So even with say 5 Firewire cards or some multi input firewire card and 5 seperate data drives. and the program running off a nother drive. Seems like it should be possible.

L.T.

You can't capture even one track of video directly to the timeline in Vegas. You have to capture it separately, then put it on the timeline after the capture is finished. Why do you want to capture to the timeline at all, much less multiple tracks?

Vegas' VidCap won't launch multiple times so it can't be used to capture more than one video stream at a time. Even if it could, it doesn't seem to have a way to choose which firewire input to use. Some other capturing software may allow this. But even if you accomplish it, it will still be capturing to files only, and then putting them on the timeline after the capturing is done. Since you can't see, edit, or otherwise work with the video files while they're being captured i don't know what advantage you'd hope to gain.

OT: Multi-cam live capture software? Any Free?
3 Camera Capturing
Multiple captures at once

In most cases, the common denominator is ScenalyzerLive.

Mike

Mostly I want to eliminate my tape based workflow without spending thousands on firestore devices. I have directed hundreds of concerts with four or more cameras equaling thousands of hours of tape. I understand the limitations of Vegas as I have been a registered user since it's birth. I see Vegas growing more and more as a broadcast tool but there are tons of folks like myself that could really bennifit from this type of functionality. Certainly if a cheap program like Scanlyzer can do it, I dont see why an adaptation could be made to allow Vegas the same functionality. Just a thought. An option like this could put Vegas in the untouchable realm.

L.T.

One potential problem with this scenario is that there is a limit to the distance which a Firewire signal can be run. There are Firewire repeaters and lengthy, heavily-shielded cables available, but it has been my experience that there is still a limit. It may be more practical to equip each camera position with an inexpensive laptop computer. I do this pretty regularly on multiple camera concert shoots.I'm with you, I don't like tape either.

Here I go again.....

I can't say how much XDCAM proDisc system saves me time. Investment costly?
Yes, but it also serves as archive. The media is getting reasonable. (Maxell XDCAM ProDisc PD-23SL $20USD) We rent the camera so copying via firewire eats my
daily rental time, so pop out the disc and return the camera. (a four hour one way
drive time)

The bus on the computer would need to be designed/setup for multiple firewires too.

"Certainly if a cheap program like Scanlyzer can do it, I dont see why an adaptation could be made to allow Vegas the same functionality."

Scenalyzer won't capture directly to Vegas' timeline. I think that may be something for you to rethink. Do you really need to have the captured video appear on Vegas' timeline as you're capturing? (I seriously doubt this will *ever* be possible. I wouldn't expect to see it in my lifetime, nor would do i think there's any advantage or use in this.) Or are you really just after getting the video directly from the cameras to the computer's hard drive without using tape? If this this second thing then Scenalyzer is probably already able to accomplish what you want. Use it; it's not very expensive. Don't wait around for Vegas to get this ability because you're going to be waiting a very long time.

Well actually I believe Video Toaster can already do this, but as to your comments on Scanlyzer, it only works with DV and I am HDV so I don't see a fit there. I don't see how this is an unsurmountable task. I am just saying im not the only guy out there doing this that is a Vegas User. In the end any utility that would allow me to capture multiple streams of HDV footage via Firewire to a single computer would be a lifesaver.

L.T.