Building a Live multi camera PC

[mbryant]

A co-worker is having me put together a build so he can do live multi camera productions. He needs to be able to have at least 2 but ideally 4 cameras to switch between. I've been looking at capture cards as all of his cameras use HDMI. I don't know what hardware to get for the camera feed to go into the computer. I've been looking at consumer grade capture cards but I don't want him to have to buy 3 of them. Any thoughts? I know I might not be super clear ATM, I just got off work. 

[ShadowCaptain]

A co-worker is having me put together a build so he can do live multi camera productions. He needs to be able to have at least 2 but ideally 4 cameras to switch between. I've been looking at capture cards as all of his cameras use HDMI. I don't know what hardware to get for the camera feed to go into the computer. I've been looking at consumer grade capture cards but I don't want him to have to buy 3 of them. Any thoughts? I know I might not be super clear ATM, I just got off work. 

 

Blackmagic should have something to do this, this is more of a camera question than a PC one

 

What cameras are they planning to use?

 

I know blackmagic have the intensity capture cards which have HDMI on them

 

@ALwin might know the answer

[Streetguru]

A co-worker is having me put together a build so he can do live multi camera productions. He needs to be able to have at least 2 but ideally 4 cameras to switch between. I've been looking at

http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/vs4/

http://www.streamingmedia.com/Producer/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/Choosing-a-Capture-Card-for-Multicamera-Live-Production-106019.aspx

[ShadowCaptain]

http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/vs4/

http://www.streamingmedia.com/Producer/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/Choosing-a-Capture-Card-for-Multicamera-Live-Production-106019.aspx

 

 

Those are SDI, not HDMI, and converting it is extremely expensive, 

[ALwin]

A co-worker is having me put together a build so he can do live multi camera productions. He needs to be able to have at least 2 but ideally 4 cameras to switch between. I've been looking at capture cards as all of his cameras use HDMI. I don't know what hardware to get for the camera feed to go into the computer. I've been looking at consumer grade capture cards but I don't want him to have to buy 3 of them. Any thoughts? I know I might not be super clear ATM, I just got off work. 

 

Ok let's clarify a few things.

1. Your co-worker wants to record something using 2-4 cameras, and be able to select which of the 2-4 cameras' views are being broadcasted at any one time?
2. What resolution of broadcasting does your co-worker want to work with? 720p, 1080p, 4K?
3. What kind of cameras?
4. How does your co-worker want to broadcast or stream the video?

 

I would recommend a device such as the Blackmagic ATEM television studio which has 4 HDMI and 4 SDI input ports, with the ability to accept and switch between up to 6 input sources (4HDMI + 2 SDI or 4SDI + 2 HDMI) at the same time.  An H.264 encoder is already built in, so it doesn't need a powerful computer/workstation to do any conversion.  This one supports up to 1080i 60p.  This device can be controlled with a small laptop or PC, and can be made portable. It is also easy to set up.  With this your co-worker can send the output to whatever service or device will be used for broadcasting/streaming.

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/atemtelevisionstudio/techspecs/

 

Additionally it should be paired with a monitor for monitoring the videoing being broadcast.  Something like one of these model (link below) or even a computer monitor.

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/smartview

 

 

 

[Streetguru]

Those are SDI, not HDMI, and converting it is extremely expensive, 

I think just about any solution is going to be expensive as hell

100 for a converter box

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=10318&gclid=CPbo49bUiskCFYM6aQodFqIAPw

 

unless they switch over to like 4 webcams or something, just need different ones I think so the device IDs don't get jumbled up

[ALwin]

Blackmagic should have something to do this, this is more of a camera question than a PC one

 

What cameras are they planning to use?

 

I know blackmagic have the intensity capture cards which have HDMI on them

 

@ALwin might know the answer

 

Forget the Blackmagic DeckLink cards, they are pretty expensive, especially if the user needs 4x HDMI input.  The Intensity 4K cards are about $200 each, with 1x HDMI input on each card, which brings the price to about $800 for supporting 4x HDMI input.

