I'm new to the vMix world but I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on a system. This post has two goals: 1 - to share my experience with the new Thunderbolt 3 thing that has made laptop shopping confusing. And 2 - to ask for help finding a laptop.

My plan is to purchase the following:

Pretty decent laptop - probably in the $2500 range. Preferably one with two Thunderbolt-2 ports if possible.
(2) Epiphan AVio SDI to Thunderbolt interface thingys $379 x 2 = $758 http://www.epiphan.com/products/avio-sdi/
If I can't find a laptop with two thunderbolt-2 ports I guess I'll spring for a AJA lo4K which can take up to four cameras into one Thunderbolt port. $2000 https://www.aja.com/en/products/io-4k

So as of January 2016 it seems all the new laptops have something called Thunderbolt 3. Different manufacturers call it different things for instance MSI calls it a "Superport." The problem according to an AJA tech support guy, is there are no cables to connect a Thunderbolt-3 computer to a Thunderbolt-2 device (like the AJA lo4K). Addition problems I've encountered: VERY few people in the computer sales business know anything about Thunderbolt. And you can't even search for laptops using Thunderbolt because no computer retailer website even consistently lists it as a feature.

I have no doubt in a few months, this Thunderbolt 3 thing will sort itself out and people in the industry will figure out what it is and adapters and cables will become available. But that leaves me with the problem of having to buy last year's laptop (if I can find one) because I need to get this system up to speed right away. I have some big jobs right around the corner and I can't be goofing around with an unfamiliar system that I just put together.

You can also get a capture card that is on the vMix Supported Hardware list and put it in an external Thunderbolt enclosure. That way you could get a 4-port capture device that support four cameras.

Also, Tom Sinclair at Eastern Shore Broadcasting has a product, BOLT4, 4-port HD-SDI Capture that would work (external Thunderbolt enclosure w/ capture card). I'm sure Tom has the HDMI flavor of it too.

http://easternshorebroadcasting...capture-via-thunderbolt/

@ geoffreydean

In the same category as the Epiphan AVio SDI USB is the Magewell SDI dongle:
http://www.bhphotovideo....i_xi100_sdi_usb_3_0.html

Obviously there are a ton of options available to you, and it's never an easy decision when you are uncertain about exactly what your needs will be (and you are on a bit of a limited timeline).
There are also budgetary considerations, it can get very pricey very quickly if you try to outfit yourself to the nines right off the bat.
My suggestion would be to "test" vMix out as best you can with what you have on hand to ascertain where you have to go from where you are and if indeed you can meet your needs with this workflow (pretty sure you can, but there will be a certain amount of trial and error along the learning curve).
I think you are on the right path with the AJA or an external expansion box (it's something that could potentially be used with either a laptop or a desktop).


Ice