Windows 10 3 camera view setup

[rbraggs]

Hello,

I would like to record and perhaps livestream guitar lessons with 3 camera views; Full view, right hand view, and left hand view. I'm researching all the equipment I'll need to use with OBS to do this. What are all the specs and requirements that are needed for the computer equipment and capture cards. I appreciate any guidance or advise.

Kind Regards,
-RB

 

[uncleflip]

There are quite a few ways you can go, depending on budget, etc.

I have done a three camera setup with simply three webcams. This is easy enough- but required a USB hub, as my laptop only has three USB ports- and I use an Elgato Stream Deck to switch my sources and scenes in OBS.

If you want some more robust cameras in your system, you can use SLRs or proper video cameras. I have two Canon SLRs I use for mutli-camera setups. One generally connects with OBS via the Canon EOS webcam utility, which relies on a USB connection. The other is connected with an HDMI out of the camera, into a little HDMI capture dongle that feeds into the computer by USB. (You can get these on Amazon for less than 20USD.)

I've also brought in an IP camera that I pop into a web browser, then use window capture to get it into OBS.

Of course, you will also likely need mic inputs. If you're running your voice mic and guitar sources through a small mixer, you're golden. You just need an output form the mixer into your computer. I generally use an XLR to 1/8" cable for porting audio (usually just a mic) in. However, I have a couple USB microphone options.......so we need that hub again. :)

Hopefully, I haven't bogged you down with WAY more information than you wanted- but where you are right now, it sounds like you have quite a few options available.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

One thing to beware of is mixing video input technology (USB, HDMI, IP, etc) as that can easily (almost certainly) introduce some varying video processing latencies between video sources, and audio syncing that is NOT trivial [possible with really expensive gear, really hard for home user on a PC to accomplish ... that is adjust audio latency a varying amount based on differing video source].
If your lucky the latency variance will be small enough to not be noticeable, and you can ignore this... but some folks get check IP cameras that have a real high latency... so something to be cautious about

The other thing to be aware of is USB Root Hub limitations. This is basically the USB chipset and different motherboards have a different amount and quality of these Root Hub chipsets. This is an issue if you try to push too much video through a single USB Root Hub. How much is too much? it depends (sorry).

Realize that real-time video encoding is computationally demanding. Processing 3 separate video inputs adds to that workload, so a GPU encode/decode offload might help [depends on outright processing ability of CPU].

Your post does NOT have enough answer to provide a real answer
- What types of cameras, connection technology, resolution and frame rate?
- what is your expectation on video quality?
- laptop (not a good fit due to thermal throttling with higher processing workloads) vs desktop? A laptop is doable, if requirements/expectation are appropriate (or you have a really powerful, well-cooled laptop)
- how much time and expertise can you apply to optimizing your Operating System and OBS setup [the more you simply want it to work, and don't have the technical expertise to getting into finer OS details, the more likely the safer choice is to spend more for a more powerful computer]
- etc

 

[uncleflip]

The unanswered questions were a big reason I replied in the nature I did. It sounds like OP is at the beginning of this process, and is looking for guidance in where to go next to answer those questions in the first place.

I am happy to report that with my cameras coming in over USB (one with an HDMI capture dongle), I have had absolutely no problem with latency issues or USB limitations with more devices. Hopefully, that will give OP a little confidence to at least try some of those options, in the event they work- before going to some heftier video setup/gear.

If there is some latency, syncing with audio may be the tough spot, obviously. On one video source, it might be perfect- then get thrown off when the audio stays constant, but video shift on source change. More as a not for OP< I would say work on getting video synced up properly- THEN worry about getting the audio synced with it. Since I assume the audio will come into the computer independently of the video (Not part of a webcam or other such input), hopefully this won't be as much of a headache.

But yes, there are some concerns here. Don't be afraid to try it out without top-end gear, to see if it suits your needs. I've had remarkably good results with just a few webcams I had kicking around, an SLR, and an IP cam. (I ported in the IP cam on a browser, but am now actually using a webcam running through the Raspberry Pi I use to control my 3D printer, and bringing it in as a VLC source. The added bonus is it is easier to move anywhere I want, as the RPi is wireless, and I can power it with a decent sized power bank battery that can be moved around easily. This way, I can have a wireless cam in my chicken coop if I want! No power cables to the coop! :) )