if you can't see your tracking rooms from the control room...

Jeff16years · 1st January 2006

if you can't see your tracking rooms from the control room...

what do you use to watch what's going on?

security cams?
web cams?

any one have any good ideas for me? i have 3 rooms that I track in that I can not see from the control room.

i was hoping to figure out some way to use apple isight right into my mac, but i don't know if i could do that and track at the same time?

what do you do?

warhead · 1st January 2006

Most guys use security cameras, I know around here they can be found cheap at the state surplus site. I wouldn't commit an audio computer's resources to it.

War

Jeff16years · 1st January 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by warhead

Most guys use security cameras, I know around here they can be found cheap at the state surplus site. I wouldn't commit an audio computer's resources to it.

War

right, that was dumb,
what i meant was that i would probably use my powerbook for video monitoring and my tower for recording if I can find a good way to do it, but i will probably look into some security equipment instead

thanks war, happy new year

bobby yarrow · 2nd January 2006

I use a cheap-ass closed-circuit thing from radioshack. Works perfectly.

Dave Martin · 2nd January 2006

Honestly, I don't worry about it. As long as there's a live mic in there that we can communicate with, I don't NEED to see the talent. Of course, they can all see each other, but I can't necessarily see them.

Midlandmorgan · 2nd January 2006

My tracking and control areas are in two separate buildings (about 4 ft apart) ... had a ratshack video monitoing system in there for a while, it worked, but after a while just found it wasn't needed...

Don't have any security issues, as I won't work with anyone I don't trust....anymore.

PhilR · 2nd January 2006

Our live and control rooms are on seperate floors so we have to make do without being able to point and laugh at the band. I have a knackered old camcorder I could probably use to rig up a CCTV system but we're stuck for space in the control room as it is!

Plus that would mean running yet another bunch of wire down the stairs....

Jim vanBergen · 2nd January 2006

old B&W security cameras work great....super cheap!!!

Jules · 2nd January 2006

cheapo security cam into (one of my 2) DAW monitors (they have an S video input)

Simply press a switch under the screen to access the S video in and BINGO! DAW screen turns into live area view...

warhead · 2nd January 2006

Mmm hmm, and Jules pulls out the gourmet sh*t...

That's the perfect setup if you have S-Video in!

War

Jules · 2nd January 2006

I get death threats from people that want to prise those old style Apple Studio Display monitors from my dead, cold hands!!!!

I was dumb and sold a third a while ago..

Now if one breaks.. I'm $^&%£ed

David R. · 2nd January 2006

I just use a talkback mic. For now.

Jules, where did you say your studio was?

carival · 3rd January 2006

I don't need to see them, and they don't need to see me. It has not been a problem. We're all usually listening!

chris rival
middleville studio

opentune · 3rd January 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by warhead

That's the perfect setup if you have S-Video in!

Anyone who would like to have a solution like mentioned above can buy
a cheapo TV PCI card. Most of these provide an S-Video input.
With the included software you can open a window that shows the
S-Video in. You can also choose the size/placement of that window!

Well, depending on resolution/quality/size of that window it can be a little
cpu consuming... but i guess that almost every DAW can handle this...

Love it!

Though i must say that Jules´ solution seems very dignified (said with british accent)

JonCraig · 3rd January 2006

i work occassionally at a guy's place who has a cool mirror-system. he (acoustic player) has glass to the control room, and the control room has glass to the big room, so he has one of those round trucker-type mirrors in the upper corner of his window. neat little setup.

--jon

Jeff16years · 3rd January 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jules

cheapo security cam into (one of my 2) DAW monitors (they have an S video input)

Simply press a switch under the screen to access the S video in and BINGO! DAW screen turns into live area view...

hmmm... now if i can get s video into my powerbook then i could use that (since I don't have a 2nd monitor) without having to overload my tracking tower with a PCI card

hey war,
i love a good PF referance when ever i see one!

1st January 2006	#1
Jeff16years Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Weymouth, MA U.S.A. Posts: 1,234 Thread Starter	if you can't see your tracking rooms from the control room... if you can't see your tracking rooms from the control room... what do you use to watch what's going on? security cams? web cams? any one have any good ideas for me? i have 3 rooms that I track in that I can not see from the control room. i was hoping to figure out some way to use apple isight right into my mac, but i don't know if i could do that and track at the same time? what do you do? __________________ www.sonicdisorder.com “One of the 10 best independent albums of 2008” -The Noise www.sonicdisorderrecording.com

1st January 2006	#2
warhead Jai guru deva om Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 12,259	Most guys use security cameras, I know around here they can be found cheap at the state surplus site. I wouldn't commit an audio computer's resources to it. War __________________ Warren Dent, Owner - ZenPro Audio: Gear Now & Zen

2nd January 2006	#5
Dave Martin Moderator emeritus Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 3,152	Honestly, I don't worry about it. As long as there's a live mic in there that we can communicate with, I don't NEED to see the talent. Of course, they can all see each other, but I can't necessarily see them. __________________ Dave Martin Java Jive Studio www.javajivestudio.com Nashville, TN

2nd January 2006	#6
Midlandmorgan Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Midland TX Posts: 1,120	My tracking and control areas are in two separate buildings (about 4 ft apart) ... had a ratshack video monitoing system in there for a while, it worked, but after a while just found it wasn't needed... Don't have any security issues, as I won't work with anyone I don't trust....anymore. __________________ Ken Morgan Wireline Studio Midland, TX Good Sound Starts With Good Gear - Great Sound Starts With Great Players

2nd January 2006	#9
Jules Gearslutz.com admin Joined: Apr 2002 Location: A Yank in London, UK Posts: 17,810 1 Review written	cheapo security cam into (one of my 2) DAW monitors (they have an S video input) Simply press a switch under the screen to access the S video in and BINGO! DAW screen turns into live area view... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jules Add your reviews to the new reviews area! Gearslutz on Facebook Follow my GS picks on Twitter

2nd January 2006	#4
bobby yarrow Gear addict Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 385	I use a cheap-ass closed-circuit thing from radioshack. Works perfectly.

2nd January 2006	#7
PhilR Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 631	Our live and control rooms are on seperate floors so we have to make do without being able to point and laugh at the band. I have a knackered old camcorder I could probably use to rig up a CCTV system but we're stuck for space in the control room as it is! Plus that would mean running yet another bunch of wire down the stairs....

2nd January 2006	#8
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,562	old B&W security cameras work great....super cheap!!!

2nd January 2006	#12
David R. Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: I left my heart, in... Posts: 1,881	I just use a talkback mic. For now. Jules, where did you say your studio was? __________________ -David R. "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - C. Bukowski

3rd January 2006	#13
carival Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2005 Location: boston area Posts: 277	I don't need to see them, and they don't need to see me. It has not been a problem. We're all usually listening! chris rival middleville studio

3rd January 2006	#15
JonCraig Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,800	i work occassionally at a guy's place who has a cool mirror-system. he (acoustic player) has glass to the control room, and the control room has glass to the big room, so he has one of those round trucker-type mirrors in the upper corner of his window. neat little setup. --jon __________________ "My job is to make music sound great and to not whine too much." --George Massenburg Learn PT Techniques from Multi-Platinum Engineers. Click Here.

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