The RaspberryPi seems to record video good enough for pinball.

I compiled a version of ffmpeg with non-free AAC libraries in order for it to connect to twitch, since twitch needs an audio feed, even if it is empty.
It however seems CPU bound at higher bit rates. I found that 1500000 bps and 25 fps was the most the Pi could handle without skipping frames.

So, here's the result, a shot of me backhanding off of the upper flipper into the gem shot for a quorra super jackpot. no big deal.
http://www.twitch.tv/bdols/c/5696192

Looks really good. I like the blue color.

I played with plumbing pipe a bit but it was a bit too heavy and expensive for me. Still, if you have it laying around it works great.

Yeah, in my mind, I had to justify how many playfield swaps or possible repairs that I would actually do but the possibility of using it as a camera rig when it wasn't being used as a rotisserie led me to pursue building it.

Made thisimage.jpg

It attaches to my ceiling gridimage-149.jpg

My iPhone sits on it and can be controlled from an iPad using the Airbeam app

What parts did you use to make that? Are those black tiles?

We're looking to make something where we can mount a Go Pro above machines in our league and this looks like a good solution.

The stands won't work in this situation. Any other suggestions?

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I painted the ceiling tiles flat black to kill reflection.

I used 1" aluminum channel and 3/4" aluminum angle. I bought the material from Lowes or Home depot. My ceilings are 8' and I was able to make 4 rigs with what I bought.
I use 1/4-20 all thread for the bolts. I could have just used bolts but I had all thread in my shop.

Here are some pics.

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Thank you for the photos, that's a big help.

These "grid mount" ceiling camera mounts are $3 at your local Spy Shop.

grid mount.jpg

If anyone local (Smithtown Long Island) wants to practice on my machines I.M me and let's talk, I have plenty of games that you can practice on, maybe we can work something out.

Just made a video with an iphone 5s.
I think it looks pretty good. Way better than the crappy Sony Legria I used to use.

It looks surprisingly good!

yeah this is much simpler looking. what did that run you and how has it been long term?

This past weekend I built my own rig in less than 40 minutes using furniture grade 1" PVC I bought from Home Depot. Cost: $62. I was previously using mic stands and a rat's nest of cables.

I went from this:
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To this:
IMG_3898 (resized).jpg

It's just a proof-of-concept right now - a few changes to make:
- I accidently got a Tee-Slide PVC to join the two vertical pipes together instead of a real PVC coupler. Had to use gaffer's tape so that the PVC would slide on and stay. Easy change out.
- I'm going to strap on USB hubs and a 3-prong outlet extender to the bottom right vertical PVC.
- I plan on getting shorter/specific length USB extensions and power extensions so that the cables terminate at that hub and outlet on the right vertical PVC. That way, I need to connect only TWO cables (USB extension to laptop and Power extension to outlet) to the rig. This will make the rig portable to each machine in my game room whereas previously I'd have to move each machine to the "recording" area of my game room. With the rig width cut to 33", it will accommodate both standard and widebody pins and still be able to fit between pins in my row.

I thought maybe I'd have to put a couple of sandbags, but it's pretty dang stable on its own....don't think I need them.

First game with the rig: