<p>If your cameras have a LANC port, you can build yourself a LANC controller using arduinos: </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://controlyourcamera.blogspot.de/2011/02/arduino-controlled-video-recording-over.html?m=1" rel="nofollow">http://controlyourcamera.blogspot.de/2011/02/arduino-controlled-video-recording-over.html?m=1</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Or alternatively get a cheap lanc controller. </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&amp;id=281983277383&amp;alt=web" rel="nofollow">http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&amp;id=281983277383&amp;alt=web</a> </li>
</ul>

<p>Depending on the camera you are going to use, like the other replies mentioned, there might be options to control your cameras as well through a regular remote control or control over USB.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-11T07:47:36.397Z
2016-04-11T07:47:36.397Z
Hans Meiser
<p>Most newer camcorders can be controlled via wifi from a mobile phone or tablet. So the easiest solution would be to have 5 mobiles phones in front of you. Press record  on all of them and you are done.</p>

<p>Using the same technique you can also obtain their video.</p>

<p>Alternatively, you could connect the cameras to 5 laptops and then have a screen sharing program where you see all 5 laptops on a single computer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-14T05:00:31.747Z
a lot of cameras come with remote controls too.
stib
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-15T12:06:33.830Z
2015-06-15T12:06:33.830Z
kazanaki
<p>You need a security/surveillance system, not a production solution. All-in-one security camera setups can do all of this. Consumer grade options can be cheap and decent quality too. I would suggest a surveillance system with at least five cameras, powered over Ethernet (called PoE, allows you to run a single cat-5 to each camera and nothing else), always on and record when there's motion only. With the right system, you will set it up once, then never have to touch it again. Just log-in over your network to view, download, or manage the videos. </p>

<p>If you're in the USA, <a href="http://www.costco.com/surveillance-systems.html" rel="nofollow">Costco has some pretty good systems for fairly cheap prices too</a>. Professional grade stuff can get expensive, but it's pretty awesome stuff.</p>

<hr>

<p>Source: I had the pleasure of helping a friend install an advanced security system at my Father's house. This particular system ran from a standard PC with a capture card and special software, consisted of 8 cameras in two locations, and was managed locally over the network or remotely over the internet.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-10T14:46:14.960Z
2016-06-10T14:46:14.960Z
user3643
<p>I'm setting up an educational lab which is going to have a number of cameras positioned around the room. Ideally, there would be one button somewhere which we could press to automatically start all the cameras, and when we pressed the stop button, all the cameras would send their video to a computer in the room. What would be the best setup for this? I don't want to have to walk around and press record on five cameras, then walk around and press stop, then attach 5 USB cables, then remove 5 USB cables, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-15T21:24:38.873Z
Are you expecting all the cameras to be in sync too? If so what sort of gen-lock like system did you have in mind?
filzilla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-16T12:46:49.663Z
Well, that would be cool, but not necessary. They just need to start at approximately the same time.
ian93
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-13T03:46:07.463Z
Do you already own the cameras or are you going to buy new ones? I can help suggest solutions based on this answer. If you already have them, post the make/model, and if not, what's your budget?
Jarmer
<video><studio><automation>
Camera setup for quick preview/editing
ian93
# Camera setup for quick preview/editing

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-15)

I'm setting up an educational lab which is going to have a number of cameras positioned around the room. Ideally, there would be one button somewhere which we could press to automatically start all the cameras, and when we pressed the stop button, all the cameras would send their video to a computer in the room. What would be the best setup for this? I don't want to have to walk around and press record on five cameras, then walk around and press stop, then attach 5 USB cables, then remove 5 USB cables, etc.

**Tags:** video, studio, automation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you expecting all the cameras to be in sync too? If so what sort of gen-lock like system did you have in mind?  
> **username_0**: Well, that would be cool, but not necessary. They just need to start at approximately the same time.  
> **username_2**: Do you already own the cameras or are you going to buy new ones? I can help suggest solutions based on this answer. If you already have them, post the make/model, and if not, what's your budget?  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-04-11. Score: 1

If your cameras have a LANC port, you can build yourself a LANC controller using arduinos:

* <http://controlyourcamera.blogspot.de/2011/02/arduino-controlled-video-recording-over.html?m=1>

Or alternatively get a cheap lanc controller.

* <http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=281983277383&alt=web>

Depending on the camera you are going to use, like the other replies mentioned, there might be options to control your cameras as well through a regular remote control or control over USB.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-06-15. Score: 0

Most newer camcorders can be controlled via wifi from a mobile phone or tablet. So the easiest solution would be to have 5 mobiles phones in front of you. Press record on all of them and you are done.

Using the same technique you can also obtain their video.

Alternatively, you could connect the cameras to 5 laptops and then have a screen sharing program where you see all 5 laptops on a single computer.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: a lot of cameras come with remote controls too.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-06-10. Score: 0

You need a security/surveillance system, not a production solution. All-in-one security camera setups can do all of this. Consumer grade options can be cheap and decent quality too. I would suggest a surveillance system with at least five cameras, powered over Ethernet (called PoE, allows you to run a single cat-5 to each camera and nothing else), always on and record when there's motion only. With the right system, you will set it up once, then never have to touch it again. Just log-in over your network to view, download, or manage the videos.

If you're in the USA, [Costco has some pretty good systems for fairly cheap prices too](http://www.costco.com/surveillance-systems.html). Professional grade stuff can get expensive, but it's pretty awesome stuff.

---

Source: I had the pleasure of helping a friend install an advanced security system at my Father's house. This particular system ran from a standard PC with a capture card and special software, consisted of 8 cameras in two locations, and was managed locally over the network or remotely over the internet.


---

