how to do effectively obtain real time Video multiplexing

[vannigiova]

Hello!
Congrats for the forum and the website! In am quite new in this field but I hope to be able to contribute effectively in short time.

Here is my question, regarding the project of a video system for which I am looking for the proper hw/sw solution.
Like always we say....I am looking for reasonably cheap hardware.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

First scenario:

4 video flows (FD1 quality) coming from analog cameras are captured by a proper card on a PC and I need to be able to make some realtime processing (like overlaying sample images on them) and then switch between them (multiplexing) during the recording. The output video flow has to be stored on the HD in compressed MP4 format. For a recording duration of 2h (typical) the maximum latency of this process is 5 minutes.

Second scenario:

4 video flows (FD1 quality) are already stored (MPEG4) on my HD. I need to make the final output video on the basis of metadata I have (e.g. start with VIDEO1, after 10s VIDEO3, after 15s VIDEO2, ecc.) and to do some processing (like overlaying sample images) on them. The output video flow has to be stored on the HD in compressed MP4 format in few minutes (<5m for a 2h video)

Third scenario:

4 video flows (FD1 quality) are sent over IP in MPEG4 format to a central server. I need to be able to switch between them (multiplexing) during the acquisition to generate an output file. I also need to make some processing (like overlaying sample images on them) . The output video has to be stored on the HD in compressed MP4 format and, again, the time contraint I have is to produce the final file within 5 minutes for a 2h recording.

Best regards

Gio

[Soopafresh]

If I understand what you want - maybe something like a DJ style live video mixer might work?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Edirol-V4-4Channel-Video-Mixer?sku=633204

http://www.deejaysystem.com/dj_video_mixer.asp


The output video flow has to be stored on the HD in compressed MP4 format in few minutes (<5m for a 2h video)


You'd have to be encoding while you're mixing. At least a Quad Core PC

[vannigiova]

There are 4 video flows on the PC and I cannot rely on external mixer.

I'll try to be more clear.

I am looking for libraries to integrate in my software and advices on the hardware cards needed.

According to the algorithm I have developed I can choose which of the 4 flows is the active one in a specific moment. and put it in the output video. Obviously the choosen flow (or channel) can change during the acquisition.

Once the channel has been selected I "just" want to overlay an animated logo on it and store it in mpeg4 (or better divx) file.

Supposing that video decoding and analysis is not too heavy I don't think the CPU can do the job of encoding the output in realtime. That's why I want to rely on an encoding card.

Hope that now the picture is more clear.

Thanks for any comments/suggestions

Gio