How to record from multiple cameras at once on OS X?

November 30, 2011 2:40 PM

Is it possible to record video from two sources simultaneously on a Mac and/or sync up the video somehow?

I'm investigating upgrades to my usability lab.

Today I'm just using a USB webcam with QuickTime Player on a MacBook Pro (with FireWire 800 and USB - no Thunderbolt) and this has been fine for a quick fix. But now I'm in a position where I can upgrade this lab to meet my needs.

It'd be super useful for me to record two (or possibly three) sources at once: the participant's face, the device they're holding, and - a bonus - the raw output from the device (which may be a phone, tablet, or laptop).

This seems to require being able to send multiple video streams to the computer which are synced for later viewing. I'd rather not have to sync them manually, ever, if I can avoid it.

Assumptions:

1. I can run physical cables to the computer. Don't need wireless.
2. I can start and stop recording on all sources simultaneously.

Questions:

1. Does a USB or Firewire dongle exist which would allow me to plug in multiple video cameras?
1a. If so, is this the best way to do it?
2. Is there software specifically made for this task, or would I need to use video editing software (which fills me with fear and trepidation?)
3. Finally, any recommendations on specific models of cameras? Sounds like a FireWire DV camera would be best, but I'm open to suggestions.

posted by hijinx to Technology (4 answers total)

Best answer: Probably the simplest thing to do would be to stream all the video directly to the macbook screen and capture the whole screen. That is, you have one window showing the video from the users screen, one window showing the device, one window showing their face. All displaying on macbook pro's screen, which you're capturing in it's entirety.

There shouldn't be any problem hooking as many usb cameras as you want into the macbook, as long as you're not doing multiple HD screens.
posted by empath at 5:26 PM on November 30, 2011

Look up screencasting for better ways to get output from the device, btw. You can capture stuff like individual mouse clicks.
posted by empath at 5:27 PM on November 30, 2011

Response by poster: Streaming everything to the MacBook and then capturing its screen is a great idea, assuming I can grab an external mic - which I think I can do. I'm going to check out Gawker too.
posted by hijinx at 7:20 PM on November 30, 2011

Response by poster: Oh, hey, this old thing. Thought I'd "close the loop" as the business people say.

I ended up going the route of getting multiple PCI cards (BlackMagic Intensity) and using BoinxTV for the software.
posted by hijinx at 2:33 PM on February 14, 2012