Creating multiple, separate video files during livestream

[Dynamicvideo]

If only I had hours to go through these amazing threads. Unfortunately I don’t, and my topic search has left me searching.

I livestream Horse Shows. During theses livestreams, multiple exhibitors compete in a “class”. I want to be able to start and stop recording during livestream to create individual video files for exhibitors competing in the same class and label them for playback at a later time (outside of stream).

This will allow exhibitors to go back to view just their competition instead of searching the entire stream.

Any insight is appreciated!

 

[Tomasz Góral]

Prepare second OBS (good solution is second computer).
On first OBS add ndi output, on second OBS capture ndi and start/stop saving when you need.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Understandable use case, but I don't see how to do that with a single instance of OBS
you could stop/start recording easy enough, but you will have slight gaps in your local recording [but you would have full recording (typically) with your livestream platform]

Or easy enough, even with free tools, to simply break up a large/long recording file into parts
There is even free tools which can save out portions of a OBS recorded file without re-encoding (so no loss of resolution).. use one of those tools to open the MKV file (or whichever format you remux into), and save out clips as desired... compared to complexity of a second instance of OBS, seems a lot simpler... only downside is the time to do the follow-on 'edit'
- if sticking with single locally recorded file, then copying out clips later, I'd look for a way to 'mark' your original file to speed up process of identifying (if not possibly automating) the process to copy out clips [not sure if possible, but I'd think so... whether for free or paid s/w... no idea]. The low-tech method would be to simply write down/log the time to clip at... ie clip 1 at 5m13s, clips 2 at 8m:43s [making times up, of course]

 

[Dynamicvideo]

Thank you! Are there plug and play devices to “number” those files during recording? I’m trying to save valuable man hours. Typically we upload videos and rename all the files from the camera. Trying to do this through the stream!

 

[Dynamicvideo]

Understandable use case, but I don't see how to do that with a single instance of OBS
you could stop/start recording easy enough, but you will have slight gaps in your local recording [but you would have full recording (typically) with your livestream platform]
Or easy enough, even with free tools, to simply break up a large/long recording file into parts
There is even free tools which can save out portions of a OBS recorded file without re-encoding (so no loss of resolution).. so easy enough to use one of those tools to open the MKV file (or whichever format you remux into), and save out clips as desired... compared to complexity of a second instance of OBS, seems a lot simpler... only downside is the time to do the follow on 'edit'
- if sticking with single locally recorded file, then copying out clips later, I'd look for a way to 'mark' your original file to speed up process f indentifying (if not possibly automating) the process to copy out clips [not sure if possible, but I'd think so... whether for free or paid s/w... no idea]. The low-tech method would be to simply write down/log the time to clip at... ie clip 1 at 5m13s, clips 2 at 8m:43s [making times up, of course]

Typically we record on the camera, then upload files to the hard drive and rename each file to match the competitor. Trying to save man hours!

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Understood. Using multiple OBS instances and manual stop/start of recording, you'll end up with random files names essentially, and you'll need to take time to rename (and presumably confirm name and content match)
unless you have a large time gap between competitors, and can take the time to rename while waiting?
And you should be saving/recording in MKV format, then probably re-muxing to MP4 for more general usability. So would your workflow be to let OBS remux each recording as you stop them? That wouldn't take long, but it wouldn't be only 1 or 2 seconds [depends on yoru scenario as to whether that would work or not)
not my usage scenario, just just throwing ideas out... I could be wrong

Simply opening the long video file, marking segment and Save As with competitor name, then next segment and Save As again with competitor B name, repeat, would be relatively quick/easy (a couple of minutes per segment as someone learns to do this, less than 1 minute per segment once you get used to it, I'd think ... assuming decent speed storage). On a decent speed computer, I can't see this process taking much longer than the rename and check process

 

[Deleted member 121471]

Under OBS settings --> Output, the "Replay Buffer" tab/setting may be useful, if you want to save time editing later, though it does require pretty decent hardware and being really attentive to know when to start, save and stop the Replay Buffer while livestreaming. Also, some basic math based on recording length, bitrate and the current buffer cap of 8192 MB.

Should any of these steps fail, you'll still have to check the original full-length recording to get the footage needed, which is why the solutions offered above me are far more reasonable in terms of reliability and ease of use while using only a bit of extra time.

