Do you wish to make your vlog videos more captivating? Do you want to record yourself from one camera angle and capture a product from another to make an engaging review or unboxing video? You can create a multi-camera setup, eliminating the need to make separate videos from various angles.
How can you record multiple webcams at once? It's a breeze with high-quality software with multi-camera support. We'll walk you through one of the best and show you how to edit your footage. Let's first see how a multi-cam setup helps and what equipment you need.
Table of Content
Getting the Required Equipment and Software for Recording Multiple Webcams
Here's what you need to record multiple webcams simultaneously:
| High-quality webcams | Your computer's built-in webcam can be ideal for medium shots, while an external camera can provide tight shots. Add as many cameras to the setup as you wish, but ensure all support high-resolution recordings (at least 1080p). |
| HDMI or USB cables | You must connect your external camera(s) to your computer to enable signal transmission, so consider the model to see which cable you need. |
| Tripods or camera stands | Your external webcam(s) will need a tripod or stand for stabilization and angle consistency, so get a sturdy one capable of supporting your recording equipment. |
| Recording software | Capturing all your webcams requires a high-quality recorder compatible with your system. |
| Editing software | Your webcam recordings will need polishing, so get an advanced editing program to make them look and feel professional. |
Have you prepared all the essentials and connected your cameras to your computer? Fantastic! Here's how to use one excellent recording program to capture your webcams simultaneously.
How To Record Multiple Webcams Simultaneously
OBS Studio is among the most loved recording and streaming software. Many gamers, podcasters, and content creators swear by it, leveraging its multi-scene and multi-source support to make screen and webcam recordings and broadcast them on streaming platforms.
Here's how to record multiple webcams with OBS Studio:
- Download and install OBS Studio for Windows (10 or 11), macOS (11.0 or newer), or Linux (all distributions).
- Click the Plus button under Scenes to create a new one.
- Hit the Plus button under Sources and click Video Capture Device (that's your webcam).
- Name the source (e.g., Webcam 1), tick the Make source visible checkbox, and click OK.
- Once the Properties dialog box opens, choose your first webcam under Device.
- Choose between the camera's default or a custom resolution.
- (Optional) Click Configure Video to adjust the brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, sharpness, and other color parameters. Click Apply > OK > OK.
- Repeat steps 3–7 to add another Video Capture Device and record two webcams simultaneously. Do the same to include more cameras. You can create separate scenes for each, but that won't capture all the webcams on the same screen. Instead, an active scene will display its respective camera, while others won't be visible.
- Once you set up all your webcams, click Settings.
- Go to Output > Recording, switch to Advanced Mode, and modify the settings. For instance, you can set the recording path, video and audio encoders, rescale output, and video format. Remember that OBS Studio won't save your MP4 video in case of a power loss or BSoD. MKV is your best bet.
- Switch to the Audio section in the left sidebar and choose a microphone under Mix/Auxiliary Audio. It can be your webcam's mic, but an external microphone will provide better quality. Don't set up multiple microphones because you'll have an echo effect. As for Desktop Audio, OBS Studio will record it by default, so turn it off if you don't want to capture system sounds.
- Move to the Video section and set the frame rate (30–60) under Common FPS Values and the Base (Canvas) and Output (Scaled) Resolution. The former is your monitor's resolution, while the latter is what your viewers will see. They should match to eliminate the need for rescaling.
- If you want OBS Studio to save your MKV recording as MP4, go to the Advanced section and check Automatically remux as mp4 (record as mkv). Remuxing (re-multiplexing) means rewrapping one format into another. Click Apply > OK.
- Click and move your webcam sources to reposition them and drag their red corner and edge handles to resize them.
- Adjust the volume of each audio source in the Audio Mixer before recording.
- Click Start Recording to capture all webcams simultaneously.
- Click Stop Recording to finish the process.
How To Edit the Recorded Multiple Webcam Videos
Whether you wish to edit multiple webcam videos simultaneously or separately polish multi-cam recordings, you'll need top-notch editing software because OBS Studio doesn't support editing.
Have you tried Wondershare Filmora? It's an advanced video editor with standard recording capabilities. It can only record one webcam with or without your screen, microphone, and system audio. However, its strength lies in its professional-level (many AI-powered) features, which can transform your videos.
It offers auto-captions and subtitles, AI text-based and copilot editing, animations, transitions, video and audio effects, noise removal, etc. It can enhance video quality, generate thumbnails, automatically reframe videos for social media, etc.
The best part? Filmora supports multicam editing, making it ideal for saving time in post-production. It also lets you create compound clips to apply identical changes to several videos.
Why Record Multiple Webcams Simultaneously
The most notable reasons to record multiple webcams simultaneously include the following:
- Making videos more dynamic - Multi-cam recordings showcase subjects from different angles, making them more engaging and entertaining. They also allow for various simultaneous shots.
For instance, tight shots let you take center stage and can convey emotions or zoom in on a product. A medium shot can showcase yourself and your desk (or yourself and your podcast guest), while a wide shot can feature your recording studio. Such a setup is more appealing than a static camera.
- Enhancing the viewing experience - A multi-camera video can immerse the audience, communicating a unique story. Whether you create product reviews, offer beauty tutorials, or record podcast interviews and debates, simultaneously recording multiple webcams can give your videos a professional feel that impresses viewers and retains their attention.
- Increasing production efficiency - Imagine recording separate videos for all your desired camera angles. It would take considerable effort and unnecessarily long time. A multi-cam setup means recording only once and enjoying faster post-production editing.
Now that you understand how a multi-camera recording setup can help you make captivating videos, it's time to see what equipment and software it requires.
Conclusion
Simultaneously recording multiple webcams may seem daunting, but cross-platform recording software like OBS Studio can make it a breeze. Therefore, get the necessary equipment, create captivating videos, and perfect them with professional editing software like Wondershare Filmora.
