Today we're looking at companion. A cool program for controlling physical devices such as cameras, recorders, ATEM minis, and more using OSC. Then we build a simply record button into our OSC setup.

Auto-generated summary

In this video, I walk you through how to control Blackmagic Hyperdeck Studio HD Plus recorders using OSC (Open Sound Control) with a free tool called Companion. I explain how Companion allows you to create custom buttons for recording and stopping directly from your OSC interface, making it super convenient to manage your recording gear remotely without needing to physically interact with the recorder. I also show how to connect Companion to the Hyperdeck over your network and set up the basic functions with easy-to-understand steps.

Beyond simple control, I dive into customizing the user interface in Open Stage Control, creating visually intuitive record and stop buttons that give you real-time feedback on the recorder’s status. To keep things seamless, I demonstrate a neat JavaScript trick that keeps the record button highlighted while recording and resets it when you stop, so you always know exactly when you're rolling. Plus, I touch on how this setup can be expanded to trigger multiple devices like cameras or Unreal Engine simultaneously, creating a powerful all-in-one virtual production control system.