PC live feed - how-to and hardware

[don.johnson]

Hello friends!

I am trying to find a way to use a capture system to integrate a composite video feed from our multi-camera switcher into our PC for use with Skype.

Here is what I am thinking - but welcome your thoughts on alternatives.

We currently have a Win7 tower PC with Skype installed. We can display the remote side using our projector system, and this is not a problem. We want to use our multi-camera system to pass video back to our Skype program to display the near side.

The PC does not yet have a video input, and that is my question to you...

I need to have some way to bring the video into the PC, and was thinking of a video capture card. I see there are PCI and USB cards, but am concerned that I can't get true live feed into Skype without delay. Recording would be nice (audio is coming from our soundboard), but not necessary. We need composite input to capture our cameras, but would like other inputs to capture live feed from other HD/SD video cameras for other performances.

Can some of you let me know what I can do for this missing piece to our puzzle?

Thanks in advance!
Don Johnson
Faith Baptist Church
Prosperity, WV

[sum_guy]

Howdy Don,

I'd be looking for something substantial that will work with a desktop pc or a laptop, works with a variety of software, offers portability if needed, plenty of input and output, and the ability to capture to hi-def if you need it.

Matrox MXO2 Mini Desktop Kit with MAX Technology should do what you want. This is a high end capture solution, around $900

Google it for pricing. Good luck with your choice.

[edDV]

Skype accepts a direct DV connection over Firewire from either a DV camcorder (external video via A/V input) or from a Firewire capture device (e.g. Canopus ADVC, Pyro, Datavideo, etc). This works for PC or Mac.

Not sure about USB devices.

[don.johnson]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am restricted in that my camera system only has a composite out for me to use, so I need a card or converter that will allow me to bring the composite signal into the PC for Skype.

Since I don't have much experience of the various systems you mentioned, I couldn't tell you if Canopus or Avid or Matrox are good or bad, please give me guidance in what you would recommend.

Thanks!
Don

[edDV]

The Canopus ADVC 55 or 110 (now owned by Grass Valley).