Driving multiple digital video cameras...

Question

I want to set up a kitchen as a studio for a cooking show. I will need about a dozen fixed angle/focal length cameras, half a dozen monitors, and half a dozen or so audio sources. I want to capture all the digital input in a synchronised manner. Can I do this using off the shelf components? And if so, what kind of gear do I need to put this together around a high end Mac ?

Answer 1

The only problem with that many cameras trying to go into a MacPro at one time is that Final Cut will only recognize one camera at a time. There is no way to record all twelve cameras at the same time using Final Cut, unless you record them to tape or some other device first. However, if you get a video switcher (especially one that supports FireWire output), you may be able to connect all the cameras to the switcher and send that to the MacPro. The only downside to that is you will be switching the cameras on the fly, and you won't be able to adjust your mistakes without either cutting pieces out or reshooting parts of the show. Also, a video switcher is completely different from a FireWire switcher. A video switcher relies on synced video sources (some do the synchronization themselves) and can switch from one camera to the next without rolling the video or losing the signal in any way. A FireWire switcher simply switches the FireWire sources, and there will be an unavoidable break in the signal. A video switcher that handles 12 inputs will be expensive. The ones I've looked at that work well are around $30,000, but they can do some pretty cool stuff.
The word "dockable" means that the camera can be configured for studio CCU connection or can be refitted to hold a tape or hard drive recording device. If you have 12 cameras that can each record onto MiniDV or DVC Pro, then you will not need to purchase extra equipment. However, capturing 12 tapes of 30 minutes each will be more than 6 hours of just capturing video. After that, just sync the clips and make multiclips out of them. If you connect one or two mics to some of the cameras, you can then use Final Cut or Soundtrack to do the final audio mixing. No extra equipment would be required. All it would take is a bit of work.
However, if the cameras do not have recording units, like the lipstick cameras, you will need a switcher that can handle all of those inputs, or recording devices for each camera. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend those lipstick cameras, as they are pricey and they require a CCU (IK-CU51A), a lens (JK-L15M2) and a cable (EXC-4302 or EXC-4330) in order to function. You're looking at $1,714.80 just for one camera setup, and that's before the switcher. Plus, after you purchase the switcher, if it doesn't output to DV via FireWire, you may need to get a capture card or device for the MacPro. You could buy a HDR-HC3E Sony HDV camera and have the same specs and save around $600 each camera. With that savings, you can buy a Mackie 1402-VLZPRO audio mixer, and some sort of digital recoding device, a clapboard, and then you should be just fine. Granted, the HC3E it isn't the greatest camera in the world, but it should give you the same quality as the Toshiba lipstick camera that you are looking at without the headache of finding a way to record the image. If I were you, I wouldn't go the "surveillance camera" route, and go with something more Prosumer or Consumer level. You'll get the same quality at a lower price. Make sure that the autofocus can be shut off, and that you can manually white balance (common in most cameras nowadays). This is just something to consider.
If you want, get my e-mail address from my profile and send me an e-mail. I've set up many studio systems and field systems in the past, and I currently do this presently as well. I'm sure I can help you find a way to accomplish what you intend to do.