Software vision mixer

A software vision mixer is a piece of software which is able to switch between various video sources. In some cases, this software is also able to composite (combine) video from various sources. It essentially acts as a software version of a hardware vision mixer.

In contrast to a hardware vision mixer, a software vision mixer allows for a larger number of channels, connection types, and transition effects, and allows for greater flexibility of computer-based content integration, text and graphics overlay, and media programming. Another difference between software and hardware vision mixers is that software mixers are limited by the computer's performance. Software vision mixers are generally less expensive than hardware vision mixers.

Examples

Open source

• Snowmix (Linux & OS X & FreeBSD) ^[1]
• DVSwitch (Linux) ^[2]
• FreeJ (Linux & OS X) ^[3]
• ScreenStudio (Linux & partially OS X) ^[4]
• WebcamStudio (Linux) ^[5]
• Open Broadcaster Software (Linux, Microsoft Windows, and OS X) ^[6]
• CasparCG (Microsoft Windows) ^[7]
• Voctomix (Linux) ^[8]

Freeware

• CamTwist (Mac OS X) ^[9]
• FFsplit (Microsoft Windows) ^[10]
• Wirecast for YouTube(Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X) ^[11]

Commercial

• avtake CutFour (SD/HD, Microsoft Windows 7 64bit) ^[12]
• BoinxTV (Mac OS X) ^[13]
• CamCamX (Mac OS X) ^[14]
• ManyCam (Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows) ^[15]
• D3DGear Broadcaster(Microsoft Windows) ^[16]
• VidBlaster (Microsoft Windows) ^[17]
• vMix (Microsoft Windows) ^[18]
• Wirecast (Mac OS X) and (Microsoft Windows) ^[19]
• XSplit Broadcaster (Microsoft Windows) ^[20]

References