 

A Blackmagic ATEM Television studio switcher which comes with 4x HDMI and 4x SDI input, hardware H.264 encoder, live chroma keying and can accept/switch up to 6 input sources (4x HDMI + 2x SDI or 4x SDI + 2x HDMI) is only $995, and is more cost effective as the user would not need to build a powerful workstation around it.  All they would need is a laptop or computer with a connection to the device, an external monitor for monitoring the feeds, and a streaming/broadcasting device to send the video out to the audience.

 

The output from the ATEM television studio switcher can be either HDMI, SDI or via USB.

[ALwin]

http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/vs4/

http://www.streamingmedia.com/Producer/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/Choosing-a-Capture-Card-for-Multicamera-Live-Production-106019.aspx

 

 

I think just about any solution is going to be expensive as hell

100 for a converter box

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=10318&gclid=CPbo49bUiskCFYM6aQodFqIAPw

 

unless they switch over to like 4 webcams or something, just need different ones I think so the device IDs don't get jumbled up

 

Expensive and too many small devices.

[ShadowCaptain]

SNIP

 

There is a reason I tagged you in this

[mbryant]

Forget the Blackmagic DeckLink cards, they are pretty expensive, especially if the user needs 4x HDMI input.  The Intensity 4K cards are about $200 each, with 1x HDMI input on each card, which brings the price to about $800 for supporting 4x HDMI input.

 

A Blackmagic ATEM Television studio switcher which comes with 4x HDMI and 4x SDI input, hardware H.264 encoder, live chroma keying and can accept/switch up to 6 input sources (4x HDMI + 2x SDI or 4x SDI + 2x HDMI) is only $995, and is more cost effective as the user would not need to build a powerful workstation around it.  All they would need is a laptop or computer with a connection to the device, an external monitor for monitoring the feeds, and a streaming/broadcasting device to send the video out to the audience.

 

The output from the ATEM television studio switcher can be either HDMI, SDI or via USB.

holy shit thanks guys. I already considered the Intensity pro cards as I knew they had HDMI but I was unsure about using 2 at once. I was also unsure about how they would perform while being used at the same time ( I know next to nothing about capture cards.)  I was probably unclear in the original post, the machine would have to be "budget friendly" so I couldn't really justify telling him to get ATEM. This whole set up would be used to run multi cam shoots at comedy clubs and what not. I told him this wouldn't be a cheap undertaking. The machine on PCP ended up being around 2 grand. But I could probably change that once I know how the software he will be using plays with the CPU and GPU. 

[ALwin]

holy shit thanks guys. I already considered the Intensity pro cards as I knew they had HDMI but I was unsure about using 2 at once. I was also unsure about how they would perform while being used at the same time ( I know next to nothing about capture cards.)  I was probably unclear in the original post, the machine would have to be "budget friendly" so I couldn't really justify telling him to get ATEM. This whole set up would be used to run multi cam shoots at comedy clubs and what not. I told him this wouldn't be a cheap undertaking. The machine on PCP ended up being around 2 grand. But I could probably change that once I know how the software he will be using plays with the CPU and GPU. 

 

The ATEM already comes with the software, completely free.  Your co-worker would not have to buy any software license, and certainly do not need to build a computer.  The ATEM can be operated with a small laptop, tablet or any computer available.  All of the work is done by the ATEM except for broadcasting/streaming which can either be via internet with the use of either an online service or small device.

 

Operating 4 cameras and being able to switch between them for live broadcast is never going to be budget friendly.  Now if it wasn't live broadcast, NLE like Adobe Premiere Pro contains multi-cam editing features.

 

With the Intensity Pro 4K cards, you would need 4 of them for 4 cameras.  Each card only has 1 HDMI input and 1 HDMI output.

[mbryant]

The ATEM already comes with the software, completely free.  Your co-worker would not have to buy any software license, and certainly do not need to build a computer.  The ATEM can be operated with a small laptop, tablet or any computer available.  All of the work is done by the ATEM except for broadcasting/streaming which can either be via internet with the use of either an online service or small device.

 

Operating 4 cameras and being able to switch between them for live broadcast is never going to be budget friendly.  Now if it wasn't live broadcast, NLE like Adobe Premiere Pro contains multi-cam editing features.

 

With the Intensity Pro 4K cards, you would need 4 of them for 4 cameras.  Each card only has 1 HDMI input and 1 HDMI output.

