Question / Help Are there USB switchers for ptz cameras??

[mankeegan55]

my laptop has three USB ports for input sources for my streaming broadcasts. Typically, I use one for my Black Magic Web Presenter to capture Power Point slides from house video feed to import into my stream. The other two ports I use for PTZ camera. So, a two camera shoot, and slides...not bad! But, what if I want to add one or two additional cameras? I have tried without success to purchase various "switchers" from Amazon, so that I could gang up two cameras on one port, and switch between them as needed, allowing for more cameras. But it never works. Is there such a switch available? I am taking the USB B jack out of the back of the PTZ cam, and going into the switch , with a USB A output from the switch to go into the laptop port, Is this possible, or am I overlooking something? What am I doing wrong. Any suggestions or advice would be helpful.

 

[Dihelson Mendonca]

You know, the more webcams, more problems. One USB port can hardly support an HD webcam, what about 2 pf them in a hub ? I don´t reccomend. Switches are most made for keyboards and mouses, not for webcams. If money would not be a problem, a solution would be purchasing a Blackmagic ATEM, there you can insert several HDMI or SDI cameras ( Not webcams ), and switch among them. I know, it´s expensive !

 

[carlmmii]

Physically disconnecting the webcams every time is a recipe for disaster, as it is very easy for the software to get confused as far as the availability of the device, including which device it actually is (especially when connecting identical webcams). Not to mention, windows being a variable any time a USB device is plugged in, and unplugged.

My recommendation would be to try using a hub. If you can get both working simultaneously by managing the resolution, framerate, and output format, then that would be the ideal solution.

But, if you can only have one active at any one time, then I would suggest this: have all your cameras connected physically to the hub together, but only allow one to be active at any time. You can force this to happen by using separate scene collections, each using a different camera. That should ensure that any active capture that's happening on one camera will be terminated before attempting to establish the connection on the other, allowing both to have full availability of the USB bandwidth.

The reason I don't suggest just using separate scenes is because transitioning between scenes would actually require both to be active simultaneously during the transition.

 

[mankeegan55]

You know, I've spoken to my IT people.....instead of trying to use three ports, they suggest just getting a powerful desktop computer with all the 2.0 USB jacks on it I need, one for each PTZ, as well as the input from the Black Magic Design Web Presenter for the slides. Forget the laptop with limited processing power and only 3 usb ports...don't know why I didn't think of that. Can you recommend since I am really new to this...what would an example of such a desktop look like? What are the specs I am looking for in processing speed to handle a 4 or 5 camera shoot, and slides with OBS software, and that would have 5 or 6 USB ports? ANy suggestions? My boss wants me to research it. I wouldn't know what model to recommend. It would be a dedicated computer for my videoconferencing/streaming dept that I am in charge of. ANy suggestions I would greatly appreciate. Thank You for your response!