Your focus monitor just got an upgrade
The OV1 is much more than an overlay – it’s a platform for providing our users with the best tools available for focus pulling, directly on their chosen focus monitor. We have prioritized a vast feature set and an obsessive degree of customizability, allowing everyone to build the workflow that works for them with the exact information they need.
Rangefinger and LCS data. Subject distance, current focus value, depth of field, collected focus marks – all directly on your monitor.
Monitor agnostic focus tools. Don’t like what your monitor offers? Fine tune your peaking, image, and sharpness to make your job easier.
Continuous development. The OV1 represents a commitment to our Focusbug Community. We will continue to deliver advanced focus tools and ongoing updates in step with our ever changing industry.
Video introduction
New to the OV1? Start here
Our introductory video walks through everything you need to get up and running with the OV1, including installation, configuration, key features, and how the system brings real-time Cine RT and lens control data directly to your focus monitor.
OV1
Support Hub
Latest Version
v26.05
Released June 29, 2026
Release Notes
Our first system update for the OV1 is here! Thank you to the handful of very first owners of the overlay unit for quickly bringing forward a small collection of overlooked UI quirks and ideas for useful features. These have been implemented and are outlined in detail below.
As a friendly reminder, please make sure to update all three components (Base, Handset, OV1) with the OV1 requiring two updates: .hex with the Focusbug Programmer, and .ov1 with the provided USB Drive. See below for more details on the update process.
Stay tuned for beta firmware which will soon be available from this page. The OV1 continues to improve, and we would love your feedback on its direction.
New
- Presets will now persist across updates
- Button to address a RIA-1/LCube unit incompatibility has been added to the “Ring Setup” page
- System widget now includes firmware information for all connected Focusbug devices and will clearly display incompatible versions
Improved
- Boot time has been improved by 20%
- Default LED brightness has been decreased
- The update process now shows an “Updating…” popup as soon as an update begins
- Custom witness mark colour is now applied to the full line in line mode
- Heden icon has been added to optional LCS icons
- A warning will now appear if the device reboots due to an unstable power source
- SDI display timing has been improved
Fixed
- Mark lines and witness mark now show in “Line Center” line mode layout
- SRC1 mark will now draw on top of SRC2 mark
- “Line Fill” option now saves correctly to presets
- Line mode can now be moved to edge of screen while opacity is not 100%
- Stability of the “B” RF Channel has been fixed
- General bug fixes to address a few reported crash scenarios
Updating Cine RT Base and Handset
The Cine RT Base and Handset continue to be updated in the same manner as before. If you are unfamiliar with how to update firmware, please see the following videos based on your host computer:
Updating OV1 Unit
Your OV1 arrives with the latest available firmware loaded. For firmware releases after the version you receive, the OV1 requires TWO updates:
OV1 Software Update
- Download and copy an “ov1_update_x.x.x.ov1” file to the provided Focusbug USB Update Drive.
- Ensure the OV1 is powered down.
- Insert the Focusbug USB Update Drive into the USB-C port.
- Once inserted, power on the OV1 and wait for the unit to boot.
- Once booted, press and hold button 2 on the side of the OV1 to start the update process. The overlay will indicate when the update was successful.
- Power down the OV1, remove the drive, and reboot the OV1 unit.
OV1 Firmware Update
- Download an “OV1_STM_Firmware_x_x_Base.hex” file to your computer.
- Connect a Focusbug Programmer to the PRG. port on the bottom of the OV1.
- Follow the same instructions for updating the Cine RT Handset with the following exception: no button holding required!
Beta Firmware
Coming Soon
LCS Compatiblity
Hi-5 / WCU-4 & RIA-1
- Supported
View Details
Serial Protocol
ARRI Hi-Speed (Bidirectional)
Cooperative Development Status
- Active
Notes
Most OV1 features supported; additional performance optimization and ARRI FOCUSBUG License refinements arriving in pending ARRI SUP. Contact Focusbug for beta SUP.
Hi-5 / WCU-4 & LCUBE CUB-1
- Supported
View Details
Serial Protocol
ARRI Hi-Speed (Bidirectional)
Cooperative Development Status
- Active
Notes
Native ARRI LCUBE firmware issue can cause compatibility issue. Please see Support section for workaround. Fix and ARRI FOCUSBUG License refinements arriving in pending ARRI SUP.
