🎥 PIRATE CAPTURE APP — Setup and Troubleshooting 🎥 PIRATE CAPTURE APP — Setup and Troubleshooting
  1. PIRATE.COM
  2. Equipment and Troubleshooting
  3. DJ Studios
  4. CAPTURE APP

🎥 PIRATE CAPTURE APP — Setup and Troubleshooting

ℹ️ About CAPTURE:

CAPTURE is a free iOS app that lets DJs record their sessions in select PIRATE DJ studios. It replaces the older Capture.Audio browser-based tool and supports both video + high-quality audio or audio-only recordings.
It is only compatible with iPhones operating with iOS 17 or up.
Android users (approx. 15–20% of customers) cannot currently use the app.

🔍 BOOKING A ROOM WITH CAPTURE

Here's how you can tell the difference between a CAPTURE Enabled room, and a CAPTURE Disabled room. If it's disabled it means we don't have a CAPTURE device in that studio, or it means there is a fault with the device in that room.

 

🧠 CORE FEATURES

With the CAPTURE app, users can:

  • Record video with high-quality synced audio

  • Record audio-only DJ sets

  • View and manage bookings in CAPTURE-enabled studios

  • Save, playback, delete, or share recordings directly from the app

🛠️ TECH SETUP

  • iOS Only – App must be downloaded via the App Store

  • Log in with your existing Pirate account

  • Permissions required:

    • Camera – for video recording

    • Location – to detect PIRATE WiFi connection

    • Photo Library – to save recordings (Pirate doesn’t access your photos)

    • Notifications – optional, but used to remind users to download recordings

🔌 STUDIO CONNECTION + WIFI

  • You must be connected to PIRATE WiFi

  • App auto-connects when in studio; if not:

    • Tap “Connect to Studio #”

    • Refresh bookings by swiping down on the Bookings tab

  • No bookings? A link to book via the website is shown instead

Connected Capture.png                       Connect to Studio.png

 

🎙️ RECORDING MODES

There are two options:

  1. Video Mode

    • MP4, 1080p, 30fps, 48kHz or 44.1kHz, 16-bit

    • Auto-syncs audio to iPhone video

    • App must stay open and phone unlocked

    • Works in landscape if you rotate your phone

  2. Audio-Only Mode

    • MP3, 320kbps CBR, 48kHz or 44.1kHz, 16-bit

    • Phone can be locked during recording

🎚️ WHILE RECORDING

  • A VU meter shows audio levels – if only one channel is active, check RCA cables on the mixer

  • Booking timer counts down to end of session

  • Tabs are locked during active recording

  • Waveform appears in audio mode

  • Zooming is now supported in video mode

  • Cannot change recording mode mid-session

Rec Out Capture.png.         VU Meter.png

💾 STORAGE + BATTERY WARNINGS

  • Minimum 8GB storage required (1 hour ≈ 3.6GB; double that is advised)

  • If storage is low, a warning is shown before recording starts

  • Free up space by:

    • Offloading unused apps

    • Deleting old podcasts

    • Using Apple’s Storage Optimization tips

  • If battery drops below 20%, a warning is displayed

  • If the phone dies during a recording, the recording is lost

  • We strongly recommend plugging in your phone during long sessions

📥 SAVING + SHARING RECORDINGS

  • Recordings are not stored in the cloud

  • They are downloaded directly to the user’s phone after recording 

  • App must stay open and phone must remain on WiFi until the download completes (recordings can be downloaded off-site)

  • Head to the Library section which is a dedicated place to manage downloads (see in 1st image Processing section). By clicking on a recording in this section you will find status of the download, info about the recording, and at times, controls to manage the download (see 2nd image)

IMG_8794.PNG.     IMG_8795.PNG

Once downloaded:

  • Audio is processed and synced with video if needed

  • View saved recordings in the Saved tab within the Library section

  • Tap to play; swipe down to close player

  • Share via iOS share sheet

  • Save to Photos if needed for editing or social sharing

🚫 COMMON ISSUES + TROUBLESHOOTING

🔇 No Audio Detected

  • App will warn if no audio is picked up during a recording

  • Recording continues, but output may be silent

  • Usually caused by RCA cable unplugged from REC OUT

  • If only one VU meter bar lights up: one RCA channel may be unplugged

Tip: Users can mix stereo to mono in Audacity: Watch here

🔌 App Says “Capture Offline”

  • Likely caused by WiFi drop or recording device disconnection

  • Try fully quitting and reopening the app

  • Disable 'Limit IP Address Tracking' in your Wifi Settings

  • If it reconnects, download proceeds as normal

  • If not resolved, recording cannot start and may not be recoverable during booking

⏳ Download Not Finishing

  • The audio will be available about 1 hour after your session ends and will remain accessible for 30 days

  • 1 hour of audio = a few minutes to download (network traffic permitting)

  • Do NOT delete and re-install the app to try and get the downloads working, this will delete all of your recordings and they will not be recoverable

 

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