Can you help us get going with this?

[newsgonz]

We're a community-based organization - all volunteer - but we would like to produce a multi-camera webcast particularly for our members only. Our budget is not high. I'm wondering if this audience would be able to suggest basic items we would need to produce and what version of VidBlaster would be best. What we anticipate doing is having special guests come to our home studio for interviews. We would like to have a two-camera shot, one wide and one for the special guest. We would also like to switch to webcams of our members so they may have a two-way conversation with any special guest.

We find ourselves struggling to determine what type of USB cameras we should purchase and the version of VidBlaster we should opt into?

Studio lighting, done.

Studio audio mics and mixer, done.

I don't believe we need too much sophistication with cameras, but I certainly want the quality of the video to look decent. Can anyone offer any advice?

Totally open on this.

[Echo7]

A few ideas...have a very powerful computer, i7 is best, but with what you describe a Quad Core with 8 gb ram and windows 7 along with VidBlaster Pro give you latitude to expand if necessary. You can use Microsoft LiveCam Cinamas for one or two camera modules. A decent camcorder with a USB or Firewire output can produce good video. Your sound mixer routed through your computer will suffice for mics..ie(mixer output to compuer input, computer output to mixer input) VB version 1.17 isthe current release and is very stable. You can try it in trial version to test before you purchase. I use wireless microphones to a wireless reciever to the mixer and it works great. Saves wireing and for about $150 you can get a four mic setup from cheapdj.com.
The entire setup just needs to be tested and tweaked to your satisfaction. Hope this helps a little?