recording multiple video streams

[benzothegreat]

Does anyone know any stand-alone hardware that can do this? i'm after either a dvr or pvr that will accept two video inputs (say, via svideo) and record them simultaneously.

Basically, the application is having two cameras recording the same thing from different angles, and so we want a live recording solution (NOT to a computer, please note we don't want a computer involved here) that will give us a dvd with multiple angles (and maybe multiple audio streams).

Can anyone help me? otherwise we'll just have to purchase to dvd recorders...

[jimmalenko]

Surely there's a security consulting company in your neck of the woods that could help you out with this ?

We've got two DVRs at work (2 different locations) that take up to 16 cameras as input and record everything simultaneously onto a hard drive. You can then export sections to DVD, and using their proprietary software, choose which angle(s) you want to watch on your PC. You can also watch multiple angles on a split-screen. Since it's proprietary, I wouldn't like my chances of converting to DVD to play in a settop though.

Personally I don't think DVD Recorders are gonna achieve your goals without a number of post-processing tasks, such as authoring the multiple angles together.

[johnahl]

I was walking through Fry's last week and saw a 4 video input stand alone recorder that recorded to a hard drive. I'm pretty sure the one at Fry's came without a hard drive and sold for around $250. I cannot find the recorder on Fry's website outpost.com.

But I'm pretty sure this is the same item. Except it comes with a 160GB drive installed:

http://www.securitycameraworld.com/AVC-773.htm

[Nelson37]

Two factors to consider.

First - this is a specialty item, and as such disproportionately expensive. 2 seperate DVD recorders may be more cost-effective.

Second - all units of this type I have seen have been geared to video security work, and not to highest attainable video quality. The PC-based units had maximum quality levels somewhat close to CVD, degraded by real-time encoding. These were at least somewhat more controllable than the standalone units.

If your goal is a hi-quality video (this means different things to different people) you may want to investigate other possible solutions.