RePro can be used on Apple TV for remote colour review when production teams, creatives, post supervisors, colourists, executives or studio stakeholders need to view a live review stream on a larger display.
Apple TV is a useful review device because it allows RePro streams to be viewed on a television, OLED, production monitor or calibrated display. However, Apple TV should only be used for colour-critical review when the connected display has been correctly selected, configured and calibrated for the intended review target.
Important note on calibration
Apple TV does not make a display colour accurate by itself.
For colour review, the connected display must be suitable for the required review format and calibrated to the agreed production standard. This is especially important for HDR, where consumer displays can vary significantly in peak brightness, tone mapping, colour volume, black level handling and picture processing.
If the display has not been calibrated, the session should be treated as a creative review only, not a final colour approval session.
For final colour approval, always follow the workflow approved by the production, studio, post supervisor, colourist or delivery partner.
Recommended use cases
RePro on Apple TV is suitable for:
Director, DP, producer or studio review
Live colour review sessions
Remote supervised grading review
Editorial, VFX, finishing and post-production review
Larger-screen playback in a controlled review room
Secure viewing where content should not be downloaded locally
RePro on Apple TV may not be suitable for final colour approval unless the display, room and signal path have been approved for that purpose.
Recommended hardware
For the best experience, use:
Apple TV 4K
A reliable wired Ethernet connection where possible
A high-quality HDMI cable suitable for the required format
A calibrated display suitable for SDR and/or HDR review
A controlled viewing environment
Avoid using unknown, uncalibrated or heavily processed consumer TVs for colour-critical decisions.
Display requirements
The connected display should be:
Calibrated to the agreed SDR or HDR target
Set to the correct picture mode
Free from unnecessary image processing
Capable of displaying the required dynamic range
Capable of displaying the required frame rate
Used in a controlled viewing environment
For HDR review, confirm that the display is genuinely suitable for the target HDR workflow. A display being labelled “HDR” does not automatically make it appropriate for HDR colour review.
SDR review target
For SDR review, the production should normally be monitoring against the agreed SDR mastering target.
A typical SDR reference target is:
Setting | Target |
Colour space | Rec.709 |
White point | D65 |
EOTF | BT.1886 / Gamma 2.4 |
Peak luminance | 100 nits |
The Apple TV output, display picture mode and upstream RePro stream should all be aligned to the same SDR target.
HDR review target
For HDR review, confirm the mastering and monitoring target before the session.
A typical HDR review target is:
Setting | Target |
Colour space | P3-D65 |
EOTF | PQ / ST.2084 |
Peak luminance | Production defined, commonly 1000 nits |
White point | D65 |
HDR review is highly dependent on display capability and calibration. Consumer TVs may apply tone mapping, dynamic contrast, brightness limiting or manufacturer-specific processing that changes the appearance of the image.
Apple TV video settings
Before joining a RePro colour review session, check the Apple TV video settings.
On Apple TV:
Open Settings.
Go to Video and Audio.
Select Format.
Choose the required output format for the review.
Go to Match Content.
Enable Match Dynamic Range where appropriate.
Enable Match Frame Rate where appropriate.
Confirm the connected display is receiving the expected SDR or HDR signal.
Apple recommends using Match Dynamic Range so Apple TV 4K can match its output to the dynamic range of the content being watched. Apple TV 4K can also be configured to match frame rate where supported.
RePro Apple TV app settings
Before joining a RePro colour review session, check the RePro Apple TV video settings.
On RePro AppleTV app.
Open Video Settings.
Select Passthrough
Note: It is important to set the RePro Viewer to Passthrough for colour review sessions so the viewer receives the source stream without RePro applying adaptive bitrate processing or additional transcode layers. If ABR is enabled on a project, the stream may be re-encoded at different quality levels, which can introduce extra compression, banding or unwanted artefacts that could be mistaken for issues in the grade.
Recommended Apple TV setup
For most review rooms, we recommend:
Use Apple TV 4K.
Use Ethernet rather than Wi-Fi where possible.
Use a tested HDMI cable.
Set the display to the calibrated picture mode.
Disable unnecessary TV processing.
Enable Match Dynamic Range where appropriate.
Enable Match Frame Rate where appropriate.
Confirm whether the RePro stream is SDR or HDR before review starts.
Confirm with the colourist or session host that the image path is correct.
Do not change Apple TV or display settings during a colour review session unless instructed by the session host, facility team or colourist.
Display settings to avoid
On the connected display, avoid settings that dynamically alter the image.
