For anyone looking for a compact, relatively lightweight and effective teleprompter solution, you really need to check out the ProPrompter.

I just saw it yesterday at NAB and was impressed by the overall design and quality.

It provides a screen that's easy to read at normal distances of about 7 feet or so, assuming you have normal eyesight and aren't legally blind :-) Because it doesn't require any heavy connecting cables or external power, it's an ideal solution aboard Steadicam-type rigs or jibs.

You can remotely control the scrolling text with an iPhone or iPod Touch.

If you're looking for a excuse to buy an iPad, this is as good as any!

The ProPrompter Portable Teleprompter. Affordable Mobile Teleprompters | Bodelin Technologies (http://www.bodelin.com/proprompter/)

BTW, this is not like their previous product where the iPod Touch was to one side of the lens. This is a true teleprompter solution with a split mirror which allows the talent to make direct eye contact with the lens.

Anyone who has to do on-camera work in the field really needs to take a good look at this.

Has anybody tried this yet?

PrompterPeople is doing a version of this too now.

I spoke to both companies at NAB about doing a version of this that mounted off 15mm rods rather than requiring the whole riser plate assembly. Neither of them really "got it". It seems to me to be a no-brainer as it would require very little assembly and be quick to switch shooting modes that way. As soon as that emerges on the market I'll buy one.

With either version, how do you get the text to the iphone and how do you easily update the text? I have never been on a shoot where they didn't change the text; so, it seems that using a laptop is still the easier solution for tripod work.

I wish someone would sell just the mirror, hood and camera bracket so I can use a Marshall or Manhattan LCD.

My company purchased the prompter people one and it works really well. I typically shoot between 5-8 ft away from my subject and it seems to do the job just fine. I cannot figure out how to get the ipod/ipad app to work correctly though. Seems like they disconnect from eachother whenever they feel like it and it can be a real pain. After purchasing the app I still havent used it successfully. Oh well, the prompter works though.

Here is some of the footage.
YouTube - The Walk Through - Dynamic Page Solutions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WidYAIiusxc&feature=channel)

I was on a shoot a couple of weekends ago where we used the Ipad Prompter set up for two days. Sid Levin of Boston had the rig with his Canon 5D and we felt like pioneers. Sid concluded that it was better to have 2 Ipads for a couple of reasons. The editing of the script was barely adequate on the Iphone 4. We also had a fair amount of communications problems between devices and it was hard for the operator to know where the script was showing up on the screen without seeing the Ipad so line of site was useful. Overall we made it through the shoot but not painlessly. If the script was preloaded and didn't need corrections it was pretty good but not quite as good as a real prompter set up.

Thanks for that post, Daniel.

Was the problem mainly the iPhone and iPad not playing well together, or is the text a different size on the iPhone which caused problems displaying the same thing on the iPad?

Lloyd,
There were a few problems. The more I think about it the more I can remember. The Bluetooth connection would get lost when script changes were being made requiring some reconnecting which caused at least one major delay. The Ipad mount may have been covering up the Bluetooth reception which meant for the connection to work better the Ipad wasn't always centered on the mirror. The set up was basically a little finicky, The text marker or lack there of on the iphone meant the operator of the Iphone didn't know what the display on the Ipad was showing exactly. The talent we were using were unprofessional so they couldn't always tell us what was wrong. Some of this may be operator error but it wasn't my job so I just had to watch and kibitz when something stumped us.

using a small laptop is more efficient, since you can also run other application (even video capture, or presentations).
I use a wireless usb to vga adapter so the laptop can stay on a table and you can use any cheap LCD monitor of any size as prompter.
You can also use 2 small laptop and control one with the second, or a small laptop and a ipod touch as remote control. (vnc)

Giroud,

How well does the wireless USB to VGA work? Are there ever any disconnections?

Thanks

Were the software problems with the ProPrompter software for the ProPrompter HDi , or the Flip-Q software for the Ultralite iPad Teleprompter from PrompterPeople?

I am running into issues with the app I downloaded from proprompter. It seems that the itouch does not like staying connected to the ipad and vice versa. I called proprompter and they said for me to make sure that if I am using wifi to make sure my blue tooth is deactivated. I am gonna try on monday.

