Middle Things

Middle Control Companion Plugin

Official plugin to remotely control the Middle Control camera control software. Middle Control drives Blackmagic, Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Lumix, OBSBOT and Visca cameras. You can also control DJI gimbals via Middle Things APC-R / APC-R Mini / APC-R Mini Lite hardware. Companion can run on the same computer as Middle Control, or on any computer on the same network.

Instructions & ready-to-go Companion pages: https://www.middlethings.co/companion Check exact compatibility : https://www.middlethings.co/compatibility/

Setup

1. Install and launch Middle Control on a Mac on your network.
2. In Companion, add this connection and set Target IP:
   • Auto-detect: instances found on your network appear in the Middle Control dropdown on the config page — just pick one. They show by name on Middle Control 3.3.0+, otherwise by IP. (Detection can take up to ~10 s; re-open the config dialog to refresh.)
   • Manual: choose Manual in the dropdown, then type the Target IP — 127.0.0.1 when Middle Control runs on this same computer, otherwise the IP of the computer running it. (The Target IP box is locked unless Manual is selected.)
3. The module connects over TCP on port 11580. The connection turns green (OK) once Middle Control is reachable. If it stays yellow, check the IP, that Middle Control is running, and that port 11580 isn't blocked by a firewall.
4. To control gimbal movement you need an APC-R / APC-R Mini / APC-R Mini Lite.

What you can do

Cameras (CCU): select the active camera, adjust focus, iris, white balance, tint, gain/ISO, shutter, ND, contrast, saturation and black/mid/white levels; toggle Auto Focus / Auto Iris / Auto WB / Auto Gain / Auto Shutter; zebra, false colour, focus peaking, colour bars. Gimbal: pan / tilt / roll / zoom / slider, speed control, recenter, sleep/wake, auto-calibration, Active Track. Recording: start/stop on the active camera or on all cameras at once. Presets: recall and save positions, stop a running preset, and set the preset transition duration. Automations: control the app's automations from one action — pick the type (Camera Shake, Zoom Loop, Presets Sequence), then Start/Stop or set a parameter (speed, amplitude, durations, or the active sequence bank). The options shown adapt to the type you choose. Leave Camera ID empty to target the currently selected camera, or set one to target a specific camera. Camera extras: menu navigation, MultiSelector, and Custom C1–C6 buttons. Custom commands (SDK): send any raw command/value (e.g. set ISO or WB to a specific value). See https://www.middlethings.co/api

Feedbacks & variables

Boolean feedbacks let buttons reflect live state: recording tally, camera connection, APC-R connection, active preset, Auto Focus, Digital Zoom, and automations running (Camera Shake / Zoom Loop / Presets Sequence). Several feedbacks accept an optional Camera ID so you can monitor multiple cameras at a glance.

Variables expose live values (selected camera, pan/tilt & zoom speed, WB, tint, gain, iris, shutter, contrast, saturation, levels, gimbal pan/tilt/roll/zoom, recording status, lists of connected/recording cameras, automation running states and the active sequence bank, …). They show - until the module is connected and receiving data.

Streamdeck+ encoders

This module ships ready-made rotary-encoder presets in the "Encoders (Streamdeck+)" preset category — Focus, Iris, ISO/Gain, White Balance, Shutter, Tint, Contrast, Saturation, Black Level, Pan/Tilt Speed and Zoom Speed. Rotate to step the value; press (where shown) toggles the matching Auto mode.

Note: gimbal pan / tilt / roll / zoom are not offered as encoder presets, because those start a continuous movement that needs a separate stop command on release — which a rotary detent doesn't provide. Use buttons for gimbal motion.

Reporting issues

https://github.com/bitfocus/companion-module-middlethings-middlecontrol/issues