CCTV in the studio

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empire_of_one

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I've been in a couple studios where, instead of a window between the control room and studio, they used closed-circuit TV cameras to see into the studio. I thought that was pretty cool, and definitely would make soundproofing and construction of the wall between the 2 rooms easier and less expensive.

What I'd like to do is, be able to use my computer monitor to double as a CCTV monitor. I know there are TV tuner cards out there. Would one of those TV tuner cards work for CCTV too? Or would I need something else or a different kind of card, and if so, do those cards exist? TIA
 
You could use a webcam as well, although the resolution ain't the best. Some of the upper end ones are fairly decent though, $150 range.

If your computer is used for the recording, then a webcam or any other type of video capture would be risky(to do simultaneously).

Maybe one of those little RF cams, you know, that annoying window that pops up every 30 seconds? Can't remember the name of it,xcam or X2 or something, I've seen it so many times I erased it from memory. That would allow you to use a cheap TV, provided the product actually works.

I'd avoid the computer route, unless you want to dedicate another machine to that task.
 
How much cpu usage does it take to display (not play back or record) video footage? Presumably the processor on the video card would handle a good portion of the work. Seems to me like you could do this as long as you have a somewhat powerful computer.
 
Yeah I'm sure you could if you tweaked your computer enough and tested it. I'm on the cautious side of the fence when it comes to computer recording. One task at a time.
 
If the TV tuner has a composite (yellow RCA) input, you should be all set. My ATI All-in-Wonder 128 can accept an input from Coax (cable TV), Composite (yellow RCA) and S-Video.
 
elevate said:
How much cpu usage does it take to display (not play back or record) video footage? Presumably the processor on the video card would handle a good portion of the work. Seems to me like you could do this as long as you have a somewhat powerful computer.
Click to expand...

My TV Card does all the work - doesn't really depend on the CPU. Most cards llike this use the "video overlay" technique which doesn't put additional stress on the system.
 
Just use a camcorder on a tripod and a TV set! The picture is like looking through a control room window, except that the view can be adjusted by moving the camera. You don't want to steal cycles from the PC unless you're not using that to record.
 
well the main reason i want to use the computer for viewing the studio instead of a separate monitor, is to save space in what i expect will be an already cramped control room. i was under the impression (and correct me if i'm wrong) that tracking doesn't use nearly as much cpu power as mixing, and i'll only need the cam on during tracking (no need to look at an empty studio during mixing). so i figured there would be plenty of cpu cycles left over for viewing the cam.

a camcorder seems like overkill: i don't need to record, or have pristine video quality, and cctv cams are much cheaper.

I was looking around and found something like this:

http://www.123cctv.com/cctv/agora.cgi?page=remote.html

it may be overkill too (i don't need to record, just view) but there are systems that include the software, the card and a couple of cams for $400.
 
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