Multiple cameras

[piperthedj]

Hello everyone.

I need to add three camera sources to my Mac Book Pro (M1), setup but do not have the USB port space. I have tried a few different hubs, docking stations, and other means of adding a USB port all resulting in failure. I can get a source to run, no problem; two, also no problem; never three.
This poses two questions.

1. is there a specific Hub that will pass through more than 2 video sources?
2. Is there a specific USB standard for video in OBS (I have a few 3.1 connections, but most are 3.0 and nothing less)?
3. will limiting the video bitrate or video quality help connect more sources?

thanks in advance,
P

 

[AaronD]

USB is a problem in general, for multiple video sources. I've successfully run 4 HDMI -> USB capture cards through the same hub before, but those were deceptively marketed with much lower data rate than what they were supposed to have, and made up the difference by compressing it *in the card*.

Quality video capture will easily max out a USB connection all by itself. One per controller is good, but any more than that is iffy.

Note: that's one video capture per *controller*, not per port. One controller can and often does have multiple ports, through an onboard hub.