User Guide · Beta 0.1.0-beta.3

From download
to your first adjustment.

Install Estrobo like any other Mac app, set up your workspace, and sync knowing exactly what will change.

View installationView requirements
Estrobo first-launch setup screen
Actual public release screenshot · simulated transport
01 of 07Before you start

01 · Before you start

Prepare your Mac and trigger.

Estrobo connects over Bluetooth to a compatible trigger. The flashes continue to receive commands through the trigger’s own radio system.

System
macOS 13 or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel.
Bluetooth
Available on the Mac, with permission granted to Estrobo.
Trigger
Built-in Bluetooth and a compatible BLE/GATT profile.
Exclusive connection
Quit Godox Flash or any other connected app; the trigger supports only one Bluetooth connection at a time.
Test setup

Testing was performed with a Godox X3Pro for Sony and Godox AD400Pro II flashes.

02 · Install Estrobo

Drag Estrobo to Applications.

Download the official DMG, open it, and drag Estrobo to Applications. This version is signed with Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so you do not need Terminal or changes to your security settings to install it.

Download DMG 0.1.0-beta.3
  1. 1
    Open the downloaded DMG.

    macOS will mount a disk image containing Estrobo and a shortcut to Applications.

  2. 2
    Drag Estrobo to Applications.

    Drag estrobo.app to the Applications folder on your Mac.

  3. 3
    Eject the disk image and open Estrobo.

    Eject the installer, then open the app from Applications, Launchpad, or Spotlight.

  4. 4
    Grant Bluetooth access.

    macOS will request permission the first time Estrobo needs it.

Verify the download manually (optional)

Also download SHA256SUMS and the manifest from the same release. Keep the DMG and those two files together in Downloads.

ChecksumsSHA256SUMSManifestestrobo-v0.1.0-beta.3-manifest.json
Terminal
cd ~/Downloads
shasum -a 256 -c SHA256SUMS

Verification succeeds when both the DMG and manifest report OK.

03 · Set up groups

Define your workspace before connecting.

  1. Review the trigger’s group compatibility profile.
  2. Add the groups you actually use.
  3. Assign at least one flash model to each group.
  4. Check the common power range calculated by Estrobo.
  5. Save and continue.

The values shown are the local state Estrobo will send when it connects.

Selecting groups and flash models during first launch
The safe range is limited to what the assigned models share.

04 · Connect the trigger

Find, identify, and sync.

  1. Turn on Bluetooth on the trigger and quit any other connected app.
  2. Click Find triggers.
  3. Compare the name, signal strength, and UUID suffix before choosing.
  4. Enter the six-digit Radio Code.
  5. Turn on Remember only if you accept storing that code locally and unencrypted.
  6. Click Connect and sync and wait for the Ready status.

The Radio Code is a six-digit local PIN, not a strong credential. Do not reuse a personal PIN.

Estrobo screen for finding a trigger and entering the six-digit Radio Code
The name, RSSI, and UUID can help distinguish triggers, but they do not authenticate them.

05 · Understand Sync

Sync applies. It does not import.

The trigger does not provide a complete snapshot that Estrobo can read. This is why the local state is the source of truth.

What it does

Writes the global state and configured groups from Estrobo to the trigger.

What it does not do

It does not read, import, or reconstruct the configuration already on the trigger.

Connecting means accepting the overwrite.

Once authentication completes, Estrobo sends its local values. Clicking Sync later repeats that sequence even when no changes are pending.

06 · Adjust flashes

One state, three ways to work.

Inspector view with detailed power and modeling controls
M
Manual power in 1/3 EV increments, within the common range of the assigned flashes.
Auto · TTL
TTL with neutral compensation; the physical result depends on the model and the scene.
Modeling
Off, proportional, or fixed, depending on the configured capabilities.
Channels
Direct comparison of the visible groups.
Inspector
One group at a time, with its reference, draft, and confirmation.
Matrix
Compact controls for reviewing several groups together.

Automatic or On Apply

DefaultAutomatic

Sends 700 ms after the last change. A slider sends only its final value when released.

Manual controlOn Apply

Keeps the draft until you click Send now. Discard reverts only changes that have not been sent.

07 · Troubleshoot

Return to a known state.

macOS will not open Estrobo

Confirm that Estrobo is in Applications and that you downloaded it from the official release. If macOS cannot verify the developer, do not bypass the warning: delete that copy, verify the checksum, and download the official DMG again.

The trigger does not appear

Grant Bluetooth permission, quit other apps, move the trigger closer, and search again. Bluetooth alone is not enough: the BLE/GATT profile must be compatible.

The Radio Code fails

Check that it contains exactly six digits and that your Mac’s date and time are correct.

The trigger changed after connecting

This is expected: Estrobo applies its local state when the connection completes. Trigger → app import is not available.

The operation is in an uncertain state

Do not try to compensate from another app. Reconnect to the same UUID and follow the recovery flow until the complete scene is confirmed.

Still not working? See support and how to report it

Ready to get started

Download. Install. Sync.

Download DMG 0.1.0-beta.3