Muff's Modules & More

lizlarsen

I thought it best to start a new thread for this, and we can sticky it if it's found useful.

Here's my solution for my video studio, allowing simultaneous capture and playback of audio/video from the same central PC workstation. Some aspects of it are not ideal, but I'm very pleased with the realtime immediacy and quality I'm getting out of it so far. The areas where I still need to stress-test the system are with running the 8x CV outputs via the MOTU and Ableton/Silent Way concurrent with a capture stream coming in -- but everything else has been tested and is working great (clips of that to come.)

PC specs: ASUS P6X58-E PRO motherboard, GTX570 video card, 7950GT video card (for extra output to scan converter), Corsair TX850 PSU, Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz Quadcore processor, 12gb RAM, two 7200RPM 1TB hard drives

lizlarsen · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject:

Of course there are multiple ways to hook this up (especially with the Visionary input and the audio I/O) and software used (in my tests I was capturing with Adobe Premiere CS5.5 and AV playback via VLC media player.)

This was tested capturing the Visionary output in 1080p via the Matrox with no dropped frames or stuttering.

More ideal would be getting the output via a second Video I/O device, but that's the tricky part and may involve a second PC to do it properly. The quality from this signal flow is surprisingly really great though. I'll do some proper benchmark tests showing before and after soon.

Not pictured is the extra LCD preview monitor, which I haven't put in yet. Also unclear immediately is that the 19" sony monitor has multiple inputs and can display one at a time from the front. I can select the video synth's output directly while patching, and switch over to the Matrox when capturing and editing.

corex · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:25 pm Post subject:

You need a new chair module...

lizlarsen · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject:

lizlarsen · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject:

Matos · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:10 am Post subject:

Which extron are you using by the way?

lizlarsen · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:59 am Post subject:

The Extron is VSC 100GX. I think it's an outdated model compared to the one they offer now.

lizlarsen · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:04 am Post subject:

The version of the one I have, but without Genlock features, is the VSC 100, there's one up now at a decent price:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extron-VSC-100-Computer-Video-Scan-Converter-F REE-SHIPPING-/200704196285?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebae6febd#h t_2348wt_1397

Matos · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject:

Yah, I was looking at that. So many links in the video chain.... Dead Banana

smrl · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:59 pm Post subject:

I'm currently using a TV-One CS-500A which works quite well, no genlock but there is a model with genlock in... That's currently my sync master. It's very customizable thru the menu.

lizlarsen · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject:

Well I tried some tests tonight running Ableton + Silent Way outputting both CV and video to the modular, and capturing back in HD using the Matrox + Premiere. Runs great!! My scan converter underscans a bit more than I'd like it to, which is the main annoyance right now.

giorgio · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:00 am Post subject:

i should be able to add to this thread soon, i have my audio setup already and LZX system cooking but otherwise my video rig is still building. i've got a panasonic wj-mx10 on the way that I am going to mod, as well as a videonics video equalizer, and another random thing that is a dual TBC, keyer/fader/fx thing i got cheap on ebay, as well as a couple pro vcrs i found cheap on the bay. also just ordered a scan converter to go from VGA to s-vid and composite (is that what the yellow one is called? i'm still dumb with all this language)

i just gotta get a capture card for this iMac and I'll be cooking. that and a bunch of BNC cables i guess. Dead Banana

bitSmasher · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:21 am Post subject:

giorgio · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:34 am Post subject:

i just put in a big order at deep surplus, that got me 8 rcas of various lengths both video and audio, 5 BNC cables as well as 2 5 packs of rca to bnc converters going both ways, shipped for 40 something bucks. i totally recommend this place

Veqtor · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:23 am Post subject:

A multi-computer system could do pretty much. You could do sequencing on a computer running ableton w. midi or better yet smpte out. Capture on another comp running premiere. Encode clips to resolume DXV and have yet another comp running resolume, with multiple monitors of video played back going into video modular (it can also receive video and process it), controlled over OSC by ableton and possibly that modular->osc eurorack module which is being developed by... I don't remeber but you get the idea

MY ASS IS BLEEDING

If you can afford it (maybe an older computer w. multiple discs can do the capture?) it would be a super powerful setup that would let you mix computer and modular video processing, playback and generation!

daverj · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:53 pm Post subject:

Not too portable though, when you have to drag several computers around.

bitSmasher · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:24 am Post subject:

Transporting computers, ugh.
Tempted to build a PC in to a big rack case with monitor built in hmmm.....

lizlarsen · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:33 am Post subject:

I built a PC into one of these for live shows a few years ago:
http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-vf1000bns-lanbox-case-black.html
Very portable, rugged PC case. They sell a 7" LCD screen that slides into one of the 5.25" drives, but I don't have that. Laptops a bit more convenient, but I never had any hassle dragging this around to tons of shows at the time (both VJ and for audio processing with my band.)

bitSmasher · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:56 pm Post subject:

Hope this is relevant, keeping the computer video talk in the one thread:
Is capturing 2-4 streams of low/medium quality video feasible on a tight budget?
A friend wants to record live DJs/musicians to promote via youtube, emphasis on getting it out there moreso than outright quality...

Right now we'd like to record 2 or 3 webcams and a capture from the video guy/VJ as well as stereo audio. I already have a bunch of cheap webcams and USB capture devices and could scrap together a PC to dedicate to the task.
Just want to start with something cheap and robust that won't be a great loss if it gets a beer poured in it/thrown down stairs. The editing will be done on a seperate, powerful, computer.

Is there much in the way of free/cheap software that'd facilitate this? That's what I'm unsure about, and haven't had much luck searching as yet.

lizlarsen · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:58 pm Post subject:

Probably the cheapest route is going to be getting a DVR meant for security systems -- the $200-$400 models I've looked at before could capture 4+ simultaneous streams in MJPEG 640x480 or something similar.