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Improve iOS - Create An iPad Teleprompter (Part 2)

7/1/2013 3:25:54 PM

Teleprompter software

As we’ve already explained, a teleprompter works by reflecting the image displayed on a monitor positioned below the camera, out towards the presenter. However, it might have occurred to you that reflecting the image of regular text would result in you staring blankly at a back-to-front image. Fortunately, special teleprompter software gets around this particular problem by displaying a back-to-front image, which is then reflected the correct way around by the teleprompter’s glass.

This professional iPad teleprompter is available from autocue.com – a great option if you’re willing to spend hundreds of pounds.

This professional iPad teleprompter is available from autocue.com – a great option if you’re willing to spend hundreds of pounds.

Although you can also buy teleprompter software for OS X, we’re going to focus solely on software designed to run on iOS devices. Like you’d expect, there are a number of different applications that you can choose from, offering everything from basic text inversion through to iCloud and Google Docs integration, remote control and even live recording functionality.

If you want basic teleprompting functionality, you’ll want to check out the free i-PromptPro app from OurApps4U Limited. Designed to be used with i-Prompter.com’s range of iPhone and iPad teleprompter attachments, (details can be found at i-prompter.com) i-PromptPro features everything you need in a basic teleprompter, including script creation, editing and emailing, variable speed output, and the all-important text-mirroring functionality.

For even more bells and whistles, including iCloud and Google Docs integration, we love Teleprompt+ ($15.75) from Bombing Brain Interactive (bombingbrain.com).

One of our favorite features of Teleprompt+ is the ability to remotely control your iOS device using a second iPad, iPod touch or iPhone.

Simply download the free Teleprompt+ Remote app onto your second device, and then connect to your teleprompter iPad over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.

Autocue rehearsals

You can then not only start and stop the teleprompter but change the scripts and text speed remotely.

This makes it ideal for situations when someone is taking the role of the director and needs to follow the script off-camera as it is being read.

Teleprompt+ lets you remotely control your iOS device using a second, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch

The Teleprompt+ app offers iCloud syncing for your scripts as well as Retina display support for your iPad.

The Teleprompt+ app offers iCloud syncing for your scripts as well as Retina display support for your iPad.

If your iOS device has a camera, the Teleprompt+ application will even let you rehearse and record your performance before you are in front of the teleprompter. This is great tool to let your presenter practice using a teleprompter away from the studio if they have not used one before.

How to: Male your own teleprompter

1.    Frame preparation

First, remove the glass and any cardboard inserts form your frames, leaving just the wooden sides intact. Then, turn one of your frames over so that the front of the frame is facing upwards in landscape orientation. Put a piece of masking tape along the bottom and top of the frame and then measure and mark the mid-point of each. This is where you’ll attach the metal bar with wood screws. Next, measure the distance between the two mid-points. You’ll need this for Step 2. Finally, stack both frames back-to-back, and mark the location of each butt hinge where the frames meet.

First, remove the glass and any cardboard inserts form your frames, leaving just the wooden sides intact

First, remove the glass and any cardboard inserts form your frames, leaving just the wooden sides intact

2.    Measure, drill and cut metal

Cover one side of the metal bar with masking tape. Then mark a drill point near to one end of the bar. Use the measurement you took in Step 1 to mark a second drill point on the bar. Your third drill point is two-thirds of the way between your first and second drill point. The location of the final drill point depends on the camera and length of lens you intend to use with your teleprompter, but a position of around 20-15cm from your second drill point is a good start. With all the holes marked, drill them using a 6.5mm drill bit, and cut off any excess metal. File any rough edges.

Cover one side of the metal bar with masking tape. Then mark a drill point near to one end of the bar

Cover one side of the metal bar with masking tape. Then mark a drill point near to one end of the bar

3.    Assembly

Attach the quick-release camera bracket to the third hole you drilled in the metal rod with a nut. Then pass your long bolt through the final hole your drilled in Step 2, tightening it with a nut. Screw the metal bracket onto the front of the bottom picture frame. Turn the frame over so that the metal bracket is on eth bottom. Join both picture frames together along one edge using the butt hinges. Finally, refit the wooden back to the bottom frame, and either the standard or beam-splitting glass to the top frame. Attach the glass securely using the picture frame tabs.

Attach the quick-release camera bracket to the third hole you drilled in the metal rod with a nut

Attach the quick-release camera bracket to the third hole you drilled in the metal rod with a nut

4.    Attach catch, hood, camera, and use!

Measure, mark and then fit the cabin hooks on one side of the teleprompter so that it holds the top frame open at an angle of 45 degrees. Attach the teleprompter to the tripod, and bolt on your camera. Attach the hood to the front and sides of the top frame with self-adhesive Velcro strip, draping it over your camera so you can’t see the camera behind the glass. Now you can place your iOS device in the center of the bottom frame, and open your teleprompting software. Align it so you can easily see the text scrolling past.

Attach the teleprompter to the tripod, and bolt on your camera

Attach the teleprompter to the tripod, and bolt on your camera

Even lighting

As with any video or photo shoot, the better your lighting, the better the finished result. To avoid shadows and get a clear image, light your subject form both sides of the teleprompter not from behind or above.

Height matters

To give your presenter the best possible on-camera presence, set the teleprompter at a comfortable height for them to read from. Ideally, it should be at head height, so your presenter doesn’t have to tilt their head up or down to look at the camera.

Jargon Buster

Beam-splitting glass: Glass which literally splits light in two, reflecting more light than it lets through. Sometimes known half-mirrored glass.

Two-way mirrored Perspex: Perspex with a special coating which operates in a similar fashion to beam-splitting glass.

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