About
Companion Buddy
Companion Buddy is a small, dedicated team of one born out of a love for Bitfocus Companion and the desire to expand it’s capabilities. We’re here to create tools that make your setups simpler and more seamless. As part of the community, our mission is to support creators with dependable, user-friendly solutions that grow alongside your projects.
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Who ⦁ What ⦁ When ⦁ Where ⦁ Why ⦁ How ⦁
Who is…
HI I’m Wyatt 👋
I am a broadcast engineer from the great state of Texas. My day job is working at a local TV station and my side hustle is Companion Buddy! I run sound at my church and I direct local high school football games. I am a self-taught programmer and love tech.
Fun fact: I am colorblind!
Less fun fact: It’s hard being in production and be colorblind!
What is…
Hardware for Awesome Software
I have been using Bitfocus Companion in studios and stadiums for years. I have written on a couple of modules that we use and I’ll recommend companion to anyone who asks (and people who don’t ask).
After creating my first successful Companion Satellite with an ESP32, I started down the road of custom PCBs that connect directly with Companion for use in the Studio as an easy to setup and use Tally Light.
Once I started using these “Feedback Tallies” in the studio, people around me encouraged me to start selling them and then started listing off other Companion Satellite devices they want and would use.
So here I am, selling a product that I believe makes my life and all production people’s lives easier. Working on new Companion surfaces to fill in a need that big companies can’t be bothered to fill, is reasonably priced in this crazy economy, and can actually make a difference in a production.
When is…
August 2021
I learn about Companion while interning at PBS. It ends up being an AMAZING software tool for years to come.
I use Companion with vMix, OBS, ATEM, ProPresenter, Lighting Consoles, Audio Consoles, and Video Consoles. I learn variables, learn feedbacks, learn presets, learn satellites, learn steps, and learn pages to use Companion effectively in nearly every production.
June 2024
I program my first successful ESP32 Companion Satellite. It reads the text and color and writes it to the Serial Monitor.
August 2024
I finally make a useful Satelite that can display the background color of a button in near real-time.
September 2024
I make my first custom PCB that is a dedicated Companion Satelite. It gets too hot and is a weird shape, but I loved it.
October 2024
I design the Feedback Tally, a smaller circular tally light that works directly with Bitfocus Companion, AND IT ROCKS!
November 2024
After a lot of encouragement from supportive people in my life, I decide to try and sell them. I get some basic packaging, deisgn this website, and make a short commercial. I am in way over my head but I was going to try it.
December 2024
I post the commercial in the “Companion Users Group” on Facebook… and Immediately get kicked out and banned for life for self-promotion of paid products. (Read the rules before you post in groups on Facebook and I am still very sorry). But the few people who saw it loved it and it was a “Successful” launch!
Jan 2025 - Now
I have now started an affiliate program to let creative, talented, and gifted video makers help spread the Companion Buddy word while I work on support, upgrade firmwares, and create new products.
Where is…
A Tiny Desk in Texas
I am from Texas in the United States where I build, run, support, research, and develop all of Companion Buddy from a desk in our apartment.
I have the most amazing wife ever who let me take over her desk, which is now parts storage, and I have a 3D printer in the living room that nearly runs 24/7!
This is a small-scale operation but a passionate one that would not be possible without the support and understanding of the community around me.
