps like this need to interface with an iPhone and can’t negotiate our complex network. But that’s apparently on the to-do list. I’ve used Keymote for a while to do something similar but I think Editmote has a brighter development future since it’s dedicated to our profession. In fact, Editmote’s developer, Digital Rebellion, told me that much more is on the way, including “After Effects support, FCPX support, an iPad version, customization and lots more.” That’s a bright future indeed.


The next app is a recent update to one of the early timecode calculators for the iPhone, iTC Calc (iTunes link). This $5 app adds a number of things that makes it all new, including 23.98/59.94 frame rates and an brand new interface design. It also now features in-app purchases so you could add a disk space calculator or a frame rate converter for 99¢ each. There are actually quite a few versions of this app available from KPL Production Services. They range from the $1.99 iTC Calc A La Carte up to the $9.99 iTC Calc Ultimate for the iPad. Check out the full list on iTunes to see what might best fit your needs.

The most recent, and possibly most intriguing iOS app to hit the app store is called Gradiest, from Act Focused. It’s a “multi-touch color controller” for Cineform’s First Light on the Mac. The good news: This was demoed way back at NAB 2010 and was one of The Small things we talked about then; it’s nice to see it finally coming online. The bad news: It’s expensive — it’s an $80 app — and it’s not for everyone, as it currently runs only with Cineform’s First Light software, part of their Neo and Neo3D products. The best thing about First Light is that it allows for “non-destructive primary color correction, 3D adjustments, plus text and graphics overlays without flattening those adjustments into the underlying video layer.” I know a few people who use a Cineform workflow and they love it. My guess would be that those who have invested the time and cost into getting this Cineform workflow going aren’t going to mind paying $80 for Gradiest. I hope support for more applications is in Gradiest’s future.

For more information on Gradiest, check out the Act Focused website.

Gradiest for iPad Overview Demo from Robino Films on Vimeo.