Kai Mallari's Notes'

EC - Downgrade Transition

6 min read

Downgrade Transition

Symptom: A core capability has failed mid-shoot and you need to switch to a simpler workflow without stopping production. Root Cause: Network failure, software feature failure, or hardware failure that removes one or more client-facing capabilities. Referred from: DIT Triage - Tether Drops, DIT Triage - iPad Disconnected, DIT Triage - Network Setup, DIT Triage - C1 Crashed

Decision: Which Transition?

What failedCurrent workflowTransition toGo to section
Live for Studio only (Capture Pilot still works)StudioStudio (reduced)
Client Viewers + Live for Studio (Capture Pilot still works)StudioPro workflow
All wireless (Capture Pilot + Live for Studio + Live)StudioWired Only
Capture Pilot (Live still works)ProPro (reduced)
All wireless (Capture Pilot + Live)ProWired Only
Tethering completely deadAnyCard ImportEC - Card Import Fallback
Issues resolved, upgradingWired OnlyPro or Studio

Studio Reduced

Live for Studio has failed but Capture Pilot is still running.

What changes:

  • iPad viewing switches from Live for Studio app to Capture Pilot app
  • Browsing experience changes (Capture Pilot has different UI than Live for Studio)
  • Rating still works via Capture Pilot stars and color tags

Steps:

  1. On the iPad: close Live for Studio app. Open Capture Pilot.
  2. Capture Pilot should auto-discover the Image Server. If not, enter the IP:port manually.
  3. Client Viewers on the external display continue working (they’re independent of Live for Studio).

Tell the client: “I’m switching the iPad to a different viewing app — same images, slightly different interface. Everything else stays the same.”

Studio to Pro

Client Viewers and Live for Studio have both failed, but Capture Pilot still works.

What changes:

  • External display switches from Client Viewer to standard Viewer
  • The DIT manages what appears on the external display (no longer auto-following with Client Viewer features)
  • iPad viewing is Capture Pilot only
  • Overlay on the external display must be managed through the standard Viewer overlay tool (not Client Viewer settings)

Steps:

  1. Close the Client Viewer window(s).
  2. Open a standard Viewer: Window > New Viewer. Drag to the external display.
  3. Enable overlay if needed: in the Viewer toolbar, toggle the overlay tool.
  4. Set the Viewer to Follow Capture (default) or Browse mode as needed.
  5. On the iPad: close Live for Studio app. Open Capture Pilot.
  6. Verify Capture Pilot is connected and showing images.

Tell the client: “I’ve simplified the display setup. You’ll still see images on both the monitor and the iPad. Let me know if you want to zoom in on anything — I’ll pull it up on the big screen.”

Studio to Wired Only

All wireless capabilities have failed. No Capture Pilot, no Live for Studio, no Capture One Live.

What changes:

  • iPad goes away entirely — no wireless client viewing
  • External wired display is the ONLY client review surface
  • Rating switches from iPad stars to verbal callouts
  • The DIT becomes the sole interface between the client and the images

Steps:

  1. Stop all network services: Capture One menu > Image Server > Stop. Close Live for Studio sharing.
  2. Close Client Viewer windows.
  3. Open a standard Viewer on the external display: Window > New Viewer. Drag to external.
  4. Enable overlay if needed.
  5. Set the Viewer to Follow Capture.
  6. Establish the verbal rating protocol with the client (see below).
  7. Consider: do you still need the router? If not, turn it off to simplify.

Tell the client: “We’ve lost the wireless connection to the iPad. I’ll show you every image on this monitor as it comes in. Tell me your picks — I’ll mark them in the system. We won’t miss anything.”

Rating protocol:

  • Option A (real-time): As each image appears on the monitor, the client says “yes,” “no,” or “maybe.” The DIT applies star ratings (yes = 5 stars, maybe = 3 stars, no = no rating).
  • Option B (batch review): Between setups, the DIT scrolls through the images on the monitor. The client calls out their picks. The DIT marks them.
  • Option C (notepad): Client writes down frame numbers they like. The DIT enters the ratings at the end of the setup. (Requires agreeing on a frame numbering system — use the file counter visible on the Viewer.)

Pro Reduced

Capture Pilot has failed but Capture One Live (cloud-based) is still accessible.

What changes:

  • iPad switches from Capture Pilot to a web browser pointing at the Capture One Live share link
  • Browsing is via the web, not a native app — slightly different UX
  • Rating through Live works but requires internet

Steps:

  1. On the iPad: close Capture Pilot. Open Safari.
  2. Navigate to the Capture One Live share link (the URL shared in Step 5 of SOP_DIT_Pro).
  3. Verify images are loading.

Tell the client: “I’m switching the iPad to a web-based view — same images, just loads through the browser. Rating works the same way.”

Pro to Wired Only

All wireless capabilities have failed. Identical to Studio → Wired Only, but simpler because there are no Client Viewers to close.

Steps:

  1. Stop the Image Server: Capture One menu > Image Server > Stop.
  2. Open a standard Viewer on the external display.
  3. Enable overlay if needed.
  4. Set the Viewer to Follow Capture.
  5. Establish verbal rating protocol (see Studio to Wired Only rating protocol above).

Tell the client: “We’ve lost wireless — I’ll show you images on this monitor. Tell me your picks and I’ll mark them.”

Wired Only to Pro or Studio

Issues that forced a downgrade have been resolved (admin password arrived, router started working, Bonjour came back). Upgrading mid-shoot.

Steps:

  1. Set up the network following the relevant SOP setup steps:
  2. Start wireless services:
    • Pro: Start Image Server (Capture One menu > Image Server > Start). Optionally share Capture One Live.
    • Studio: Start Live for Studio share. Open Client Viewer. Start Image Server for Capture Pilot.
  3. Connect the iPad:
    • Open Capture Pilot or Live for Studio on the iPad
    • Verify images are loading
  4. Transition the rating protocol:
    • Hand the iPad to the client
    • “Wireless is back up — you can browse and rate on the iPad again. Everything from the wired period is already in the session, so you can go back and rate those images too.”
  5. Keep the wired display running as a backup. Don’t dismantle it mid-shoot.

General Principles

  • Don’t apologize excessively. Technical issues happen. Brief the client factually and move on. Confidence matters more than perfection.
  • Keep the wired display running during all transitions. It’s your safety net. Only remove it at wrap.
  • The shoot doesn’t stop. Transitions should happen between setups or during lighting changes, not during active shooting. If a transition is needed immediately, pause shooting for 60-90 seconds maximum.
  • Document what failed. After the shoot, note the failure in your session log. This informs future chain tests and equipment choices.
  • Test the downgraded workflow before resuming. Trigger one test capture after any transition to confirm the new workflow is stable before the photographer starts shooting.

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