Mac vs iOS: What is different in Smooth Operator?
Smooth Operator (Smooth Studio) works on both Mac and iOS (iPhone and iPad). The core editing experience is the same on both platforms, but the Mac version includes extra features that take advantage of the larger screen, keyboard, and macOS conventions.
What is the same on both platforms
- Importing video from Files or Photos
- Creating and editing camera anchors
- Adding move blocks between anchors
- Adjusting timing, easing, and camera weight
- Choosing motion presets (Smart and Classic)
- Using the AI Camera Assistant
- Generating Video Analysis Plans
- Exporting finished videos
- Project management (rename, duplicate, delete)
What is different on Mac
Menu bar
The Mac version has a full menu bar with commands for:
- File: Import Video (Cmd+I), Import Motion Data (Cmd+Shift+I), Export (Cmd+E)
- Edit: Standard edit commands plus Deselect All (Cmd+D)
- View: Toggle Anchor Sidebar (Cmd+Opt+S), Toggle Inspector (Cmd+Opt+I), Zoom In/Out
- Timeline: Add Anchor (A), Add Move Block (M), Delete (Del), Go to Start/End, Next/Previous Anchor (Tab/Shift+Tab)
- Motion: Physics Mode (1), Timing Mode (2)
Keyboard shortcuts
The Mac version has extensive keyboard shortcuts for faster editing. See the full list in our keyboard shortcuts article.
Sidebar and Inspector
- Anchor List Sidebar (left): Shows all anchors and move blocks in a sortable list. Right-click for context menu options like "Go to Time" and "Duplicate."
- Inspector (right): Shows detailed properties of whatever is selected. Edit anchor position, scale, move block type, easing, and more without needing to use touch controls.
Detachable windows
You can detach the timeline and preview into separate floating windows:
- Timeline window: Default 1200x300, ideal for dual-monitor setups
- Preview window: Default 960x540, shows a larger preview on a second display
Drag and drop
Drag video files from Finder directly onto the Smooth Operator window to import them. A blue dashed border appears when you are dragging over a valid target.
Preferences
The Mac version has a Preferences window (Cmd+,) with four tabs:
- General: Default motion preset, auto-save, splash screen options
- AI: Claude API key management, model selection
- ML: Machine learning settings (tile size, scale factor)
- Performance: Discrete GPU preference, max concurrent exports, cache management
File import differences
- Mac uses a Finder open panel (NSOpenPanel) instead of the iOS file browser
- Mac defaults to "Files" import; iOS defaults to "Photos"
- On Mac, you can select folders (for bundle import)
What is different on iOS
Touch-first interface
- All camera adjustments use touch gestures: pinch to zoom, drag to pan
- The timeline uses tap and drag instead of click
- Compact layout modes (scrub vs timeline) for smaller iPhone screens
No detachable windows
All editing happens in a single window. iPad supports split view with the project list on the left.
No Preferences window
iOS stores preferences in the system Settings app or within the app's settings screens.
File import
iOS uses the system file browser with support for cloud storage providers (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
Which platform should I use?
- Mac is better for: Heavy editing sessions, precise control with keyboard shortcuts, dual-monitor workflows, and batch exports.
- iPad is great for: On-the-go editing, touch-based camera framing, and reviewing AI suggestions.
- iPhone works well for: Quick edits, testing camera moves, and starting projects you will finish on Mac or iPad.
Projects are not synced between devices automatically. To move a project from one device to another, use AirDrop or file sharing.