I'll have to get with him today, he doesn't want to stream he wants to record locally. I'm also not sure if he wants to use this machine to edit on as well, I am currently trying to bring him over to the PC master race (joking of course) but I've been trying to tell him not to upgrade his iMac and get a PC. I think the parts list I have will be fine and can be adjusted once I get more info from him. 

[ALwin]

I'll have to get with him today, he doesn't want to stream he wants to record locally. I'm also not sure if he wants to use this machine to edit on as well, I am currently trying to bring him over to the PC master race (joking of course) but I've been trying to tell him not to upgrade his iMac and get a PC. I think the parts list I have will be fine and can be adjusted once I get more info from him. 

 

Well if he doesn't want to do any LIVE broadcasting or streaming, then all he needs is a video editing workstation and software.  As I said, Adobe Premiere Pro has a multi-cam video editing feature.  He doesn't even need a capture card, just load the video files onto the workstation's hard disk from the memory cards of the cameras.

 

My previous comments were made with the understanding from your post that your co-worker was looking for a LIVE broadcasting/streaming solution.  But if he wants to display LIVE video recording directly from multiple cameras, either onto a very large display to show to an audience, or broadcast onto television channels or internet channels, the ATEM is the best and most cost effective solution package.

 

 

I think it's better that people stop posting "on behalf of someone" unless they have a complete understanding of what that "someone" wants.

[mbryant]

Well if he doesn't want to do any LIVE broadcasting or streaming, then all he needs is a video editing workstation and software.  As I said, Adobe Premiere Pro has a multi-cam video editing feature.  He doesn't even need a capture card, just load the video files onto the workstation's hard disk from the memory cards of the cameras.

 

My previous comments were made with the understanding from your post that your co-worker was looking for a LIVE broadcasting/streaming solution.  But if he wants to display LIVE video recording directly from multiple cameras, either onto a very large display to show to an audience, or broadcast onto television channels or internet channels, the ATEM is the best and most cost effective solution package.

 

 

I think it's better that people stop posting "on behalf of someone" unless they have a complete understanding of what that "someone" wants.

Excuse my lack of clarity, I've just come off of 2 12 hour overnight shifts. He is looking for a LIVE broadcast machine. I've been trying to see if I can find some one with a little more knowledge than myself, as my knowledge with computer parts and building is limited to mostly gaming. That being said I appreciate your response and once again apologize for my lack of clarity.

[ALwin]

Excuse my lack of clarity, I've just come off of 2 12 hour overnight shifts. He is looking for a LIVE broadcast machine. I've been trying to see if I can find some one with a little more knowledge than myself, as my knowledge with computer parts and building is limited to mostly gaming. That being said I appreciate your response and once again apologize for my lack of clarity.

 

If your co-worker wants just to LIVE broadcast with a single camera, something like the Lifestream Broadcaster Pro LS ($570) should be enough.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1133060-REG/livestream_ls_broadcaster_pro_livestream_broadcaster_pro.html

 

But multi-camera setup for LIVE broadcasting (whether it is just to display to an audience sitting in front of a larger TV screen or projection*, or to broadcast to TV/Cable channels, or to live stream over the internet) he needs something like the ATEM which is a video switcher that will take input from multiple cameras and let a producer select which camera's viewpoint is going to be shown and switch between them in real time.  Like in a news studio where there are multiple cameras pointed towards the anchorman/woman and the producer decides that when anchorperson A is talking use Camera 1, when anchorperson B is talking use Camera 2, etc.

 

Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K cards ($200 each) are simple video capture cards.  They do not provide any video switching functionality and your co-worker will still need to buy a video streaming/broadcasting device.

 

So I will repeat again, for LIVE broadcasting what your co-worker needs is not a new computer build.  What he needs are Audio/Video equipment.

 

 

Here is a list of Video Switchers listed on B&H.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?catName=Live-Switcher&Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&ci=2865&setNs=p_PRICE_2%7c0&N=4028759398&srtclk=sort

 

 

*Perhaps at his comedy club he is thinking of having multiple cameras pointed at the stage, each from a different angle, and the audience can choose to look at the comedian on the stage or at large screens mounted on the walls somewhere.  The cameras would be providing a video feed to the screens, however unless each camera is connected to their own screen, to be able to switch between what different cameras are seeking your co-worker will still need a video switcher which has video capture, converter, and other features built in.