Can I Split a Firewire signal?

I would say no way would this work. This isn't an analog signal that only goes one way. The computer and camera both send and receive information to each other over firewire so having more than one computer sending the camera signals would not be a pretty result. If you need to do this, attach an analog video capture card on both computers and split the analog signal to each system. Another solution would be to buy a DVD player that records video as well. Feed the analog signal to the DVD recorder and the firewire to the computer. I suppose you could also send the analog to one computer with an analog card, and the firewire to the other computer.
 
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This should work fine. It depends on the cameras & computers (& software) involved. Definatly worth a shot.

DV over Firewire ("AVC") is a continuous stream that can be repeated to multiple destinations simultaneously. As long as neither computer is pushing a feed on the same "channel" on the firewire as the camera, then it should work just fine. Only thing you can really do is give it a test.

- Mikko
 
IEEE1394 is asynchronous, and relies on a signal from the host for error checking, so in short, no.

However I bet that someone made a device that will let you split the signal. I worked with similar devices when wiring serial printers (two or more printers print from one serial port.)

I also bet that you can fudge Linux or BSD (ie: Mac) to copy the inputs of a port to the output of another port.
 
Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the help!

Hey everyone,
I appreciate the advice.
I am going to check with the supplier too and pass your comments to my developer to see what we can do.

We are working with Macs so hopefully we can engineer something if we can't get a simple appliance to work.

Keep the advice coming if there's anyone else there that can weigh in with some ideas.

Cheers!
 
If all else fails, perhaps you can get creative another way. Send composite or svideo out of your DVX-100 into any other cheap MiniDV cam that supports Firewire out + AV in, and take Firewire out of there for your live stream. Granted, that will have slight quality loss, but should be pretty reliable, and maybe insignificant if it's being compressed for the web anyway.
 
My advice is to not even worry about a pure version....record however is easiest, and webcast in another way.

The DVX is an amazing cam, and it will show in no matter what way you provide it.

What is most important is having good content and a good cameraman and DP.
 
This is an old post but I thought I would respond anyways. Why dont you just run the firewire into one and then just teather to the second? I would say record on the first and then run your webcast on the second (any lag won't be a big issue because anyone watching won't know). Just a thought.
 
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