Split video signal from single source cam

[TonHak]

Hello,

I am hoping some of you experts out there can share some advice on this... It seems that there is not a way to split a firewire signal so I can feed a feed from the camera to 2 separate encoding machines for live redundant streams. The camera has other output options including hdmi if it supports a live feed I will test tomorrow.

Does anyone have suggestions on the best practice to make this scenario work???

Thanks so much

Tony

[darkarn]

It might work with a Firewire hub like those sold by Belkin... But then again, I thought by splitting the signal, the video quality might be worse...

PS: May I know why you need to send the signal to two separate computers?

[edDV]

What camcoder model? HDV or DV format?

How are you encoding the stream?

A Firewire hub may work. You can also get a second output from most muti IEEE-1394 cards. With a firewire connection there is one sender (the camcorder) then the other ports replicate the feed. I've done this to feed firewire to two computers. The problem comes when there is contention from two devices that want to send at the same time. One will win the battle.

[TonHak]

Its a Sony camera and I am sending multiple streams to have a backup in case one media encoder fails. I have been working with a DV setup but will be working with HD as well.

I have read that the hub Idea will not work as only 1 computer can have control of the camera at a time for a firewire feed.

Thanks for the responses!

[edDV]

Its a Sony camera and I am sending multiple streams to have a backup in case one media encoder fails. I have been working with a DV setup but will be working with HD as well.

I have read that the hub Idea will not work as only 1 computer can have control of the camera at a time for a firewire feed.

Thanks for the responses!

The senario I described is passive, i.e. one live camera, two receiving computers.

How do you want to control the camera from the computer?

What software are you using to encode the stream?

These IEEE-1394 repeater have potential. I'd call the company for tech support.
http://industrialcomponent.com/unibrain/unifr800.html
http://industrialcomponent.com/unibrain/2502.html

[TonHak]

Using FME and want to capture and feed live on both pcs. Forgive my ignorance, I havent tested but I have read that as soon as you start the stream on one encoder (attached via firewire hub/repeater ) the second pc will not be able to start a feed from the camera device as it has already been mounted by another pc.

[darkarn]

If you want to feed live to both pcs for display purposes only, why not feed the live to one pc, then use a video splitter to send the signal to another pc?