Record Multiple Videos Simultaneously

This feature requires RightBooth version 7.15.5 (or newer).

The Situation
You want to make two video recordings of the same subject at the same time from two different points of view.
You need to set up two instances of RightBooth, with each instance using a different camera.
Additionally, you only want to show the user the interactive video recording workflow for the first instance of RightBooth and the first camera.  Also, every time you use the first instance of RightBooth to record a video with the first camera you want the second instance of RightBooth to automatically record the second video using the second camera.
This article explains how to achieve this set up.

Preparation
Make sure you either have two webcams or two Canon DSLR cameras connected to the computer.  Switch the cameras on and make sure they are recognized by Windows.

Set up RightBooth Instance 1 and the First Video Recording Event​

• Run RightBooth - RB1.
• In RB1 Settings --> Cameras, choose the camera type: ‘Webcam’ or ‘DSLR camera’ for video recording.
• If you are using two webcams, choose the first webcam from Cameras --> Webcam video --> Device list
• If you are using two DSLR cameras, choose the first DSLR camera from Cameras --> DSLR --> Canon device list
• Use the RightBooth Create Wizard to create your first video recording event.
• You can optionally include the User Input event screen to allow for capturing each user’s First name and Last name.
  • In Event Designer -> Event structure -> User details, tick the options: First name and Last name
• If you want the video filenames to include the captured user name:
  • In RB1 Settings --> Folders/files --> Filenames include, tick the option: user name
• In RB1 Event Designer --> Event structure --> Miscellaneous --> Video recording commands, tick the option: ‘Send’
• Save the event.  Use a memorable event name, for example:  VidRec1.

Set up RightBooth Instance 2 and the Second Video Recording Event

• Make sure RightBooth Instance 1 is currently running.
• You can now run a second instance of RightBooth - RB2.
• In RB2 Settings --> Cameras, choose the same camera type for video recording as you have chosen in RB1 (above).
• If you are using two webcams, choose the second webcam from Cameras --> Webcam video --> Device list.
• If you are using two DSLR cameras, choose the second DSLR camera from Cameras --> DSLR --> Canon device list.
• Use the RightBooth Create Wizard to create the second video recording event.  Design the event as follows:
  • Include the Start screen
  • In the Event designer --> Event structure, exclude ALL the optional event screens, including the Choose recording screen, Get ready screen, Countdown screen, Show video screen and the Thank you screen.
  • IMPORTANT: This second event MUST only include the Start screen and the Record video screen in the event workflow.
• In Event Designer --> Event type, tick the option: ‘Play minimised’
• In Event Designer --> Event type --> Video section, ensure:
  • the Maximum recording time is set to the same value as defined in the VidRec1 event.
  •  the option: ‘Allow screen input to stop recording’ is set to the same value as defined in the VidRec1 event.
• In Event Designer --> Event structure --> Miscellaneous --> Video recording commands, tick the option: ‘Receive’
• Save the event.  Use a memorable event name, example:  VidRec2.

Configuring Both Instances to Start Playing Automatically

• In RB1 Settings --> Start/Stop --> When RightBooth starts:
  • Tick: ‘Play the current event’
  • Tick: ‘Start another instance’
• In RB2 Settings --> Start/Stop --> When RightBooth starts:
  • Tick: ‘Play the current event’

Close both instances of RightBooth.

Playing the Events

• Run RightBooth.  The following sequence will happen:
• RB1 will automatically start running.
• RB1 will automatically open and play event VidRec1 and it will show the Start event screen.
• RB1 will then automatically start running RB2.
• RB2 will automatically open and play the event VidRec2. It will be hidden and minimised on the Task Bar.
• RB2 will be waiting at the Start event screen.
• Now each time RB1 is used to record a video with camera 1, when the video recording starts, RB1 will also send an instruction to RB2 to automatically start it recording a second video with camera 2 at the same time as RB1.
• When the RB1 video recording is complete, RB1 will automatically send an instruction to RB2 to also end the second video recording at the same time.
• RB1 and RB2 will save their videos using the same filename into their respective event folders.
• RB1 and RB2 will both return to their respective Start event screens, waiting for the next user input.

Note: You could also use this setup with RightBooth instances 3 and 4, where RB3 and RB4 are set up with their own recording event files that are configured in the same way as RB2 (above).  Doing this, you can effectively record up to 4 videos simultaneously from 4 cameras using 4 instances of RightBooth, all being controlled by the first instance of RightBooth.

Video demonstration: