Question / Help Can I run 2 capture cards at same time?

[mikeva]

Ok, heres what I hope to accomplish. please let me know if this will work.
I will build a new PC that can support 2 PCIe x1 slots where I will be installing 2 Avermedia Capture Cards. Each capture card will be recieving a feed from seperate PC's via HDMI. Now in OBS, naturally I will need it to recognize both Capture cards..which it should since they should both have their own PCI Bus. The one thing I am wondering about is the playback of audio within the OBS software...is this going to create conflicts between the two capture cards? For the most part, one capture cards input audio will mostly be turned off..audio is not the main reason for the second capture card...it's mainly for a second video capture, which in theory I will have 3 video feeds..2 from capture cards, one from game capture (if I need a third one).

Right now, using game capture to get second video feed works, but it chops the video when the live feed is not the active window...so kinda have to go back and forth on selections....my new method above will eliminate all the switching back and forth...if it all will work ok with OBS.

Last thing...will the high end I7 be able to handle this much encoding...when both videos from both C'cards are enabled at the same time?

 

[Krazy]

It shouldn't be an issue, capture card is just another video capture device same as webcam, and you can use multiple webcams with a capture card.

As far as encoding...not sure. You're really only encoding one final scene so it should be alright, I would think.

 

[paibox]

I've personally used five different capture cards in the same scene. Barring any driver issues, it shouldn't be a problem at all.

 

[skullmonkey]

Did any one actually tried this? Do they need to be different type/brand of cards in order OBS to see them as different sources? I tried with Black Magic Decklink cards and its not working. Decklink control panel software dont allow multiple cards to be used, even worse cards with multiple inputs like the Decklink Studio 4K can only capture using one input. \

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Boildown]

You bumped a 3-year old thread :( The post above yours says he got 5 cards to work at the same time, so yes, someone has tried this, and it works. The problem is that you've got Black Magic cards, and if I recall they don't work well with OBS Classic. I think I remember that they work better with OBS Studio, so maybe you can try that.

If Black Magic limits you to one input at a time, OBS can't do anything to change that. Choose a better capture card, and do research to make sure it works with the software you want to use before you buy.