iPhone bullet-time photobooth & multi-camera app

01 / Connect

Launch Camera Server on Mac or Windows. Open Xangle Remote Camera on each iPhone and keep it visible. Put the phones and desktop on the same local Wi-Fi network, then auto-number the array from the desktop.

02 / Control

Select the lens and capture mode. Set exposure, focus, white balance, resolution, and frame rate where available, then lock the values that need to match across the group. Check framing and focus in live view.

03 / Capture

Trigger the group, wait for the files to reach Camera Server, and review the complete dataset. Run a test take with every phone before capturing an event or a subject you cannot repeat.

Photo

Use Apple's native still-photo pipeline when image quality, resolution, computational photography, HEIC, or Apple ProRAW matters most. Formats and features depend on the device and lens. A coordinated trigger does not make native still exposures land at exactly the same instant across phones.

Video

Record motion from multiple viewpoints at a supported resolution and frame rate. Camera Server prepares the streams and coordinates a shared recording start. This does not lock every frame for the full recording; independent phone clocks and sensor cadence can drift over time.

Sync Frame

Use the timing-first mode when matching a moving moment matters more than native still quality. Camera Server prepares continuous video, measures frame phase, and saves one JPEG from a selected video frame on each phone. The output is video-derived, not a native still photo or RAW image.

First setup

1. Download Camera Server for Mac or Windows.
2. Install the Xangle Remote Camera test version through TestFlight on every iPhone.
3. Grant Camera and Local Network permissions when prompted. Allow microphone access if the recording needs audio.
4. Join the same local Wi-Fi network as the desktop. No USB camera connection is required.
5. Open the phone app in the physical order you want the phones numbered. Auto-number in Camera Server and confirm that desktop and phone numbers match.
6. Choose the mode and settings, then confirm that a test capture downloads a file from every phone.

Keep the phones capture-ready

• Keep Xangle Remote Camera in the foreground with each phone unlocked and awake.
• Disable Auto-Lock and Low Power Mode for the session.
• Use reliable power, provide airflow, and keep the phones out of direct sunlight. Remove thick cases if heat builds up.
• Prefer a dedicated Wi-Fi network. Avoid VPNs, Wi-Fi Assist, and access-point client isolation.
• Match the lens, format, frame rate, and manual settings across timing-sensitive groups.
• For Sync Frame, use a fixed frame rate, stable manual exposure, and locked focus. Recheck readiness after changing the group or settings.

Can I build a bullet-time photobooth using iPhones?

Yes. Arrange supported iPhones around a subject, connect them to Xangle Camera Server over local Wi-Fi, and capture multiple viewpoints from the desktop. Choose Photo for native still quality or test Sync Frame when matching a moving moment is the priority. Prepare calibration, processing, branding, and guest delivery before the event. See our bullet-time photobooth guide.

How do I synchronize multiple iPhones?

Keep Xangle Remote Camera open on every phone and use the same local network as Camera Server. Number the phones, select the capture mode, and match the relevant lens, format, frame rate, exposure, and focus settings. Sync Frame prepares video streams and checks frame alignment before saving a JPEG per phone. Software coordination is not hardware genlock or a guarantee of identical physical exposure timing.

Can I mix different iPhone models in one array?

Different supported models can join the array, but their lenses, image processing, formats, and timing can differ. Choose settings that every selected device supports and compare framing, color, sharpness, and motion in a full test. Matching models and capture settings makes consistent results easier; a mixed roster alone does not establish synchronized capture quality.

What is the difference between Photo and Sync Frame?

Photo uses the native still-photo pipeline and is the better starting point for high-resolution images, HEIC, or ProRAW where supported. Sync Frame saves a JPEG derived from an aligned video frame and prioritizes group timing rather than native still-image quality. Sync Frame needs a preparation period and cancels the batch if readiness or alignment cannot be verified.

Can I capture Gaussian splats with iPhones?

Yes, iPhones can acquire overlapping images for photogrammetry or Gaussian-splat reconstruction. Use sharp images, consistent lighting, useful coverage, and a still subject for the first test. Reconstruction is a separate processing step with its own platform, license, and dataset requirements. Multi-phone video capture does not by itself produce a finished 4D reconstruction.

Do I need a Mac, internet, or USB connections?

Camera Server runs on Mac or Windows. iPhones capture over local Wi-Fi rather than USB and must be able to reach the desktop. Local capture is separate from internet access: download and install the software beforehand, then test licensing, processing, and any cloud or guest-delivery services under the actual event network conditions.

Which iPhones and iOS versions are supported?

The current listed models run Xangle Remote Camera on iOS 17 or later; see the supported-model list above. Available lenses, resolution, frame rate, exposure controls, and image formats depend on the phone and selected mode. Keep the phone app in the foreground, the screen awake, and the phones powered and cool.

How many iPhones can I use, and how quickly are results ready?

Camera count depends on the Camera Server license and the tested capacity of the phones, Wi-Fi, desktop, and processing setup. There is no universal capture-to-delivery time: file size, network transfer, processing, and export settings all matter. Rehearse a complete take and confirm that every expected file reaches Camera Server before scaling up.