Video assist for macOS

Every take, back on screen before they call reset.

the abby. records your cameras' SDI feeds, slates every take for you, and plays it back for the director in seconds. Built by a working VTR operator, for the cart.

Watch your first takeSee licenses

Try it free for a day on your own Mac and hardware.

Illustration of the Shoot screen. Real screenshots go here once the 2.0 interface is final.

Beginner guide

Your first take, in six steps.

Press play, or tap any step. Each one shows the key you press and what changes on screen.

1 / 6

    What it does

    The whole video village, on one Mac.

    From first rehearsal to wrap: live feeds, takes, playback, and the monitors around set.

    SDI 1–49

    Live multicam

    Up to four cameras over SDI through AJA hardware, shown live in A/B, single or four-up layouts. Press 9 from anywhere to go back to live.

    RA

    Takes that slate themselves

    Scene, take and roll are stamped on every recording, and the take number moves on when it's saved. Roll with the camera's record flag or timecode, or press R.

    TSpaceK

    Instant playback

    Last take in one key. Step frames, loop, change speed, set in and out points, and wipe against a reference frame to check continuity.

    CN

    Circle takes and notes

    Circle the keepers, rate and note takes, and search the day's clips by scene, camera or clip name.

    iPadiPhone

    Monitors for the whole crew

    Crew watch on the free viewer app over the set network. You approve every device and choose what each one sees. By default they follow your screen.

    SDI OUTROUTER

    Outputs and routing

    Send the picture back out over SDI to the director's monitor, and switch AJA KUMO or Blackmagic Videohub routers from the top bar.

    Runs on
    Mac, macOS 14 or later confirm
    Capture hardware
    AJA Io X3 tested full list TBD
    On set
    Works offline. No internet needed.
    Viewer app
    iPad and iPhone, always free

    Who it's for

    For the person behind the director's monitors.

    Video assist operators

    Fast record and playback on single keys. The app won't quit in the middle of a take, so a stray click can't cost you a recording.

    DITs

    Clean SDI capture with the camera's timecode and clip name on every take, organised by scene and ready to hand off at wrap.

    Productions

    Give the director, script supervisor and clients their own approved monitors on set, with no extra hardware. License by the job or the year.

    Licenses

    Pay for the days you shoot.

    Rent the abby. by the day, the week or the month. Every license includes every feature and all four camera inputs. Nothing is locked behind add-ons.

    temporary pricesThese prices may change before launch. Checkout isn't connected.
    Day-players and pickupsDay $49 / 24 hours
    • Full app on one Mac
    • Up to four cameras over SDI
    • Crew viewer app included
    Commercials and short jobsWeek $149 / 7 days
    • Seven days for the price of three
    • Everything in Day
    • Email support
    Features and series blocksMonth $489 / 31 days
    • A full month for the price of ten days
    • Everything in Week
    • Priority support

    The viewer app is free

    Directors, script supervisors and clients install it on an iPad or iPhone. Only the Mac running the abby. needs a license.

    App Store link TBD

    How licensing works

    Four steps, and no internet on set.

    Your license is a key that the abby. checks on the Mac itself. Once it's in, the abby. never needs to go online.

    1. 1

      Copy your Mac ID

      In the abby., open Settings → License and press Copy next to your Mac ID.

    2. 2

      Choose a length and pay

      Pick Day, Week or Month and paste your Mac ID at checkout. Sales tax is worked out for your country.

    3. 3

      Paste in your key

      Your key arrives by email. It starts with ABBY-. Paste it into Settings → License and press Use this key.

    4. 4

      Shoot

      The key works offline for its full length. When it ends, only recording stops. Watching, playback and your crew's monitors keep working, and every take stays on your drive.

    When the clock starts
    When your key is issued, so buy on the day you need it
    One key, one Mac
    Each key is locked to the Mac ID you give at checkout
    Longer jobs
    Buy the next license before the current one runs out
    Refunds
    policy TBD

    FAQ

    Before you take it to set.

    Does it need internet on set?

    No. Your license key is checked on the Mac itself, and the crew's monitors connect over the local set network. You only need internet to buy a license.

    What hardware do I need?

    A Mac and an AJA capture interface for SDI. the abby. is developed and tested on the AJA Io X3 with four SDI inputs. full list TBD

    Can crew play back takes themselves?

    No. Crew can ask for a take from their iPad, and the request waits for the operator to approve it. Requests hold while the camera is rolling.

    Is there a free trial?

    Yes. The first day is free on any Mac, with every feature switched on. Install the abby., plug in your cameras and shoot. When you're ready, buy a Day, Week or Month.

    Will it roll by itself when the camera rolls?

    Yes, with most cameras. It reads ARRI and RED record flags over SDI, and follows running timecode for cameras set to REC RUN. You can always press R instead.

    What happens when my license ends?

    Only recording stops until you add a new key. Watching, playback and your crew's monitors keep working, and every take you've recorded stays on your drive.

    Can I move my license to another Mac?

    Each key is locked to one Mac. If your Mac fails on a job, contact us and we'll reissue the key for the replacement. confirm policy

    Can production pay instead of me?

    Yes. Production can buy the license with your Mac ID and get a receipt in its own name. invoice option TBD

    Talk to us

    Got a show coming up?

    Tell us about the job: how many cameras, how long, and where. We'll set you up with a trial and the right license.

    hello@abbyvideo.com