Split screen viewing using bullet cams for car
Discussion
Hello I am wanting to set my video camera to run some bullet cams in the car for track days and have it play back all the images/movies in one screen like you see in proper race cars. I just recently bought a Sony Handycam DCR-TRV22. I take it there is a mode that needs to be set-up somewhere on the camera and special software to buy for the computer? I got no idea, I just want to do it. 
Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Kylie
Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Kylie
I'm guessing the professionals have lots of different cameras all feeding into different tapes?
If you've only got 1 camcorder then my guess is that you'd need to film say 4 laps each from a different view point. Then using some software on the PC/Mac to create a single lap viewed from 4 view points. I doubt your camcorder can combine many inputs at the same time? There may be some kind of magic box you can plug a few bullet cams into then connect it to the single input of your camcorder but I've not seen such a thing.
If you've only got 1 camcorder then my guess is that you'd need to film say 4 laps each from a different view point. Then using some software on the PC/Mac to create a single lap viewed from 4 view points. I doubt your camcorder can combine many inputs at the same time? There may be some kind of magic box you can plug a few bullet cams into then connect it to the single input of your camcorder but I've not seen such a thing.
Hi Kylie
Like kitt says I don't think you can record from more than one source at the time. I guess your choices are to record the different angles "in sessions" and change the input source in between. Alternatively you could use some kind of device to switch between bulletcams on the fly with the press of a button.
Something along the lines of what the Jackal has installed in his Caterham would be very nice. See www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/duranail.html (near the bottom of the page).
Let us know how you get on when your system is up and running.
Cheers
Magnus
Like kitt says I don't think you can record from more than one source at the time. I guess your choices are to record the different angles "in sessions" and change the input source in between. Alternatively you could use some kind of device to switch between bulletcams on the fly with the press of a button.
Something along the lines of what the Jackal has installed in his Caterham would be very nice. See www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/duranail.html (near the bottom of the page).
Let us know how you get on when your system is up and running.
Cheers
Magnus
esprit87 said:
Hi Kylie
Something along the lines of what the Jackal has installed in his Caterham would be very nice. See www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/duranail.html (near the bottom of the page).
Now that's a cool installation
I must get a bullet cam some time as I've always wanted to film some laps on track days 
Goldstar racing, as reported by PistonHeads do a kit including two bullet cams, anti vibration mounts, and a cockpit mounting switch to change between cameras.
Alternatively, buy another Handicam.
Looking at their site, the promo picture for the "Ultimate Quattro camera Kit" shows 4 camera views in one. That may just be poetic license for the promo picture, or it may be a function of their kit. I'd get in touch with them to find out if I were you. Goldstar Race Cam
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 17th March 11:31
Alternatively, buy another Handicam.
Looking at their site, the promo picture for the "Ultimate Quattro camera Kit" shows 4 camera views in one. That may just be poetic license for the promo picture, or it may be a function of their kit. I'd get in touch with them to find out if I were you. Goldstar Race Cam
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 17th March 11:31
The cheapest way to do this is to do the sessions thing as noted.
If you're on a circuit, go out with the camera in one position. Pit, change the camera position and go out again.
Only hassle with this is that you have to be very consistent in your lap times and, realistically, it wouldn't be suitable for continuous lappery as the images would get out of sync.
To avoid this, you'd need two cameras (camcorders and bullet cams if you wanted).
Once you have the footage, you then need to cut it together which needs software.
A few years ago I wanted to do just what you're trying to do. I tried without success on my PC so went to the Mac Expo in Islington where, within 10mins, one of the staff had demonstrated exactly what I wanted to do (with my video camera and tapes, so I knew it wasn't rigged )!
So I bought a Mac.
The Mac comes with the editing software you need, and the software can do shed loads more besides. And with much better performance than PC based software even now (IMO).
Basically you record both sources to the hard disk, and then you can do picture in picture via drag and drop of one set of clips onto another. You can also, if you really want, overlay a gear indicator etc.
I'm sure there's now PC software than can do this, but this is the Mac's forte.
If you can scrounge the use of another camcorder, you could do in car footage with this and avoid the need for a second bullet cam. Scrounging the use of a Mac would allow you to do the editing...
If you're on a circuit, go out with the camera in one position. Pit, change the camera position and go out again.
Only hassle with this is that you have to be very consistent in your lap times and, realistically, it wouldn't be suitable for continuous lappery as the images would get out of sync.
