Anyone using a Software video mixer?

[bbrunskill]

Hi guys,

Our ancient Panasonic AVE55 video mixer is dying fast, and needs replacing. We are also recording to DVD and then going through the process of ripping it to file and then uploading to Vimeo. Also the 4 inputs of our Panasonic is very limiting.

I thought maybe instead of buying a video mixer, I could setup a software solution using some Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle units. (or similar)

Is there a simple piece of software that can be used to mix between 4-6 video inputs? Ideal it would be able to rip the output video straight to file while we used a composite output to feed our nursery/kids church/foyer feeds.

The setup as I envision it would be:
A Mac Mini
4 Intensity cards on USB 3.0 (3 SD cameras and 1 DVI/HDMI Pro Presenter)
and a software package to mix the live video and record to file
Composite output feeding a Kramer distributor.

Has anyone set up something like this before? What am I getting myself into?

Thanks,

Ben

[bbrunskill]

after a little more reading, I've found the ATEM Television Studio, which basically does exactly what I want in one box, for $995. Amazing. Will sit down with a few of the video team to see if they think it will work for us.

[Brad Weber]

I have a client that is using the Intensity Shuttle USB3.0 devices for HDMI capture and they, as apparently many others, found it to be very particular regarding the computer. They literally had to replace the computers in those rooms with ones that were compatible and that was to support one Intensity Shuttle per machine. Read the related support information very carefully.

You also mentioned a Mac Mini and using USB3.0. According to Blackmagic's information, there are no Macs or laptops compatible with the Intensity Shuttle USB3.0, which is probably why Blackmagic is developing Thunderbolt versions in the Intensity line.

[cmchamp]

Brad is correct, there are no Apple products that currently support USB3.0

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by bbrunskill

after a little more reading, I've found the ATEM Television Studio, which basically does exactly what I want in one box, for $995. Amazing. Will sit down with a few of the video team to see if they think it will work for us.

You might want to read Black Magic TV Studio. The ATEM Television Studio is a great option if your application can work within its limitations.

After speaking with some of their folks at InfoComm last year, Blackmagic clearly has a production application perspective and I think they did not envision the number of people looking at their products for mixed production/presentation or straight presentation applications when they were developing them. They were very open about the limitations of the ATEM switchers and their other products in many such applications and seemed to have realized that with the associated prices and HDMI connectivity they were going to have to deal with their products being considered for applications for which they were not really intended as well as those for which they were intended.

[Mike Moore]

We too are looking to moving into something more updated in video mixing. We send our signal out to the foyer. Only using 1 camera right now along with pro presenter. Looking for a good hardware/software option. I will be curious to see what you decided to do. Am looking into this product now also.