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Multiple Simultaneous Video Inputs? (Read 827 times)
samuel.richer
Multiple Simultaneous Video Inputs?
Sep 24th, 2007, 5:20am  
I am looking for a way to input video from six to eight sources at the same time, stitch them together / resize them all to fit on one screen, and display them (in as close to real time as possible).  I have experience with processing but have never used the video libraries.  Is this beyond the power of processing, would something like MAX/MSP be more appropriate?  Also, I am at a loss as to the best way to input that many cameras at the same time.  I have been looking at these cheap multi-capture cards on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Channel-CCTV-DVR-Capture-Security-Camera-PCI-Card_W0QQitemZ230174170667QQihZ013QQcategoryZ88755QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
but I haven't been able to figure out if they can be made to communicate with programs other than the software they come with.  If that doesn't work can a computer handle eight USB cameras at the same time?  Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing?
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mazbox
Re: Multiple Simultaneous Video Inputs?
Reply #1 - Mar 8th, 2008, 11:52pm  
I've only had experience with usb cameras, 3 cameras being the most I've tried, but it looks like the only thing that would limit you with those is bandwidth of your usb bus. I was using an old mac mini, and it didn't seem to be choking at all. I'm sure it's possible with a good enough computer. You could get some firewire cameras, I'm sure there's enough bandwidth there.

Trying to get unsupported cameras to work is a potential nightmare, you'd need to code up some drivers for them. Look to see if the cameras have VDIG drivers (processing uses quicktime for video input and VDIG is the quicktime standard)

Like I said, if you don't mind using usb cameras, then it's probably entirely possible. The XBox live vision cameras are dirt cheap and excellent quality imo.

One problem I have though, is if you use 8 of the same model of camera, there's no way of differentiating between them, saving the order in which you plugged them in.
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