Hi-5 & ALEXA 35
- Supported
View Details
Serial Protocol
ARRI Hi-Speed (Bidirectional)
Cooperative Development Status
- Active
Notes
Most OV1 features supported when using LDS lenses only; additional performance optimization including functionality with non-LDS lenses and ARRI FOCUSBUG License support arriving in pending ARRI SUP.
HU3 / HU4 & MDR 3/4/5
- Supported
View Details
Serial Protocol
Preston (Bidirectional)
Cooperative Development Status
- Open-source
Notes
All core OV1 features supported via available open-source Preston serial protocol.
cPro / cPro+ & LCUBE
- Supported
View Details
Serial Protocol
ARRI Hi-Speed (Bidirectional)
Cooperative Development Status
- Active
Notes
Most OV1 features supported; performance optimization and bidirectional Cine RT control opportunities under review by cMotion.
YMER-3 & VCL-3
- Supported
View Details
Serial Protocol
Custom Hi-Speed (Bidirectional)
Cooperative Development Status
- Active
Notes
All core OV1 features supported; performance optimization and bidirectional Cine RT control arriving in pending YMER-3 update.
Control.3/.5 & MDR.X/.S
- Unsupported
View Details
Serial Protocol
Custom Hi-Speed (Bidirectional)
Cooperative Development Status
- Inactive
Notes
Teradek RT to release Cine RT Serial Cable for connectivity via MDR.S / MOTR.s motor chain. No OV1 or Cine RT control support currently planned by Teradek RT.
Quick Start Guide
Basic Usage
Requirements
- Bi-directional Cine RT cable required
- Cine RT firmware update required
- Cine RT Base must be powered and active
Technical Specs
- 1080p input support
- 23.98 / 24 / 25 / 29.97 / 30fps compatible
- Outputs 1080p60
- 9–36V power input
Initial Setup
[ 1 ]
Update Cine RT Firmware
Ensure both Cine RT components Focusbug Base and Focusbug Handset have been updated to the latest available firmware.
[ 2 ]
Power On
Power on all components, including the OV1.
[ 3 ]
Connect OV1
Connect the OV1 to a powered focus monitor via the SDI OUT port.
[ 4 ]
Access Settings
On the Cine RT Handset enter the settings page and select the info button.
[ 5 ]
Record Values
Note the Handset or Base Pair. Code (ex. 00.01) and RF Chan. (ex. 1A).
[ 6 ]
Match Values
Use the buttons on the side of the OV1 (1, 2, 3) to navigate the menu in Step 5, matching RF to the RF Chan. value and PC to the Pair. Code value for your unit.
[ 7 ]
Set Values
In the menu, navigate to and select the “SET” button.
[ 8 ]
OV1 Paired
Your OV1 will automatically connect to your Cine RT and save the pairing info. Your OV1 is ready to use!
FAQ
Common Questions
The OV1 digital focus ring does not match my handset focus ring.
Arri and cmotion users may find that on initial use the OV1 focus ring is either constrained to only the top 50′ – infinity, or quickly progresses off the bottom of the focus scale. At this time, the protocol with these LCS companies does not inform us of which units are being used for distance communication, which is the root cause of this issue.
As a workaround, we have provided “normal” and “metric” versions of each protocol. To fix, please enter the Settings -> Serial Out page on the Cine RT handset and choose whichever or these two versions of your selected protocol you are not currently on.
This does not change the displayed distance units – only the units used for internal communication.
When connected to an LCube, the OV1 digital ring is "choppy".
Due to a preexisting bug in the LCube/RF Motor, the OV1 digital ring can occasionally appear “choppy” reflecting low data rates. A workaround which we have found to address this issue is to cycle the CPro RF Motor Mode back to Focus (FOCUS -> IRIS -> ZOOM -> AUX -> FOCUS) to reestablish a high speed connection with the OV1.
The OV1 has powered down multiple times without warning.
The OV1 requires a stable and constant 18W (12V at 1.5A minimum) to operate. If you are experiencing power instability, please ensure the OV1 is powered from a single source and not via a shared power splitter.
Get started with the OV1
Order your OV1 today, or contact our team for guidance on compatibility, setup, or system configuration at ov1@focusbug.com.