Software multi-cam switcher device...

beatnik wrote on 5/4/2003, 4:46 PM

Is there a software product out there that would enable me
to capture and switch in real time from 3 cameras via
IEEE 1394? I know of hareware solutions but what about
software? Would I be able to hook-up 3 cameras onto it's
own firewire port on the back of my computer?

Thanks,

Alex

Comments

HPV wrote on 5/4/2003, 6:17 PM

The Video Toaster 3.0 (beta) from Newtek will allow for this. Comes with a single I/O analog uncompressed card that would provide your analog output for viewing at event. You can record to DDR disk on system while switching between 1394 ports. Even while playing other DDRs (bumpers, graphics,replays,anything). Can't go back out 1394 without rendering. Not really needed with a DDR recording uncompressed to disk.
Price $2500 for i/o card and software suit. Fast SCSI drives on seperate 66mhz pci buss is needed for multi DDR/stream playback/recording. New hardware inteface in the works or available. Does have limits, like downstream keying only. Lots of bang for the buck though. Limits to current 1394 cable length could be a problem. They have a $2K analog swither add on that be your best bet for long cable runs. 1394 switching is new and only in beta. Analog sides has been working for a few years.
Don't know of anything else on the market at this time.

Craig H.