iPads are incredibly useful tools for filmmakers. Beyond just all the regular and obvious benefits of an iPad as a workflow tools good for notes, writing, drawing, and scheduling, it can even serve as an extra display for your Mac. A recent Sidecar feature allows you to very easily start using the iPad for some extra screen real estate. This works with MacBooks and the desktop Macs.
If you want to see it in action, learn how to best make use of the function, and see some tips for working in Premiere Pro or Final Cut this video from iPhoneographers should help.
A lot of video editors who pick up an iPad use it as a specialty tool to solve certain problems in their workflow. This could mean using it as an ultra-portable editing station with LumaFusion when on the move, recording some voiceover or other audio, and doing some audio editing. This might not be an everyday tool though.
One way to maximize the potential of your iPad is to use it as a supplementary screen for your Mac to give you some more real estate for your NLE and tools. Luckily, you don’t even need anything besides your Mac and iPad to do this, all you need is to learn how to use Sidecar.
Image Credit: Apple
Something you do want to do is have is set up with a stand, but I suspect most people already have this option for their iPad.
Anyway, to get going you should head to System Preferences on your Mac. Next to Display there should be an option for Sidecar. Click Sidecar and then from there you can go to Connect to and select your iPad. Practically instantly you should see the iPad transform into a wireless extended display for your Mac.
You can even head to displays and set up your arrangement and scaling to best match your needs and monitor placement.
One good use for the iPad is to use it as a full screen video preview. In Premiere Pro you can set this before you even get started. Head to Preferences > Playback and then you can see a two monitor option. Select which monitor is your primary and secondary. Then you can choose what you want to send to the second display.
Where you might find this more useful is if you only have a small display, such as a MacBook, and the extra full screen preview is a good look. Plus, since many times the final product will be viewed on a device like an iPhone or iPad then seeing how it looks on those devices is a good practice. Another thing is that options like the newest 12.9” iPad Pro have amazing mini-LED screens that will make your images pop.
Image Credit: Apple
For lengthy editing sessions, you will probably want to keep it plugged in as it will drain the battery relatively quickly.
If you already have an iPad with you and you don’t want to invest in another monitor this is a great, existing option. It’s a nice feature that Apple has integrated into macOS and iPadOS.
Have you used Sidecar before in your video editing workflow?
[source: iPhoneographers]
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