Does Linux have any free video switcher software? I need to take multiple cameras into a computer and be able to switch between them while recording. This is for my church and we definately can't afford the hardware versions and I have found some software versions but they are expensive as well. I don't need anything fancy, I just want to be able to switch between video signals.

Thank you!

You are going to connect your cameras to a computer, not to a linux. So first of all, it should be hardware which can handle a few signals, linux (may be) would be able to manage that hardware.

But it is much better to record everything necessary from ALL cameras and then process the data as you wish.

Thank you

Yes, I'm aware that I am not connecting to a Linux. And yes I will still need some hardware, I just want something more computer based and not as "video hardware" based. Basically I want to be able to upload the video to our website ASAP when the sermon is finished and not have to edit this together for a several hours later. I know this can be done to tape but I'm wanting to do this as I capture the video to my computer.

Something kind of like this is what I was looking for. http://www.avtake.com/

Depend on what interface does your camera have.

Search for linux video capture software, there were some. I can't suggest, didn't use them.

Thanks.

How many cameras?

Interface between the camera and computer?

Real Time or Time Lapse? (Guessing Real Time)

You say "Switch between them while recording", What you may want to consider is recording all the cameras all the time and do the cuts in Post Production. There are at least a couple of free linux apps to do that (though admittedly I haven't tried them yet).

To do clean cuts in real time can be a bit of a challenge, especially in software. If you want it to look professional and if you want to do the cuts in realtime you will almost certainly need some hardware switch gear.

I did that for my church years ago using a video editor from Radio Shack that cost like $89, it would switch between two sources (allowing fades, wipes, . . .) and some switchgear to bring the next camera up on the offline channel of the video editor. Worked real well as long as you knew what was coming ahead of time.

These days unless it's live it is easier and much more versatile to do it post production. I have not tried it yet but I am looking at Cinelerra which is linux based Post Production software.

This may help. http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/top5-li...stem-software/

Anyway, if you can provide more details about where you want to go and what equipment you have, we can get a little more specific.

I to am looking at live video switching software like AVTAKE for Linux, though I don't mind having to pay for it. I really need the reliability of Linux and dedicated Video switchers run around 5k+ Any pointers would be appreciated.

Cinelerra can handle multiple live input sources and you have a toggle switch on the left to enable/disable tracks, so you just make a track per camera.

@tnelson42345, five years later I need the same as you, a simple linux based video switcher to select live video sources in real time. Did you ever find anything to suit your needs? I'm trawling through google trying different things but haven't found anything useable yet. I figured there's got to be something out there. Thanks for any advice.