If Live Multicam in Final Cut Pro isn't working

Learn what to do when Live Multicam isn’t working in Final Cut Pro for iPad, if Final Cut Camera devices can’t connect, or Live Multicam isn't operating as expected in other ways.

Before you begin

Try these steps in order

After trying each step in this list, test Live Multicam again to see if you've fixed your issue.

  1. Restart all devices

  2. Disconnect external devices

  3. Check system requirements

  4. Make sure the app is working as expected

  5. Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

  6. Check discoverability

  7. Check available storage space

  8. Check external storage device format

  9. Remove and reinstall Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera

Restart devices

Restart all the devices you're using with Live Multicam by turning them off, then turning them back on.

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Disconnect external devices

If an external device like a microphone or storage device is connected to your device, disconnect it:

  1. Turn off the iPhone or iPad you're troubleshooting.

  2. Disconnect any external storage devices or microphones.

  3. Turn the iPhone or iPad on.

If the issue occurs only when a particular external device is connected, you might need to update or service the device. Contact the manufacturer for support.

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Check System Requirements

Make sure your devices meet the Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera minimum system requirements.

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Make sure the app is working as expected

Check the Live Multicam section of the Final Cut Pro for iPad User Guide and Final Cut Camera Help to review how to set up and use Live Multicam. You can search the user guide for key terms shown in the app, alerts, alert icons, and error messages.

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Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Live Multicam uses a streaming and transfer process that occurs over a wireless point-to-point connection, so Wi-Fi and Bluetooth both need to be on. However, devices don’t need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network for Live Multicam to work.

  1. Make sure Wi-Fi is on.

  2. Make sure Bluetooth is on.

  3. Check that you've signed into all devices with the same Apple Account.

  4. If you've signed into all your devices with the same Apple Account, turn on iCloud Keychain in to ensure that they connect seamlessly.

  5. If you’re using a device that's signed into a different Apple Account, you can connect it using a pairing code:

    • Open Final Cut Camera on the device, tap the Connect to Live Multicam button , then tap the name of the iPad running Final Cut Pro under Other Devices.

    • A code appears on the iPad.

    • In Final Cut Camera, enter the code in the Camera Pairing Request window, then tap OK.

During a Live Multicam session and during the media transfer, make sure Final Cut Pro for iPad or Final Cut Camera is the active app on its respective device.

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Check discoverability on devices running Final Cut Camera

When you open Final Cut Camera on each device that you want to use in a Live Multicam session, you should have gone through the Welcome to Live Multicam setup procedure*, which makes the device discoverable.

If Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on the Final Cut Camera device and you're unable to connect to the iPad running Final Cut Pro, go through the Welcome to Live Multicam setup procedure:

  1. In Final Cut Camera, tap the Connect to Live Multicam button and tap Continue.

  2. Follow the onscreen instructions to make your device discoverable.

* The Welcome to Live Multicam setup procedure is separate from the Welcome to Final Cut Camera setup procedure, where you give Final Cut Camera access to your device’s camera and microphone.

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Check available storage space

  • Depending on where you're storing your Live Multicam project, check that you have enough storage space on your iPad or on an external storage device:

  • If you decide to delete files from the Final Cut Camera app to free up space, the deleted files are moved to the Recently Deleted folder in the Files app, where they remain for 30 days. To free up space immediately, manually delete the files from the Recently Deleted folder. If you decide you want to use the files before they're permanently deleted, you can restore them in the Final Cut Camera browser.

  • If you're concerned about mistakenly deleting files, you can back up your Final Cut Camera files before deleting any.

  • After you stop recording a Live Multicam session, the original video files are transferred to the Live Multicam project in the background. You need to make sure you have enough storage space for the file to successfully transfer into the Final Cut Pro for iPad project from each Final Cut Camera device.

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Check external storage device format

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Remove and reinstall Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera

When you delete the Final Cut Pro for iPad app, any projects you saved to locally to the iPad are permanently deleted. When you delete the Final Cut Camera app, any videos you recorded locally to the device are permanently deleted.

To remove and reinstall Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera:

  1. Try to complete all active projects.

  2. If you haven't already, back up your Final Cut Pro for iPad projects and media and back up existing videos that have been recorded with Final Cut Camera.

  3. Touch and hold the app on the Home Screen and tap Remove App.

  4. Open the App Store, tap the My Account button (or your picture) at the top right, tap Apps, then tap My Apps.

  5. Find Final Cut Pro for iPad or Final Cut Camera in the list, then tap the Download button.

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