Questions about file transfer from Pixboom Spark

Spark Series
1

Hello,

First of all, congratulations on the great work with the camera – it looks really promising!

I have a few questions regarding file transfer:

Will it be possible to download files via the USB-C port without removing the SSD from the camera?

Will Wi-Fi be available only for camera control, or will it also support file transfers?

Will there be any way to automate file transfers from the camera?

In our current workflow, we use FTP and a simple script to automatically transfer files to a computer.

We work with an MRMC Bolt, and this kind of workflow would be ideal for glambot recordings.

If you’re interested, we’d be happy to do a demo using your camera on the Bolt – please feel free to contact us.

Thank you!

2

Hello,

Thank you so much for your kind words and support! We’re thrilled to hear that the camera looks promising to you. Here are the answers to your questions:

USB-C File Transfer:

The USB-C port is primarily designed for remote camera control (the EXT port can also offer similar functionality). While it’s technically possible to transfer files via USB-C, the speed would be far slower compared to the 20Gbps bandwidth of the SSD. However, we’d love to hear your thoughts—do you think this feature would still be useful in your workflow despite the speed limitation?

Wi-Fi Functionality:

Wi-Fi supports camera control and live preview, and it can also be used for file transfers. However, like USB-C, the bandwidth is limited, so transfers would be relatively slow. That said, here’s an alternative solution: you can connect the SSD directly to a phone with a USB-C port (such as the latest iPhone models) for ultra-fast file transfers.

Automated File Transfers:

We currently don’t have built-in functionality for automated file transfers, but your suggestion is very intriguing, and we understand how valuable it could be for workflows like glambot recordings. We’d be happy to discuss this idea further and explore potential solutions together.

FTP Support:

We can support FTP transfers! By adapting the USB-C port to an Ethernet port, FTP can be easily implemented, allowing you to use a script-based workflow similar to your current setup.

3

Hello,

Thank you very much for your detailed and clear response—this information is extremely helpful!

We have a few additional questions:

*Could you provide approximate transfer speeds we can expect when downloading files directly via USB-C or Wi-Fi?

*Does the camera feature Wi-Fi 6, or is it based on an earlier standard?

*Would it also be possible to use FTP over Wi-Fi for automatic file transfer?

*Have you considered adding a dedicated Ethernet port to the camera in future versions?

This would be ideal for fast and reliable file transfer and would simplify workflow automation.

Automatic file transfer via USB-C or Wi-Fi would be extremely valuable for anyone who wants to use this camera for glambot.

Importing footage directly into DaVinci Resolve, without the need for an intermediate file conversion program, is also crucial for this type of recording and for a smooth workflow in any situation.

We are very excited about the potential of your camera.

4

Will Spark only record RAW, or will ProRes also be possible for shoots that require a fast workflow?

5

Hi bro, I’m discussing this with the technical team to explore what the most suitable workflow would look like. :blush:

6

Only RAW at first, but they will have a firmware update at some point that enables ProRes recording as well.

7

Hey there! I’ve replied to a related discussion in this thread, and I think many of the answers in there will help with your questions :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes::
https://community.pixboom.com/t/automated-workflow-with-pixboom-spark-highspeed-camera/321

8

Not working „

Oops! That page doesn’t exist or is private.”

9

It’s the VIP forum — you might not have access rights there.

If you like, I can copy the content here for you.

We are a company that builds Cinebots ourselves, and we had the same questions as you.

10

If you can copy it, I would be grateful :smiley: