There are numerous options when it comes to Video Interfaces and switchers. Generally speaking the more they cost the more flexible and capable they are. The main advantages with a hardware interface are the ease of managing and encoding multiple cameras to one format, taking a great deal of stress off of your computer’s CPU and the ease of operation when streaming or recording.
Here are a few options that do a lot and don’t cost many thousands of dollars:
- Black Magic Design Mini ATEM
- Black Magic Design ATEM Television Studio
- Black Magic Design Intensity Shuttle
- Roland V-1HD
A piece of gear like this is a bit of an investment so it’s good to think about what your needs are and what they might be in the future before you buy. Something like the Mini ATEM will give you a fair amount of room to grow as you add a second camera or an input from another video source. The next step up will let you connect every piece of video gear you can think of and manage it easily.
