Recording Multi-cam live

Xmaster

Xmaster

Member
I would like to know how to record Multi-cam live straight into my labtop or workstation. What would be a recomended setup for hardware and software?

I have:
1 dvx100A and 2 dvx100B
 
First you need BNC component cables for each camera to channel the live feed through. I multi-channel switcher would be absolutely necessary to switch between cameras. Software-wise, I'm not so sure. What NLE are you using & how large is your notebook's hardisk?
 
My notebook have a external 500 gig drive. I'm using Premiere right now but planning to change to Avid.

What would be a good multi-channel switcher?

Does anyone out there have a nice diagram illustrating how everything will be connected and work with each other.....?
 
The problem you're going to have is getting from the switcher to the computer. Unless you have A/V inputs into the computer, or a switcher that has a Firewire out, the switcher and computer aren't going to want to talk to each other--and either of those methods has a downside (going in A/V won't be quite as high quality as going in Firewire, but the switchers I know that have Firewire aren't very good for switching).

The other thing I'm wondering is, once you do solve that problem, can your system handle dumping it "live" to an external drive?
 
What is the shoot? Do you HAVE to have live switching?

If switching live isn't absoloutly necesarry, I would highly recomend simpy recording to tape on all cameras and dooing a multi-cam edit to put them together in post.

Switching live will require a Video Mixer, Monitors, Some way to record - for example a spare camera/deck to convert the mixed signal to firewire to input to a computer. You'll also need mics, an Audio mixer, monitor speakers, com, tally, and cables to hook everything up. And even then you are looking at a drop in quality.

- Mikko
 
Live switching isn't an always. I would just like to know how to record live for events like church services, small stage performane...etc
 
pkendall said:
buy this: www.newtek.com/tricaster/
Click to expand...

Only $5k too :P

If you dont need to do live switching, which it doesnt seem so. From what I understand you can sync the timecode for the 100 "B's", but not the A. Im not using ppro (I use FCP) but even if your timecode isnt perfect it shouldnt be too much drama to capture your tapes and create a multi angle clip then sync them.
 
Isn't it true that you can sync 1 B to any other syncable cam.

Ah...!

You can sync a DVX100B to a DVX100A, or an original DVX, or a DVC30, or a Sony PD170, or to a Canon XL2, or to any camera or deck’s DV signal.

That's from the infamous article.
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/sync/
 
It'll be great if someone with multi-cam recording experience write a little tutorial. Everyone will benefit from this.
 
On multi-camera shoting? or on live multi-camera switching & production? Because those are very different!

- Mikko
 
For me it actually depends on the mood i'm in. The FCP 5.1 Multievent feature is pretty king. Sometimes...honestly...I'll just drop em in old school and audibly and visually tie em together.

My luck I always get dropped time code or something. Especially shooting in 24pA.
 
Do you have samples of your work online some where? I would like to see what people are doing with multi-cam out there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top