[slewis1972]

HI Guys

Need some help and advice.

I need to setup a portably usebaility for a piece of software that needs testing on a pc. Senario is:

1 pc with LCD screens and we need to record via 2 camcorders - to record whats going on the screen (may use dual monitors setup to minimise the user blocking the camcorder view) and video the user (to take body language and any key movements or not using the mouse etc) when they use a piece of software. Everything must be in sync - both feed and audio.

The camcorders also need to be able to while recording to also pipe a live feed to a couple of LCD tv's.

Now, suggestions on the camcorders - I think hdd's possibly, but what type and both need external mic's

Now, post production doing this. What I need to do, is then drag the video from each camcorder into a video package where we can splice it and need to able able to do is create 1 avi that shows the same spliced moment side by side eg video1|Video2 so you get to see at each moment, whats going on the screen and there movement. THis is the tricky bit, not least expliaining it. What software can do this - Adobe Studio or is there a simpler and cheaper option.

Or, is there a solution that can do the post production actually at the same time as the actual recording. Then from the one AVi file, is splice the bits they need and then not have to splice each file, at certain times and then merge them etc.

Any advice apprecieted.

Thanks

Scott

[redsox_mark]

Camcorders: What budget, and does it need to be HDD? Camcorders with mic inputs are increasingly rare. If you are looking at SD HDD, it's Sony or JVC. The JVC MG505 has mic input, the lower models don't. With Sony, several of their models will take a mic but only using the AIS shoe. The HD/AVCHD Sony SR1 has a mic input. If you want to go budget and don't need a HDD cam, the DV Canon MD101 is the cheapest camcorder with a mic input (and quality isn't bad either).

For your post production, pretty much any editing software should allow you to edit with the 2 video tracks, and show them "split screen", or cut back and forth between the two. For audio I would suggest to use a single audio track (from one of the camcorders).

[AMc]

I used to work for a usability testing company and we used a program called Morae with webcams and secondary monitors - it's not cheap £862,95 but its what the industry uses and for a reason. You'll spend a lot of time and effort setting up a hardware suite and then more post producing the results instead of analysing the test and coming up with recommendations.
http://www.techsmith.com/morae.asp

A great site on Usability testing...and his book is absolutley worth reading
http://www.sensible.com/