Where possible, disable:
Dynamic contrast
Motion smoothing
Noise reduction
MPEG noise reduction
Sharpness enhancement
Vivid, Dynamic or Sports picture modes
Ambient light adjustment
Eco brightness modes
AI picture enhancement
Automatic tone mapping modes unless specifically approved
Any setting that changes brightness, contrast, colour or gamma during playback
Use the calibrated picture mode agreed for the review.
Apple TV Colour Balance
Apple TV includes a Colour Balance feature that uses an iPhone to adjust the Apple TV output for some displays.
This can improve general viewing consistency, but it should not be treated as a replacement for professional display calibration.
For colour review, use a properly calibrated display and an approved review setup. Do not rely on Apple TV Colour Balance for final colour-critical decisions.
Viewing environment
The room is part of the colour review chain.
For best results:
Review in a controlled room.
Avoid direct sunlight on the display.
Avoid brightly coloured walls or strong coloured lighting.
Keep room lighting consistent.
Do not review colour in a changing environment.
Sit in the correct viewing position.
Avoid reflections on the display.
Avoid reviewing from extreme side angles.
If the room is not controlled, the session should be treated as creative review rather than final colour approval.
Network recommendations
Colour review requires a stable connection.
For best results:
Use wired Ethernet where possible.
Avoid congested Wi-Fi.
Avoid guest networks with captive portals.
Do not run other high-bandwidth devices on the same connection during review.
Confirm playback is stable before making colour decisions.
Pause the review if the stream buffers, drops quality or becomes unstable.
If the stream quality changes during the session, colour-critical comments should be paused until the issue is resolved.
Joining the RePro session on Apple TV
Open the RePro app on Apple TV.
Sign in using your approved account.
Select the correct organisation.
Select the correct project.
Select the correct channel or programme.
Confirm with the session host that you are viewing the correct feed.
Confirm whether the session is SDR or HDR.
Confirm whether the feed is live, delayed or using DVR playback.
Wait for the stream to stabilise before giving colour feedback.
Before colour review starts
The session host, facility team or colourist should confirm:
Correct source output from the grading system
Correct SDR or HDR signal path
Correct RePro channel
Correct Apple TV output format
Correct display input
Correct calibrated display mode
Correct frame rate
Correct audio configuration, if required
Whether any LUT, trim, tone map or transform is being applied
Whether viewers are seeing HDR, SDR or a tone-mapped version
For HDR sessions, specifically confirm that the display is receiving the intended HDR signal and is not applying unwanted processing.
During the review
When giving colour notes, be specific.
Helpful notes include:
Timecode or visible reference point
Scene, shot or camera reference
Whether the note relates to exposure, contrast, saturation, skin tone, highlight handling, black level or colour balance
Whether the note is creative, technical or a question for the colourist
Avoid making critical colour notes if:
The display has not been calibrated.
The room is not controlled.
The Apple TV output format is uncertain.
The display picture mode is uncertain.
The stream is buffering.
The image resolution has dropped.
You are unsure whether you are watching SDR, HDR or a tone-mapped version.
Troubleshooting
The image looks too bright or too dark
Check that the Apple TV output format, display picture mode and RePro stream target are aligned. Also confirm that the display is not using dynamic contrast, eco brightness or automatic tone mapping.
The colour looks wrong
Confirm whether the stream is SDR or HDR. Check that the display is in the calibrated picture mode and that no additional image processing is active.
HDR does not appear to be working
Confirm that the Apple TV, HDMI cable, display input and display all support the required HDR format. Also check that Match Dynamic Range is enabled where appropriate.
Motion looks wrong
Check the Apple TV Match Frame Rate setting and confirm the frame rate of the source stream.
The stream is unstable
Use Ethernet where possible, check the network connection and avoid making colour-critical decisions until playback is stable.
I am not sure whether the display is calibrated
Treat the session as creative review only. Do not use the session for final colour approval unless the display and room have been approved.
Best practice checklist
Before the session:
Confirm whether the review is SDR or HDR.
Confirm the approved display.
Confirm the display has been calibrated.
Confirm the Apple TV output settings.
Confirm Match Dynamic Range and Match Frame Rate settings.
Disable unwanted display processing.
Check the viewing environment.
Use Ethernet where possible.
Join early for a setup check.
During the session:
Keep Apple TV and display settings unchanged.
Keep room lighting consistent.
Make notes with timecode or clear shot references.
Flag any playback or display issue immediately.
Pause colour-critical review if the stream, device or display path is uncertain.
Important note
Apple TV can be a convenient and effective way to view RePro colour review sessions on a larger screen, but the accuracy of the review depends on the entire chain.
The source output, RePro stream, Apple TV settings, HDMI path, display capability, calibration, room environment and network stability must all be correct.
If any part of the chain is unknown or unapproved, the session should be treated as a creative review rather than final colour approval.