Canon’s Live Switcher Mobile app is free for iOS and iPadOS devices. | Screenshot: YouTube
Canon has announced a new live streaming app that can wirelessly connect to, and switch between, video feeds from three mobile devices. It’s currently limited to iPhones and iPads running at least iOS and iPad0S 16. Android isn’t supported, but an even stranger omission is that Live Switcher Mobile isn’t compatible with any of Canon’s digital cameras — that functionality will be added “in the future,” according to an FAQ.
The app is available for download now and can be used for free, but with some limitations. Video quality maxes out at 720p, the output is watermarked, and the app’s interface will occasionally be cluttered with ads — but those aren’t presented to viewers. For $17.99 per month (which is over $215 per year) output quality gets a bump to 1080p, while ads and the watermark are removed. There’s no option to increase the video resolution past HD.
Image: Canon
The mobile device serving as a live stream’s primary camera also provides the switching interface.
One device running the app is designated as the host which provides the switching interface and serves as the primary camera. Up to two additional devices can be connected providing video feeds from alternate angles, or a live screen capture of a video game being played.
Switching between feeds can be done manually, but if you’d like to avoid poking a device that’s serving as one of your cameras, the app can also be set to automatically switch between sources at set intervals of eight to 20 seconds. Multiple videos can be streamed simultaneously using a picture-in-picture effect, while text and image overlays can be added to personalize a livestream, add branding, or provide captioning.
Canon says the app supports live streaming to YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms that support RTMP, but its comment display function is limited to those first two platforms.
Although its functionality isn’t as robust as the free OBS Studio app that also allows mobile devices to be used as video sources, Canon’s Live Switcher Mobile is potentially an easier alternative for aspiring influencers just getting started with live streaming.
It may currently be limited to mobile devices, but the company has confirmed the app “will support Canon’s digital camera connection in the future.” With that added functionality, and maybe a bump to 4K streaming capabilities, its steep price tag could be easier to justify for those looking for a highly portable streaming solution.