Brandon, how did it work out?

I actually have not had a chance to test it out again. I have been stuck on some other projects that don't require the prompter. I will let you know next time I get a chance to use it.

Hi there,

Wondering if anyone can update their impressions of the UltraLight iPad teleprompter (made by the Prompter People).
I'm wondering whether to purchase one of these things.

A few of the posts made mention of the fact that it's hard to update a script.
Could one not attach an external keyboard to the iPad, and type in text changes?
Thanks,
Malcolm

I still have not used it in conjunction with the itouch because of connection problems but I still use it quite a bit. I just stand next to it and adjust the speed of the text as my subject is reading. works really well and we get what we need out of it. I adjust scripts all the time on the ipad and never run into issues. Just takes a little longer to type on.

Brandon — thanks for the prompt reply.

When you talk about connection problems with the iPod Touch, it reminds me that others on this forum talked about connection problems; this is clearly a problem with this new device.
You mention that you don't use a Touch or an iPhone, and that you stand next to the UltraLight prompter and adjust the speed. Can you elaborate? Is there a control on the iPad that allows you to adjust the speed?
(I was under the assumption that the speed HAD to be controlled remotely. I'll be pleased if this isn't the case).
Thanks for your help with this.
Malcolm

You can scroll the screen faster or slower with a swipe of your finger. Takes a little while to get used to it and you also can go into settings and tell it how fast you want it to scroll as default. I typically set it up to scroll fast and then with one touch of the finger you can stop the screen so your subject can read the text and then when they get toward the bottom, then you tap it again to keep scrolling. Hope this helps.

this does help... thanks so much. Sorry to ask for more information but I just want to make sure I understand.
I'm worried that my finger might be in the way of the poor guy who's going to be trying to read the text.
If I go into settings, as you say, and tell it to scroll at a certain speed (I'd find a speed this guy's comfortable with), then will it scroll by itself (I just maybe have to hit a 'Play' button or something to start it (once the camera's rolling)?
(then, I think I understand, tap the screen to get to the next page of text).
thanks Brandon

ya, basically you choose a speed between 1 and 10 and when you click on the script title, it starts automatically for you. The only thing is that whoever reads will have trouble either keeping up or going too fast and thats where you come in to do minor adjustments.

thanks once again Brandon.
I asked today at an Apple store, and was told that I could send a Word script from my MacBook Pro to an iPad via email. I could then open it on the iPad in Pages. This would produce an editable file. Connect a small Apple Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad, and type up any text changes if necessary.
From what you say, I could get the fellow who'll be reading from the teleprompter to choose the speed that suits him, and then adjust if necessary.
Sounds like not a bad set-up!
Cheers, Malcolm

Can I be devil's advocate for a moment?

You say that you will let the person choose the speed of scrolling that suits him. Unless this person is a pro at reading from teleprompters, I don't see how he will have any idea what speed works best. As the 'director', you should be the person dictating the speed at which the talent is reading - not the talent.

If you your budget is seriously limited, then I can see where the iPad can help, but you are trying to make thie iPad do something which other teleprompter devices do far better. Just because the iPad has an App for a certain function doesn't mean it should be used.

For example, my biz partner has an ipad and he was using some 'cool' app to show images and ideas he had during a meeting, but not only was the screen too small for several people to see, but it was also severely limited in its image manipulation functions. I tried telling him to use my 17" laptop for this meeting, but he, as so many others too, is blinded by the 'cool' hype.

I work with pro talent and the speed of reading can change, depending on the nature of the text.

The talent might incorporate pauses into the read for dramatic effect or emphasis.

So being able to monitor and constantly control the speed of the scroll is important.

Steve and Dean — I truly appreciate the comments and advice, but let me respond.

re the speed: I'm just wanting this person to read at a pace he's comfortable with. Shouldn't I leave this up to him (even if I am the director)? If this were a used-car commercial, or the part of the medicine ad where the bad side-effects are listed, then yes, I'd feel obliged maybe to have the person read at breakneck speed. And maybe there's another time and place for something to be read slowly, for effect. But these are passages taken from a book (written by the same person who'll be reading the words on the teleprompter). Don't I want this person to read at the speed he's comfortable with?

