When I saw this recorded video of 2 people on webcams in 2 separate locations talking with each other, be it discussion or debate or interview, I started on a rampant search for how to produce that kind of a video.

(And, yes, I have contacted bloggingheads.tv to ask how they do it. Reply was “The video is produced with a mix of open source technologies”.)

After months of searching, I have not yet found a working solution that fits the bill. I know bloggingheads.tv can produce it. I just can’t find a web app accessible to the masses, yet. The closest web app I’ve found is woome.com, but that’s for video dating, and I’m wanting a web app for general usage, be it personal or professional, free or paid. Here’s what I’m looking for:

• easy to use - so a non-techie can use it
• no software download or install (cross-platform, browser independent)
• supports video chat for 2 users (from multiple locations)
• records the video chat to be played on-demand and/or embed-able
• bonus: live-streams the video chat + records it + supports a chat room for 100+ viewers
• bonus: supports 4 simultaneous webcams for panel-discussion video chat + records it + audience

Now, there are some creative solutions that people have pieced together with a mix of hardware and/or software. TWiT Live uses something called the “Skypesaurus” to live-stream the host Leo Laporte with (up to) 4 simultaneous video chatters:

… Colleen has combined four independent Windows PCs to run four instances of Skype into one monster beast: The Skypesaurus. Rawr! We had to do this because Skype only allows one video-caller at a time and some of our shows have as many as four online panelists. We tried software solutions like Oovoo and iChat but they didn?t give us good enough audio and video - Skype really is the king for that.

There are some web apps that are almost there:

• Tokbox is my favorite multi-user video chat. Currently doesn’t record, and currently no moderation so everyone in the audience can participate in video chat.
• TinyChat is a very good multi-user video chat, but its paid version currently records each webcam video to separate .FLV files.
• Stickam Debate Room can show 2 main webcam speakers, and 4 other video spectators, and an audience, but currently doesn’t record.

I have heard these softwares mentioned for use with recording a video chat (some can even live-stream, too):

Windows only
VidBlaster - state-of-the-art video production tool
Pamela for Skype - call management tool; can record video chats & more [ed.note: allegedly can record video, I can only get it to record audio or only record my portion of video -- I'd prefer it record both sides' videos + audios]
WebcamMax - video effects for webcam
ManyCam - video effects for webcam for use with multiple apps (free)
Split Camera - virtual video clone and split video capture driver (free)
CamStudio - free screen recording software

Mac only
BoinxTV - robust live video production app
CamTwist - video effects for webcam
CallRecorder - record your Mac Skype calls
ManyCam - video effects for webcam for use with multiple apps (free)

To say it another way, I want to record a split-screen video chat, first and foremost. If I can also live-stream it to an audience, that’d be an added bonus.

How do you stream and record video chat interviews?