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Using an iPhone as a camera in Swing Catalyst with the Swing Catalyst Camera App (SC Cam)

Stian Eklund
  • Updated

SC Cam

Setup, connection, and troubleshooting guide for the Swing Catalyst Cam iOS app, which lets you use your iPhone as a wireless or wired camera with Swing Catalyst on Windows. This article assumes some familiarity in using Swing Catalyst for Windows, please see the related article section for more info.

Quick-start overview

  1. Install SC Cam from the App Store.
  2. Allow Camera, Microphone, and Local Network permissions.
  3. Start Swing Catalyst on your Windows PC.
  4. Connect using Wi-Fi, QR code, or USB.
  5. Pair with the PC if prompted.
  6. Adjust camera settings in SC Cam, then record from Swing Catalyst.

Contents

 

1. Requirements

  • iPhone: iOS 17 or newer. iPhone XS, XR, or later.
  • Windows PC: Swing Catalyst 26.1 or newer installed an running.
  • Wi-Fi connection: iPhone and PC on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • USB connection: Lightning or USB-C cable connected to the PC.

Note

iPad is technically supported, but SC Cam is designed for iPhone. The experience may not be ideal on iPad.

Required permissions

SC Cam needs the following iOS permissions:

  • Camera — required to capture video.
  • Microphone — required for audio-triggered recording.
  • Local Network — required to find Swing Catalyst on your network.

Warning

If any of these permissions are denied, SC Cam may not work correctly. You can re-enable them in Settings → Swing Catalyst Cam on your iPhone.

2. Installing SC Cam

  1. Open the App Store on your iPhone.
  2. Search for Swing Catalyst Cam.
  3. Tap Get to install the app.
  4. Open SC Cam and allow the requested permissions.

3. Connecting to Swing Catalyst

SC Cam supports three connection methods. Use Wi-Fi for the easiest setup, QR code if automatic discovery does not work, or USB for the most reliable connection.

3.1 Wi-Fi connection

Wi-Fi is the simplest connection method. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

  1. Make sure Swing Catalyst is running on your Windows PC.
  2. Open SC Cam and select Wi-Fi.
  3. Wait for SC Cam to find your PC.
  4. Tap your PC in the server list to connect.

Tip

If your PC does not appear, check that both devices are on the same network and that the router is not blocking local discovery with AP isolation or client isolation.

3.2 QR code connection

Use QR code connection if the PC does not appear automatically, or if you want to connect directly to a specific computer.

  1. In Swing Catalyst, open the camera connection settings and show the QR code.
  2. In SC Cam, tap the QR code button at the bottom of the "Looking for servers..." section.
  3. Point your iPhone at the QR code on the PC screen.
  4. SC Cam connects automatically after reading the code.

3.3 USB connection

USB is recommended when Wi-Fi is unreliable, unavailable, or when you want the lowest and most consistent latency.

  1. Connect the iPhone to your PC with a Lightning or USB-C cable.
  2. Open SC Cam and select USB.
  3. In Swing Catalyst, select the USB camera source.

3.4 First-time pairing

The first time SC Cam connects to a new PC, Swing Catalyst may show a 6-digit pairing code. Enter the code in SC Cam and tap Connect. After pairing, SC Cam remembers the PC for future sessions.

The Mobile Camera integration is shown at the bottom of the camera list in the Camera settings section in Swing Catalyst. Once paired the camera will appear as any other camera in the camera list.

There are also optional settings that can be configured if necessary to use a pairing code for example.

 

From here you can use Swing Catalyst as you normally would.

Tip

Enable the iPhone's microphone as a trigger to have it automatically trigger the recording in Swing Catalyst when you hit the ball, see: How to use a microphone as a capture trigger. Some level adjustment might be necessary.

 

Certificate mismatch

This means the PC identity has changed, for example after reinstalling Swing Catalyst. Accept the new certificate only if you recognize the server.

4. Using SC Cam

After connecting, SC Cam shows a live camera view with status indicators at the top and camera controls at the bottom.

SC Cam viewfinder.

4.1 Status indicators

Status indicators shown at the top of the viewfinder.
Indicator Meaning
Connection Disconnected, connecting, connected, reconnecting, or error.
BUFFERING / READY / LIVE Preparing, ready to capture, or recording triggered.
Connection health Latency indicator. Green is best; red means the connection is poor.
Audio trigger Shown only when audio trigger is enabled.

 

4.2 Camera controls

Swipe the bottom carousel to adjust camera settings.

Control Description
FPS Frame rate, from 24 fps up to 120 fps depending on device and resolution.
Shutter Auto, preset shutter speeds, or manual exposure.
Resolution 1080p or 4K.
Ratio Video aspect ratio.
Camera Switch between front and rear cameras.

You can also pinch to zoom and tap the viewfinder to focus.

4.3 Exposure settings

Exposure is controlled through the Shutter setting. Auto is recommended for most users. Preset and Manual modes are useful when you need a fixed shutter speed.

Recommended for golf

Use 1/1250 or faster to reduce motion blur on the club and ball. Faster shutter speeds require more light.

Image too dark?

Use a slower shutter speed, add more light, or switch Shutter to Auto.

5. Recording

Recording is controlled from Swing Catalyst on the PC. SC Cam continuously buffers recent frames, so recordings can include footage from before the trigger moment. You do not need to press record on the iPhone.

After recording, the clip is transferred to the PC. A progress bar appears on the phone during transfer.

 

6. Troubleshooting

I don't see the Mobile Camera section in my camera settings

The Swing Catalyst Mobile Camera (SC Cam) integration is only available in Swing Catalyst version 26.1 and newer:

SC Cam cannot find my PC

  • Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Make sure Swing Catalyst is running.
  • Disable VPN on both devices.
  • Enable Local Network permission for SC Cam.
  • Check that the router is not using AP isolation or client isolation.
  • Try QR code or USB instead.

Connection drops or reconnects

  • Move closer to the Wi-Fi router.
  • Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi instead of 2.4 GHz when possible.
  • Reduce wireless interference.
  • Use USB for the most stable connection.

Phone gets hot or performance drops

High-resolution streaming can generate heat. If the phone gets too hot, SC Cam may reduce frame rate and quality automatically.

  • Remove the phone case.
  • Keep the phone out of direct sunlight.
  • Use 1080p instead of 4K.
  • Lower the frame rate if you do not need 120 fps.

Low battery or storage

  • Battery warning appears below 20%; critical alert below 5%.
  • Storage warning appears below 2 GB; recording is disabled below 500 MB.

Camera or microphone is not working

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Swing Catalyst Cam.
  3. Enable Camera and Microphone.
  4. Restart SC Cam.

7. FAQ

Can I use SC Cam without Wi-Fi?

Yes. Use the USB connection method.

Can I use multiple iPhone's?

This depends on your Swing Catalyst setup. Each iPhone connects as a separate camera source.

Does SC Cam save video on the phone?

No. SC Cam does not save recordings to the iPhone photo library. Video is buffered temporarily and transferred to Swing Catalyst when recording is triggered.

What settings should I use for golf?

For most swing analysis, use 1080p at 120 fps. Use 4K only if you need extra detail and your device and network can handle it.

Does SC Cam need to stay open?

Yes. SC Cam must stay open and in the foreground. Do not switch apps or lock the phone during a session.

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