Difficulty finding web/digicam compatible with recording software

[stringtheorist]

I am still trying to find a webcam or digicam (that can function as a webcam) which has firewire connectivity. It seems the only one that has this feature is Apple's i-Sight. (Is this a deliberate marketing ploy by Apple?) I've now wasted money on two different webcams but the picture quality has always been poor, and I'm sceptical about wasting more money on an iSight unless it's at least as good as the one built into my iMac (and preferably better).

Alternatively, is there any video capturing software out there (preferably one which accepts multiple simultaneous input sources) which supports USB connectivity? This whole issue is really getting me down.

 

[DocMacPS]

FireWire & USB Cams 'Simultaneously'

Well, many video apps, particularly those that support QuickTime, let you choose your Video Source. So if you have 2 USB webcams you can usually switch to the one you want. It is also possible to have, say iChat use a USB cam and some other app using Firewire. The FAQ page at http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/ talks about some of these issues. It can be tricky, sometimes you have to use program A to tie-up one camera so that program B 'sees' the other one. (This is how I get PhotoBooth to see my _external_ cam instead of my built-in iSight)

Unibrain still sells their 640x480 rez FIRE-i 1394 webcam for about $120, but frankly some of the better modern USB cams in the $60-80 range are razor-sharp and have better low-light sensitivity and higher resolution than the Fire-i. (or even the original iSight for that matter...)

 

[stringtheorist]

So it seems my best option is go with USB cams and try to find software that supports them. Does FCE support multiple input sources simultaneously?

 

[MisterMe]

... It seems the only one that has this feature is Apple's i-Sight. ... and I'm sceptical about wasting more money on an iSight unless it's at least as good as the one built into my iMac (and preferably better).

What are you talking about, Willis? The iSight is built into the monitor of the iMac and MacBook/MacBook Pro. It has not been available as a standalone product from Apple for years. Since then, the only webcams available at the Apple Store were from Logitech. If your webcam does not work out-of-the-box with your Mac, then you should install the opensource webcam driver macam. In my only experience with this driver, it worked like a charm with a Wal-Mart special webcam.

Alternatively, is there any video capturing software out there (preferably one which accepts multiple simultaneous input sources) which supports USB connectivity? This whole issue is really getting me down.

You can get this at the Apple Store.

 

[stringtheorist]

My built-in iSight works fine but I can't get the shots I want with it because of geography. I need two stand-alone quality cameras with stands (there are hundreds of iSights available on eBay). However, the software you suggested is not a an editing suite.