I say this, and yet your words— "you are trying to make thie iPad do something which other teleprompter devices do far better. Just because the iPad has an App for a certain function doesn't mean it should be used"— are, I suspect, VERY TRUE. I am indeed on a limited budget, and I guess I'm hoping this works, but hoping, I realize, won't make it happen.

I don't know what my options are, though. I don't have a 17" MacBook Pro. But I do have a 15". If I could make this MBP work with a teleprompter, I would. But I've not read about a way to do this. Do you know of one? The person I'm talking to will be sitting just five feet away, so I don't think the size of the screen/glass is the biggest factor in all of this. But hey, I'd rather not have to buy an iPad if I don't have to (honestly, the fact that they're cool doesn't come into it).

Dean, I think you and Steve are on the same page (might as well keep the teleprompter metaphor going) re the advantages of being able to control the speed of the scroll on the fly. But it seems to me that the kind of teleprompter you're talking about (variable speed, etc.) would be very expensive.

I take both of your points, though.

If I go this iPad route, I'm making concessions for the sake of saving money. The question is—given that my "reader" isn't a professional who pauses for effect, etc.—will the finished product suffer?
Frankly, as soon as this guy said he wanted a teleprompter (so that he could read words he's already written... that is... stuff he would probably say better WITHOUT a teleprompter of any sort) I groaned, and decided that the finished product was going to be compromised anyway.

What kind of teleprompter do you guys use?
Regards, and thanks again for the feedback...
Malcolm

Malcolm...

I was impressed by the ProPrompter iPad setup I saw at NAB (ProPrompter HDi | ProPrompter | Bodelin Technologies (http://www.bodelin.com/proprompter/product_hdi/)). But I only saw it for 5 minutes so I don't have any familiarity with its limitations.

While you're saying you're doing it this way to save money, I think you're getting a great device that can do things a "real" teleprompter can't do. I have a PrompterPeople 15" teleprompter that works very nicely but I wouldn't want to use it outdoors. It has to be mounted securely to a tripod which greatly limits how it can be applied. It needs AC power, and has to be connected to a MacBook Pro or other laptop.

It uses a program called FlipQ which works OK.

The advantages of an iPad teleprompter are that it's compact, doesn't need any klutzy cabling or AC power. Great for handheld use or mounted on a jib or Steadcam -- all applications where a conventional teleprompter isn't practical or even possible.

You're right in that you will need to control the scrolling based on the talent's pacing. Otherwise it can sound robotic.

Reading for broadcast is an artistic skill. Many will sound like they're reading a contract aloud or trying to pass a reading test. Some will read with "feeling" but it comes across sounding like a teacher reading a book to kids. Some will go over the top and sound like a DJ selling cars. The really good ones will seem as though they're talking to you. But because of its artistic nature, the scrolling needs to be adjustable on the fly.

The teleprompter is only there so the talent doesn't have to memorize pages of text.

As for software, is this what you're using?

https://apps.bodelin.com/proprompter/producer/
http://itunes.apple.com/app/proprompter/id309792203?mt=8

It's a $9 download. Might be worthwhile to check it out.

Hi Dean et al,
Actually, I haven't purchased the teleprompter unit or the iPad software (or the iPad!) yet. I'm planning to do it tomorrow, though, so I can practise a bit before recording this "interview" on Friday.
I was asking all of these questions in hopes of assuring myself that I'm not throwing good money away.
The unit I'm going to get is actually the UltraLight iPad model, made by the PrompterPeople. I'd look at the one you're using, but I don't know of a local distributor. (they seem quite a bit the same anyway).
I appreciate the advice, and the warnings I've been given. Hope I'm making the right choice.
Regards,
Malcolm

Malcolm,

Have you looked into using a cheap small LCD and teleprompter software and hook up via a DP to VGA to your MB Pro? Another option is using a 7-9" LCD (like those for on-camera use) and mount just above the lens. Olof from westsideav.com uses this method. http://www.westsideavstore.com/images/products/secondary/75.jpg

Thanks Steve. I'll inquire to see if the fellow who's demanded the teleprompter wants to look directly into the camera (which would require the mirror approach), or is willing to look just above, or to the left.
I trust Olof (I purchased a shoulder-mount plate for my EX-1 from him, which I use all the time now (although not quite as he intended).
I appreciate the advice.
Malcolm

Here is what it looks like when reading with the screen to the right of my EX1 and about 10' away.
http://www.newcicerotv.com/player.asp?guid={F248F7E6-5851-4D93-9201-D152E436D9D8}

Does anyone have this iPad teleprompter in Los Angeles? Looking to rent this for the upcoming weekend, thanks.

