How to record/capture/edit/mix multiple cameras in a live broadcast

[YarGnawh]

I have 4 Canon HV20 HD camcorders and a 17" MacBook Pro with Final Cut Pro. What additional equipment and/or software do I need to be able to record each channel (from post processing) and mix for a live event from multiple view angles and display it on a projector. Also it needs to be portable so equipment should be Firewire or USB.

[edDV]

At the lower end, Datavideo makes a line of digital switchers that will do what you want. This one switches DV, S-Video or analog component and includes two TBC/Frame syncs. You can spend much more for higher end brands.

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&source=hp&q=datavideo+switcher&rlz=1W1ADRA_en&um=...ed=0CC0QrQQwAw

You can rent these in some markets.

HDV recording should be done in the cameras for post transfer. A MacBook can't reliably handle recording four live HDV Firewire streams. A MacPro tower (or tower PC) with multiple Firewire cards and multiple drives could.

I'd record either the swiched feed or the wide cover shot to the MacBook for backup. Keep in mind that firewire cables can only run about 15 feet (4.5 meters) without a repeater. For some cameras you may need to run S-Video for the projector switcher.

Pros would use SDI feeds which can run several hundred feet to SDI digital switchers.

[danno78]

DataVideo have 10m and 20m firewire cables. For HD content you need many, many $.