Live Video Shoot

You can do a live video shoot directly into FCE but only with 1 camera.

If you want 2 cams live, you would need a video mixer and have to actively switch between them during the shoot. FCE can only take 1 feed at a time.

The alternative is to shoot with 2 cameras, import the footage from each, and sync them on the timeline.

Theoretically yes, but it depends on a lot of factors, not least of which is what kind of switcher you're using. The whole system has to work together, cameras, audio, switcher, computer, software, and drives. Any one component can make it not feasible.

I agree with Tom, most cheap digital cameras on the market can behave as a form of breakout box, in that you can send analogue footage to the camera and the camera will digitize the footage and send the digital footage to the computer via firewire.

As Tom mentioned here you need a fast drive 7200rpm at minimum and a Firewire 400/800 port, 800 better.

So in this case you could mix through an analogue mixer and send the signal to the camera which could record and relay the signal to the Computer. It is best to record on the 2 camera's and then edit offline. Many cables many points of failure!!!

My R0.02
Justin, Durban South Africa

Yes, but there's a big difference in what you need depending on the video mixer you get:

If you have an analog video mixer (like an Edirol V4) you will connect your cameras to the mixer via analog composite or S-video connections; plus you will need an analog-digital converter (like a Canopus ADVC-110) between the video mixer and your Mac. You will have an analog connection from the mixer to the converter; and a Firewire connection from the converter to the Mac. In this case you will also need to connect your mics (or audio out from the cameras) to the audio-in of the converter.

If you have a digital video mixer (like the Focus Enhancements MX4-DV) then you can connect your cams to the mixer via Firewire and also connect the mixer to your Mac via firewire.