I finally purchased a ProPrompter and iPad. For software I used Teleprompter+.

Overall impressions: Nice setup. It works. The talent had no trouble reading it and we even got a couple of one-take shots, although we did do a second just for insurance.

What I don't like: It's bulky. The carrying case is large enough to fit my underwater camera housing.

With a Sony EX1 and the 0.6 wide angle adapter fully zoomed-out, there's tremendous vignetting at the corners. I have to zoom-in a little to maintain a clean frame.

To mount the ProPrompter on the rails I have to use an Allen wrench. I'm going to replace those bolts with simple wingnuts. Otherwise it's a hassle to mount and dismount it.

The Teleprompter+ software is easy enough to use and it's not that troublesome to move a script into the iPad. Also, be aware that you can set the iPad's preference to lock rotation -- otherwise if you tilt the camera up or down the teleprompter software will also rotate, leaving your talent to attempt to read an inverted script! :-)

I might sell my other teleprompter. This seems to do the job just as well with a lot less clutter

All this said, there's another company that sells a teleprompter which folds up into a case not much bigger than a laptop bag. And no tools are required to mount it onto the camera. Discovered this just a few days after I got the ProPrompter.

Has anybody used this system before?

Pad Prompter (http://www.onetakeonly.com/OneTakeOnly/Pad_Prompter.html)

Yes, I have it and use regularly. A key part of this setup is the iPad software. I have been using Teleprompt+ for iPad and the Teleprompt Remote app to run off an iPhone. The software has matured somewhat over the past year, so the syncing and latency between the 2 devices is minimal. The software is a bit buggy but it is workable.

The Pad Prompter itself does the job. Build quality is OK. Lots of innovative things about it but you have to treat it with care. The machined 15mm rod blocks get the job done but won't win any design awards but the best part of this is the weight of it. The unit is just under two pounds. When you compare it to standard teleprompters that often come in around 10, it makes rigging this up on a lighter tripod or a steadicam a reality.

Dean mentions about vingnetting. I haven't had this problem as when I''m shooting with the prompter I am never shooting wide. Usually doing talking head, intimate close up work. About the equivalent of 50 to 60mm on a film S35 camera. Most people would not be shooting wide with a teleprompter. Dean does a lot of outdoor stuff where wide angle photography works well.

I would say this is worth having in your arsenal whether you are buying your first teleprompter or need a light weight or compact one to take on the road. Given the price, it is hard to say no.

Make sure you practice with the software to get the hang of it and know where the idiosyncrasies in the software are so you can avoid them.

Dean,
Is the Pad Prompter the product that you were referring to in your post?

This is what I use and I love it. I have used it with a HPX-170, the GH2, and a Canon C100 and it has worked like a champ every time.

I also second Teleprompt+. It's easy to use and I can pull off camera operating and running the teleprompter at the same time. Not ideal, of course, but can be done if needed.

Ditto TelePrompt+ as my app of choice. As Gary says, it's simple enough to operate (even with the remote) that I can one-man-band it.

The prompter I use is the ikan Elite Teleprompter "Upgrade Kit"... this unit puts the prompter on a rail block, then you can just use your standard rail setup, which worked well for me. The compact size is a boon... it fits in an old padded laptop case (along with the iPad), sets up quickly, and doesn't weigh anything. The iPad holder is also a modular unit and can be mounted to any 1/4-20 fitting, so it's possible to use that bit separate from the prompter as an off-axis prompter, remote Skype interviewer, iPad "light stand," or whatever else.

iPad teleprompters are also multi-purpose. About a month ago I shot a long-distance, Errol Morris-esque "interrotron" interview running Skype on the iPad. It wasn't perfect as the interviewer basically couldn't get a good video image of the interviewee and react to body language cues, but the eyeline stayed dead on.