For timestamping particular events, here's a plugin that allows you to do so in a somewhat crude way:

InfoWriter

A remake of the ObsInfoPlugin (https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/obsinfoplugin.172/) for obs-studio. This plugin writes a timestamp to a textfile that you can use to mark specific events for later editing of your videos or streams...

obsproject.com

It won't number files but, at least, you'll know which section of the full recording timeline has your intended clip. It's still manual (hotkey) and still similar to writing it on a piece of paper with extra steps required.

 

[Dynamicvideo]

Thank you! I am starting to think the best thing would be to continue my normal operation, that is recording each horse (stop/start) on my HD-Camcorder, then renaming those files. I will just livestream and save my CPU usage for that dedicated operation. You all are awesome

 

[Dynamicvideo]

Under OBS settings --> Output, the "Replay Buffer" tab/setting may be useful, if you want to save time editing later, though it does require pretty decent hardware and being really attentive to know when to start, save and stop the Replay Buffer while livestreaming. Also, some basic math based on recording length, bitrate and the current buffer cap of 8192 MB.

Should any of these steps fail, you'll still have to check the original full-length recording to get the footage needed, which is why the solutions offered above me are far more reasonable in terms of reliability and ease of use while using only a bit of extra time.

For timestamping particular events, here's a plugin that allows you to do so in a somewhat crude way:

InfoWriter

A remake of the ObsInfoPlugin (https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/obsinfoplugin.172/) for obs-studio. This plugin writes a timestamp to a textfile that you can use to mark specific events for later editing of your videos or streams...

obsproject.com

It won't number files but, at least, you'll know which section of the full recording timeline has your intended clip. It's still manual (hotkey) and still similar to writing it on a piece of paper with extra steps required.

Thank you!!! If I have to rename them later, I will stick to recording on my HD-camcorder and rename those 1080 files and save my CPU usage for the stream!

 

[Dynamicvideo]

Understood. Using multiple OBS instances and manual stop/start of recording, you'll end up with random files names essentially, and you'll need to take time to rename (and presumably confirm name and content match)
unless you have a large time gap between competitors, and can take the time to rename while waiting?
And you should be saving/recording in MKV format, then probably re-muxing to MP4 for more general usability. So would your workflow be to let OBS remux each recording as you stop them? That wouldn't take long, but it wouldn't be only 1 or 2 seconds [depends on yoru scenario as to whether that would work or not)
not my usage scenario, just just throwing ideas out... I could be wrong

Simply opening the long video file, marking segment and Save As with competitor name, then next segment and Save As again with competitor B name, repeat, would be relatively quick/easy (a couple of minutes per segment as someone learns to do this, less than 1 minute per segment once you get used to it, I'd think ... assuming decent speed storage). On a decent speed computer, I can't see this process taking much longer than the rename and check process

Thanks for your time! I know a few big shows that utilize the “stream clip” that is obviously being created behind the scenes, for the customer to download.

I have seen these videographers with “key pads” typing in competition numbers as the horse enters. I have concluded that the infrastructure, and staff they have is extensive, allowing this method. I will do as always, record on my camera (start/stop to create individual files), then livestream only through OBS.

 

[Dynamicvideo]

Prepare second OBS (good solution is second computer).
On first OBS add ndi output, on second OBS capture ndi and start/stop saving when you need.

I did look into this. I fell short with the ndi output. I combed through the setting menus and was not able to locate this.

 

[Tomasz Góral]

First install NDI Plugin watch: NDI
If you run 2 instances of OBS on one computer, run both as portable mode.
I use this method to record players performances during all tournaments.
Every start/stop have date and time in name it's easy to id, add hotkeys to start and stop recording, i write small program to capture hotkeys, inside program typing start number, after start recording my small program remember filename new recorded file, after firing stop recording, program change date-time filename to start number and time in filename (must remember one number start many time in tournament).
Like you see is very easy system.

 

[Dynamicvideo]

If only I had hours to go through these amazing threads. Unfortunately I don’t, and my topic search has left me searching.

I livestream Horse Shows. During theses livestreams, multiple exhibitors compete in a “class”. I want to be able to start and stop recording during livestream to create individual video files for exhibitors competing in the same class and label them for playback at a later time (outside of stream).

This will allow exhibitors to go back to view just their competition instead of searching the entire stream.

Any insight is appreciated!

Update. I spoke with a company that connects with the entry software for lists of exhibitors. Camera operator inputs exhibitor # and clicks start then stop on a supplied BETI. This “time stamps” the stream and attaches exhibitor number to the event. It’s spendy