APC-R Support Center
In this section you will find all the latest downloads, compatibility notes and information that will help you use the APC-R.
Compatibility
Compatible Switchers, Cameras, and controllable settings.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Downloads
Drivers, Software and Updates.
Documentation
User Manual, Documentation & Troubleshooting
Watch the Full Tutorial to Get Started!
Already have an APC-R ? Or you just want to take an in-depth look at how it's setup ?
Click on the play button below to learn how to use the Middle Things APC-R
Compatibility
Here is the list of the camera, switchers, gimbals, and settings that you can control remotely with the APC-R.
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Which Gimbals ?
The APC-R can control the following gimbals :
- DJI Ronin-RS2*
- DJI Ronin-RS3 Pro*
- DJI Ronin-S*
- DJI Ronin-SC *
- DJI Ronin-2
*The small DJI Focus Wheel is required for Ronin-S / SC since the APC-R connects to the CANBUS connexion port of the Focus Wheel. If you have a DJI RS2 / RS3 Pro, you can use the APC-R Gimbal Adapter instead.
The DJI RSC2 and RS3 are not, and will never be supported since they have no RSA connection port.
The DJI RS2 / RS3 Pro are the only gimbals that support the following features : Save & Recall Position Presets, DJI Focus Motor Control, DJI Active Track with DJI RavenEye system. The other gimbals can still be controlled using the S-BUS port on the APC-R using the same cable, but you will not have access to these 2 features, only supported through CanBUS. -
Which Switchers ?
An ATEM Switcher is not required to use the APC-R.It will only be necessary if :
- You want to use Blackmagic's ATEM Software Control to control camera settings wirelessly or through Ethernet using the APC-R
- You want to save camera presets (Iris / ISO / White Balance / Focus) in addition to gimbal presets (Pan / Tilt / Roll / Zoom)
- You want to view the current camera values(Iris / ISO / White Balance ...) in BitFocus Companion or the Middle Remote
The APC-R is compatible with the majority of Blackmagic Design ATEM Switchers. These are :- ATEM Mini / Mini Pro / Extreme (& ISO)
- ATEM SDI / Pro ISO / Extreme ISO
- ATEM Television Studio HD
- ATEM Television Studio Pro HD
- ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K
- ATEM Production Studio 4K
- ATEM 1M/E & 2M/E Production Studio 4K
- ATEM 4M/E Broadcast Studio 4K
- ATEM Constellation HD / 8K
We strongly recommend to use a router with your ATEM. Then, the ATEM connects to your router using Ethernet, and your APC-R connects to your router using Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
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Which Joysticks?
The ideal joystick for your APC / APC-R that we would recommend is the Middle Remote , because it has been strongly optimised for the Middle Control software and offers the best possible control out of the box, but you can also use a standard USB gamepad controller too.
Middle Control Software should work with any USB gamepad controller, but the following USB joysticks have been tested and confirmed working :
- Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition (read this)
- Thrustmaster TCA Quadrant Airbus Edition (read this)
- Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X
- Thrustmaster USB Joystick
- Microsoft Xbox One Wireless Controller V2
- Logitech Extreme 3D Pro
- Logitech Gamepad F310S
- THE G-LAB K-PAD THORIUM
As well as :
- ATEM Advanced Panel 1M/E, 2M/E or 4M/E
You can connect up to 4 simultaneous joysticks.
While it is also possible to use the thumb wheel of the ATEM Television Studio Pro HD or 4K to adjust your gimbal Pan / Tilt , we do not recommend it, it is not very practical and doesn't work well.
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Which Settings ?
When used with compatible ATEM Switchers and Cameras, the APC-R can adjust the following settings remotely through Bluetooth : iris, rec start / stop, shutter, gain (ISO), white balance, zoom (with compatible lenses), focus (with compatible lenses), pan & tilt (with compatible gimbals), contrast, saturation, hue, lift, gamma, gain, detail sharpening, false colors, status overlay, autofocus.
Important note : Tally information (Red On Air, Green Preview) is not shown on the camera, we recommend taking a look at the Middle Tally if you need Tally info. -
Which Cameras ?
The APC-R can control the following Blackmagic Cameras using Bluetooth :
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K*
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
- Blackmagic Ursa Broadcast
- Blackmagic Ursa Broadcast G2
- Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro*
- Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro G2*
If you have an ATEM Switcher, you can also control the cameras below with Middle Control. They don't have a bluetooth chip but that can receive ATEM instructions through SDI (and our Middle Control software also sends the camera control information to the ATEM as well). - Blackmagic Micro Studio 4K (through SDI ATEM connection)
- Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro (through SDI ATEM connection)
- Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro (through SDI ATEM connection)
- Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Plus (through HDMI ATEM connection)
If you need to control multiple cameras, you will need to use one APC-R per camera.
