Omniscient vs Byplay: iPhone Camera Tracking
When it comes to capturing on-set camera tracking data with your iOS device, both Omniscient and Byplay promise to streamline the visual effects workflow. Whether you’re a cinematographer, VFX artist, or student, choosing the right tool depends on your unique needs.
Below, we break down the key aspects of each solution.
Recording settings
| Feature | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| 4K resolution* | ✅ (paid feature) | ✅ (paid feature) |
| HD resolution | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| SD resolution | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| 4:3 ratio | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| 30 fps | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| 60 fps | ✅ (paid feature) | ✅ (paid feature) |
| White Balance control | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Exposure control | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Focus control | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| 16:9 ratio | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Portrait recording | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Landscape recording | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| HDR* | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
| Apple Log* | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
| 24/25/48/50 fps | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
| ProRes codec* | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
*On supported devices | 💰 Paying feature
Omniscient provides the most control and quality. On supported devices, Omniscient can shoot 4K 24 fps Apple Log ProRes videos!
Export
| Software / File | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| Blender | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| After Effects (.jsx) | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Autodesk (.fbx) | ✅ (paid feature) | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Cinema 4D | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Object (.obj) | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Video (.mov) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Alembic (.abc) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Apple Motion (.motn) | ✅ | ❌ |
| USD (.usda) | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
| Unreal Engine | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
| Unity | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
| Autodesk 3ds Max | ☑️ | ❌ |
| Houdini | ☑️ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Video Frames | ❌ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Text format (.json, csv) | ❌ | ❌ |
☑️ Compatible, but not optimized | 💰 Paying feature
Omniscient delivers a seamless workflow when it comes to importing shots into your VFX software. Thanks to software-specific export options and add-ons, importing shots recorded with Omniscient is a breeze—even if your software isn’t listed, as it exports an industry-standard format that can be imported into any VFX software.
Pre-viz
| Feature | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| 3D model import for pre-viz | ❌ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| Overlays to help framing | ✅ | ❌ |
💰 Paying feature
Byplay allows 3D models to be imported for pre-visualization, making it more suitable if you need to precisely view a 3D object for reference during your shoot.
Scan
| Feature | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| LiDAR Scanning* | ✅ | ✅ |
| Scene relocation | ✅ | ❌ |
| HDRi | ❌ | ✅ |
| Colored point cloud | ❌ | ✅ |
| Texturing | ❌ | ❌ |
*On supported devices | 💰 Paying feature
Omniscient provides a scan of the environment for each shot. On LiDAR-equipped devices, the scan is detailed, while on devices without LiDAR, it remains basic. The scan is at real-world scale, making object insertion a breeze.
Preview / Editing
| Feature | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| Shots management | ✅ | ✅ (paid feature) |
| 3D review player | ✅ | ❌ |
| Shot duration cutter | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
| Post-stabilization | ✅ (paid feature) | ❌ |
Omniscient provides a project management interface where shots are organized and can be individually reviewed on the device. This ensures that each shot can be checked on-site, eliminating the possibility of discovering a bad shot later in the VFX software.
Confidentiality
| Feature | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| Full on-device process | ✅ | ❌ |
Uploading shots is mandatory with Byplay. While Byplay claims to “take security concerns very seriously” and “follow best security practices”, the process of uploading and storing shots on a server inherently represents a confidentiality risk.
Omniscient processes shots on your device without requiring cloud upload.
Internet & Account
| Requirement | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| No Internet needed | ✅ | ❌ |
| No Account needed | ✅ | ❌ |
Omniscient can be used completely offline without the need for an account. Byplay, however, requires an internet connection and account login (or the use of a ProductionCrate account).
Pricing & Plans
| Plan | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✅ | ✅ |
| Paid tier | ✅ | ✅ |
Price isn’t explicitly stated here, as it is subject to currency and location changes and may vary over time.
| Free tier | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited shots | ✅ | ❌ |
Both Omniscient and Byplay offer free and paid tiers. Byplay’s free tier is extremely limited (allowing for only 10 shot uploads), while Omniscient’s free tier includes an extensive set of features for an unlimited number of shots.
Customer Support
| Feature | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| Online documentation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Frequently updated app | ✅ | ❌ |
Omniscient is in active development, offering frequent updates and a responsive development team. Byplay, on the other hand, has not received an App Store update since March 2024.
Device Compatibility
| Device | Omniscient | Byplay |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | ✅ | ✅ |
| iPad | ✅ | ❌ |
| Android | ❌ | ✅ |
Omniscient supports both iPhone and iPad, while Byplay also offers support for Android devices.
Conclusion
Omniscient favors an open, file-based integration that gives you control and works offline—providing files you can drop into any major VFX software. Byplay, in contrast, favors a cloud-connected workflow with a custom desktop app that automates setup for a subset of 3D applications. The free tier of Omniscient offers almost every feature that Byplay provides, and the Plus plan further expands its capabilities. Not to mention, Omniscient is in active development, meaning its capabilities will continue to grow.