To avoid this, you'd need two cameras (camcorders and bullet cams if you wanted).
Once you have the footage, you then need to cut it together which needs software.
A few years ago I wanted to do just what you're trying to do. I tried without success on my PC so went to the Mac Expo in Islington where, within 10mins, one of the staff had demonstrated exactly what I wanted to do (with my video camera and tapes, so I knew it wasn't rigged
)! So I bought a Mac.
The Mac comes with the editing software you need, and the software can do shed loads more besides. And with much better performance than PC based software even now (IMO).
Basically you record both sources to the hard disk, and then you can do picture in picture via drag and drop of one set of clips onto another. You can also, if you really want, overlay a gear indicator etc.
I'm sure there's now PC software than can do this, but this is the Mac's forte.
If you can scrounge the use of another camcorder, you could do in car footage with this and avoid the need for a second bullet cam. Scrounging the use of a Mac would allow you to do the editing...
Blag another camera, and record a second feed onto a second camera.
If the cameras record timecode then make sure both are set to identical timecode (for ease of syncing pictures in the edit)
If they don't record timecode (many small consumer machines don't) then use a reference point once both cameras are recording.
Something like a hand movement that can be captured on both cameras simultaneously.
Most decent PC video editing packages will allow you to create the multi-screen view that you want to achieve, the best - and more readily available - being Adobe Premiere.
If the cameras record timecode then make sure both are set to identical timecode (for ease of syncing pictures in the edit)
If they don't record timecode (many small consumer machines don't) then use a reference point once both cameras are recording.
Something like a hand movement that can be captured on both cameras simultaneously.
Most decent PC video editing packages will allow you to create the multi-screen view that you want to achieve, the best - and more readily available
- being Adobe Premiere.To record four streams onto a single camera you need:
4 top quality 3CCD cameras with mounts = £600 here (you could use cheaper cameras as resolution is not crucial for 1/4screen)
A quad = £100
here
A minimike = £12 widely available
A remote LANC = £50 here
A 12V regulator = £15 widely available
Long AV Leads = £20
Aluminium flight case (OB quality) = £50 (Machine Mart have foam lined cases for £15)
£847 - You would need to do a little (straightforward) wiring but that does make the £1995 Goldstar want to do the same job a little steep IMO.
A simple 2 camera switchable setup could be put together for under £250.
The path of least resistance to a split screen view is 2 cameras, 2 camcorders, combine them on the pc, as suggested
>> Edited by margo on Wednesday 17th March 17:02
4 top quality 3CCD cameras with mounts = £600 here (you could use cheaper cameras as resolution is not crucial for 1/4screen)
A quad = £100
here
A minimike = £12 widely available
A remote LANC = £50 here
A 12V regulator = £15 widely available
Long AV Leads = £20
Aluminium flight case (OB quality) = £50 (Machine Mart have foam lined cases for £15)
£847 - You would need to do a little (straightforward) wiring but that does make the £1995 Goldstar want to do the same job a little steep IMO.
A simple 2 camera switchable setup could be put together for under £250.
The path of least resistance to a split screen view is 2 cameras, 2 camcorders, combine them on the pc, as suggested
>> Edited by margo on Wednesday 17th March 17:02
margo said:
The path of least resistance to a split screen view is 2 cameras, 2 camcorders, combine them on the pc, as suggested
For the price of miniDV camcorders, and/or the availability of blagging camcorders of mates, I'd go for a four individual camcorder setup and edit them on a PC....
One front bumber mounted, one rear bumper mounted, one "top of roll bar" looking down through screen with driver in shot, and one looking directly at driver "a la Top Gear"
margo said:
The path of least resistance to a split screen view is 2 cameras, 2 camcorders, combine them on the pc, as suggested
For the price of miniDV camcorders, and/or the availability of blagging camcorders of mates, I'd go for a four individual camcorder setup and edit them on a PC....
One front bumber mounted, one rear bumper mounted, one "top of roll bar" looking down through screen with driver in shot, and one looking directly at driver "a la Top Gear"
Hey thanks so much for the great advice and plenty of options, cripes gives me plenty to think about. I will sift through those web links and see what I can do for now just using a single video recorder. Perhaps will invest in another when I start getting a bit more serious about this racing. Bound to keep me broke Thanks all!!
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