cinemasetfree.comConnecting Cameras
Every camera joins by scanning a pairing QR code. Open Video Village (or press Connect Camera in the project header), point a phone running the Cinema Set Free app at the code, and the device appears on the monitor within seconds. Each code is project-scoped, expires after a few minutes, and the tab keeps minting fresh ones automatically — and you can click the QR to copy its code instead of scanning.
Two Ways to Get the Pairing QR
The pairing code is always tied to the project you’re in, and there are two places to bring it up:
The Video Village Tab
While no cameras are connected, the tab’s empty state shows the QR inline under “Waiting for cameras to connect…”. This is the quickest option once you’re already watching the monitor.
The Connect Camera Button
The Connect Camera button in the project header opens a QR in a pop-up modal from any tab, so you can pair devices without leaving the page you’re on.
Scanning With the App
On the phone or camera, open the Cinema Set Free app and scan the code. The QR carries everything the device needs to join — the server address, a one-time pairing code, and the project it belongs to — so once it’s scanned the device pairs itself to this project and shows up on the monitor by its device name. No typing, logins, or account switching required on the phone.
Codes Expire — and Refresh on Their Own
For security, each pairing code is short-lived: it’s valid for about five minutes after it’s generated, so a code left on screen can’t be reused indefinitely. To make sure there’s always a live one ready to scan, the Video Village tab quietly mints a fresh code every few minutes while it’s open. If a code ever fails to generate, the tab shows an error with a Retry button.
Click the QR to Copy
If scanning isn’t practical — for example when you’re sharing the code over a message — click the QR image to copy its payload to your clipboard. The caption briefly changes to “Copied to clipboard!” to confirm.
Dropouts and Reconnecting
When a device drops off — the app closes, the phone sleeps, or the network hiccups — its tile doesn’t vanish. It stays in the grid marked Offline so you keep its place in the layout. When the same device comes back online, the monitor recognizes it by name and slots the live stream back into its existing tile rather than adding a duplicate. The monitor itself also reconnects automatically if its own connection to the room drops.
Reading the Status
The readout beside the Video Village heading tells you where you stand. It shows Connecting… in grey while the monitor is still joining the room, then switches to a green Connected · N camera(s) that counts how many devices are currently in the session.