Windows software for recording multiple video/audio sources?

Question

I'm looking into options for recording video game sessions, including multiple different video and audio sources. I'm only at the planning stage of this, but here is basically what I want to set up:

• Have PC set up as recording hub for gameplay sessions either on same PC or on nearby game console
• Capture game footage, both audio and video, either capturing PC game footage or via capture hardware for console games (PCI or USB connection)
• Capture footage of players, probably via webcam attached to PC
• Capture both game and players feeds simultaneously

I'm fairly new to a lot of this stuff, so I'm not particularly sure what I'm looking for here. Can anyone provide some recommendations of software/hardware that would work for what I'm trying to do?

UPDATE: I've just discovered Telestream's Wirecast. It seems to be the sort of software I'm looking for, and I can use it to stream or save it to disk. It also has support for some Blackmagic Intensity capture hardware, which I was already looking at. Has anyone had experience with it or seen a similar, possibly cheaper alternative?

Answer 1

If it were me, I would try using a video recording interface with RCA connectors, as most TVs have an RCA audio/video output. Most of these connect via USB and come with some sort of software. For the video of the players, use a second software program and webcam/etc. to capture this. If you had a Mac, this could probably be sync'd in Final Cut Pro. I'm not familiar with all the software for Windows.

The main part I don't think you'll be able to accomplish (without expensive software) is capturing all of this in-sync with each device. This would require some sort of video-switcher software, similar to what TV stations use for live broadcasts. The method above is probably your cheapest route, if you can handle syncing it after the fact.