No mixer/switcher ONLY MONITORING

J

jyfilms

New member
What is the most efficient way to connect 4 cameras to a computer moniotor for the sole purpose of a director overviewing the camera framing and communicating with the camera operators via headsets? No mixer/switcher :) Is there a software for multi camera viewing?

I'll be using 2 XHA1's and 2 GL2's to conduct a 4 Multicamera SD production.
Sound will be directly from audio console plus the live audience feed.
Editing in Adobe Premiere afterwards.

Thanks in advance!
JY
 
In the security camera world, this sort of thing is called a "multiplexer," but I don't know if the terminology carries into other fields. I've always found it easier just to use four monitors... :)
 
Thanks for that note captain. At least now I know what it's called :beer:

But is there a way to achieve "multiplexer" with long RCA cables connected to a single monitor/computer? Again, I'm not interested in switching and 'live to tape' editing. But I want the director to see the 4 camera works on a single screen if possible.

JY
 
My guess is, not easily. Not only are you dealing with combining four signals into one display, but then you're adding another headache with the resolution mismatch of video vs. computer. Yeah, that widescreen computer monitor may have 1680x1050 pixels, and you might think "OK, just put this 720x480 set here, this one there," etc, but it doesn't work that way. :)

Something like this would do it, but at over $13,000 list price, renting four 9-10" broadcast monitors is going to be a lot cheaper... :D
 
jyfilms said:
is there a way to achieve "multiplexer" with long RCA cables connected to a single monitor/computer?[/B]

JY
Click to expand...

Yes you can do this if you have a Multiplexer. It is a piece of equipment that does exactly what you want. There are cheap ones and expensive ones. If you are one a budget look for the security/surveillance ones. Also they will be cheaper if you use a NTSC monitor instead of computer.
 
Do you need to be able to watch all 4 feeds constantly?

If not, most modern TV's have two sets of A/V inputs, plus a coax cable input. Most modern VCR's have two sets of A/V inputs. Connect a VCR to a TV via the coax cable. Connect two camera feeds to the two inputs on the VCR, the other two cameras to the two inputs on the TV. Using the remotes for the TV and VCR you can switch among all four cameras this way. It's a pain, but it works.

If you need to see all 4 video feeds on a single display, the multiplexer is the only thing I know of. Might be easier to use 4 small TV's.
 
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