* FOCUS LIMITATION : For these older cameras, you cannot save the current focus value in the APC-R presets since we cannot read & record the focus status. But you can still save the zoom value in the presets with a DJI RS2 focus motor. Also, you can control the focus of the camera remotely, but you need to activate a checkbox in the Middle Control advanced settings. You can't map a joystick axis to the Focus value. We don't recommend using these cameras.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't find the answer you are looking for ? Feel free to live chat with us at the bottom right of the screen or shoot us an email at support@middlethings.co
Payments & Shipping
Where are you from and where do you ship ?
Our company is in France (Europe) and we ship internationally using DHL or Fedex.
What payment methods are supported ?
You can pay securely using your credit card (Stripe) , Paypal, Wire Transfer, or through Apple Pay.
Can I cancel my pre-order ?
Yes! Anytime, just send us an email, and as long as it's not shipped we'll cancel it and refund the full amount.
Can I cancel my order ?
- -If it's not shipped yet : send us an email and we will cancel and refund you ASAP.
-If it is already shipped : send us an email and we will give you return instructions : you can send it back within 30 calendar days after reception. It must be in good condition, ready for resale. Then we will refund you with the full amount paid. You only have to pay for return shipping.
Will I have to pay customs taxes and duties ?
Orders are shipped from our warehouse in Europe. International orders may be subject to customs duties, taxes, and fees required for the shipment’s entry into the destination country.
Customs, duties and taxes vary from country to country and are out of our control. Import taxes are not included in the cost of shipping or handling your order.
Technical Questions
Is the APC-R compatible with my setup ?
Scroll above, in the Compatibility section you can see which switchers, gimbals and cameras are compatible.
What accessories do you suggest buying with the APC-R ?
Check out this article on our recommended accessories for the APC-RWhat is the APC-R Power Consumption ?
The average power consumption is about 1W.
How can I power the APC-R ?
The APC-R can take power directly from the gimbal through the included gimbal cable. So no power cable required! However if you are using the APC-R only with a Blackmagic Pocket Camera (no gimbal), you can power it using the micro USB port of the APC-R, that you can connect to the USB-C port of the pocket camera.
How can I power the DJI Gimbal on AC Power ?
We recommend using the Tilta Power Supply Base with an AC to 12V Female D-TAP Power Adapter with a minimum of 70W. With which you can power both BMPCC 4K and the Gimbal. Such as this IndiPRO 120W adapter or the IndiPRO 72W Adapter
What is the Bluetooth Range ?
You should avoid leaving the APC-R more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) away from the camera. Range can go further but response will loose in smoothness. You should leave the APC-R as close as possible to the camera at all times. If you need to operate wirelessly, we recommend you connect your APC-R to your router using Wi-Fi. In that way, you can control the range depending on the power of your router.
Can I use one single APC-R to control multiple cameras ?
No, with one APC-R you can only control one camera and one gimbal. You need to use multiple APC-R units, one paired to each camera.
Is there a lot of latency ?
When using Ethernet, latency is minimal and isn't generally any issue, unless you use many switches and a complicated network. The latency is higher when using Wi-Fi, and it is not recommended to control the gimbal over Wi-Fi but it is usable for Camera Control (iris / focus / WB / color correction...)
Can I save position presets ?
Yes! You can save position presets (pan/tilt/roll/zoom) with the APC-R if you are connected to a DJI RS2 / RS3 Pro using the CANBUS port. You can also save camera presets (Iris / ISO / White Balance) if you connect Middle Control Software to an ATEM.
Within each preset you can save the lens internal focus if you use a Blackmagic camera that has an MFT mount.
What equipment is required to use the APC-R ?
Apart from your camera and a compatible gimbal (DJI RS2 / RS3 Pro recommended), there are two DJI accessories that are required :
- The DJI Focus Wheel : this small add-on is attached to the side of the gimbal and allows for external control of the gimbal using CANBUS. If you have a DJI RS2 / RS3 Pro, you can use the APC-R Gimbal Adapter insteadof the DJI Focus Wheel.
- The DJI Focus Motor : if you plan to control Zoom with the RS2 / RS3 Pro
- The DJI Focus Motor 2022 : if you plan to control Zoom with the RS3 Pro
Also, you can read more on our our recommended optional accessories here.
Why control the camera over Bluetooth rather than through the HDMI connection of the camera ?
The control is smoother using Bluetooth than through HDMI. It's also the only possible way of doing a fully wireless setup. Other than that, the two are very similar.
Can I use the ATEM Advanced Panel 1/ME to control pan/tilt ?
Yes, that is possible.
Can I control other cameras than Blackmagic cameras if they are compatible with the DJI gimbal using the DJI Camera control cable ?
No, unfortunately that is not possible.
Do I need a router to use the APC-R ?
Using router is strongly recommended since it makes your APC-R setup much easier. You just connect ATEM, computers, Companion, and your APC-R units to the same master router and the APC-R units immediately show up in the status page of Middle Control.
You can make it work with just a switch too ( no router) on Windows, but you need to set a fixed IP both on your network adapter and your APC-R. Read here for more info.
Can I use DJI Active Track and APC-R at the same time ?
Yes! Even better, you can turn on / off Active Track remotely using Middle Control. Just frame your subject in the center of the frame, press Active Track and you're done. You can also map it to a joystick button.
Is a Joystick Required ?
Yes. You can either use the Middle Remote or USB Gaming joystick . While it is possible to control the gimbal with the arrow buttons in Middle Control and with the Streamdeck and Companion, it is not ideal at all and we don't recommend it.
Is an ATEM switcher required to use the APC-R ?
An ATEM switcher is not required, please see above section "Which Switchers ?" in compatibility to see the added features offered by connecting the Middle Control Software to an ATEM.
Can I use the DJI Focus Motor to control the zoom of my lens using the APC-R?
Yes, if you have a DJI RS2 / RS3 Pro and a DJI Focus motor. You can for example control the Zoom with the DJI Focus Motor, and the focus using the lens's internal focus motor if you have a supported Blackmagic Camera. However, with the APC-R, this DJI motor cannot be used for focus control.
Can I control 2 different DJI Focus Motors, one for Zoom and one for Focus ?
The DJI SDK does not allow us to control more than one motor. So you can only control one DJI Focus motor and it can only be used for Zoom. We recommend controlling focus using the built-il lens motor.
Is the gimbal connexion cable included ?
Yes, the APC-R ships with a 50cm and a 200cm 4-Pin gimbal connexion cable.
What motorized Focus lenses do you recommend ?
For the Blackmagic Pocket 4K, here are some lenses we recommend , for which you can control Iris and Focus remotely.
What motorized Zoom & Focus lenses can I use ?
You can use a fully motorized (Zoom + Focus + Iris ) lens if you want. If you need both Zoom AND Focus lenses, here are the options for Pocket 4K (MFT) :
- Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6
- Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4.0-5.6
- Olympus 12-50mm M.Zuiko f/3.5-6.3 ED EZ
- Olympus 14-42mm M.Zuiko f/3.5-5.6 ED EZ
And for Pocket 6K (EF) :
- Canon CN-E 70-200 T4.4
- Canon CN-E 18-80 T4.4
Lenses with built-in zoom motor cannot record zoom presets with the APC-R, you need to use the DJI Focus Motor to save and recall Zoom presets.
Does the APC-R transmit the 1080p video signal wirelessly as well ?
No, you have to use a separate device for this. You can of course use a Wireless Video system that carries LAN information in addition to HDMI or SDI. This way you will have full two way communication using the same wireless device. Such as the Hollyland SYSCOM 421
Can I use the APC-R with Bitfocus Companion?
Sure ! You can control our software (Middle Control) using a streamdeck and Companion. Read this article for more info.
Do you have an SDK / API ?
Yes, you can control Middle Control software with your own software or hardware through UDP commands. Read this article for more info.
Other Questions
Do you have a reseller program ?
Contact us at hello@middlethings.co, and we'll get back to you shortly.
Where can I buy the APC-R ?
You can either purchase on our website or through our authorized resellers .
Do you have resellers / distributors ?
Please check out the reseller map at middlethings.co/resellers
Downloads
Here you can download Middle Control software, free of charge, on Mac OS, or Windows. The APC / APC-R is not required to use it.
iOS iPhone app
In order to pair the APC-R to your BMPCC,you have to use the Middle Setup iOS app on the Apple App Store here or by scanning the QR Code below.
Windows 10/11
Download the latest Middle Control Software.
Middle Control Download
Version 2.6.0 / July 12th, 2023
Firmware Update : Guide & Procedure here
Info for Companion Users : Download our Custom Pages for Companion here
Changelog & Legacy Versions : See what's new!
Mac OS
Middle Control for Mac OS can be downloaded on the Mac App Store
Version 2.6.0 / July 12th, 2023
Firmware Update : Guide & Procedure here
Info for Companion Users : Download our Custom Pages for Companion here
Changelog : See what's new!
Have a DJI Ronin-S / SC / Ronin 2 ? Read the Gimbal Setup guide!
If you have a DJI RS2, just connect your APC-R to the DJI Focus Wheel, set it to CANBUS, and you're ready to go !
If you have an older Ronin-S / SC or Ronin 2, learn how to set up your APC / APC-R from start to finish with the following guide.
LEGACY GimbalS SETUP guideOnline Guides
You can also check out some guides we put together :
- - Top 3 Micro Four Thirds Lenses for Live Production
- - Top 7 Equipment & Accessories to use with your APC-R
- - How To Control Middle Control using Bitfocus Companion / Streamdeck
- - How to Control Blackmagic Cameras Wirelessly with ATEM Software Control
- - Turn your DJI gimbal in a PTZ head for the Blackmagic Micro Studio 4K Camera
- - How to Use the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick & Quadrant with Middle Control
Can't find the answer you are looking for ? Feel free to live chat with us at the bottom right of the screen or shoot us an email at support@middlethings.co