If you have a simple digital video camera, then it can be used as a webcam, that's for sure. There are different ways, and below we will talk about two possible methods. This is very convenient, because it allows you to save money on buying a webcam, although it is not very practical, because you have to fool around with the settings. Oh yes, the image quality from a conventional camera will be significantly better than the image quality of almost any webcam.
Method 1: Using TeVeo Video Suite
There is such program TeVeo Video Suite. It is completely free and available to everyone. It is easy to find it on the Internet by simply googling its name. This software is intended for the following tasks:
- Showing video from the camera to everyone through the browser interface;
- Show video only to certain people who have a password;
- Communication with users who are registered on the TeVeo site.
Those. the owner of the camcorder receives its own address on the Internet. He can give a link to anyone, and this link will have access to an online picture recorded by a video camera. If desired, the link can be "password-protected", and then the video will be available only if the user enters the password. The idea is good, but it has flaws. The most important thing is that it is impossible to broadcast sound. However, the problem is solved with the help of Skype. Chat with a friend on Skype by voice and simultaneously stream video on the TeVeo site using the TeVeo Video Suite. A little impractical, but the fact is that a computer "without magic" does not recognize an ordinary digital video camera connected via USB as a webcam.
There are also alternative Skype programs, say the same NetMeeting.
Method 2. We use a special virtual driver
Here we will talk about how to "deceive" our computer and hammer it into its head that our ordinary video camera is nothing more than a webcam.
This is done using a special driver: it receives a stream from a simple video camera, but at the output it gives it, "disguised" as a webcam. The driver itself is available together with the TrackerCam program. This page has different versions of this program. Please note: there are paid and free versions. The free functionality will be enough for you.
Download the program, install it, run it. Further, you may need to specify in the program itself which video camera to use as a webcam. This is easy to do: Tuner > Display & Camera > Select camera.
As soon as you specify the desired camera, launch Skype and go to the video settings. There, in theory, our virtual webcam showing the video should appear.
TrackerCam is not easy. It is an analogue of the TeVeo Video Suite program mentioned above and also allows you to monitor via the Internet. In our case, we only needed a driver. We really hope that our advice helped to solve the problem.
A modern person has long been accustomed to the fact that a smartphone is a multifunctional device with which you can solve the most wide range tasks. But the user may not even guess about some of the capabilities of his mobile gadget. For example, in a situation where a webcam is required for video communication, it can be replaced with an Android phone camera.
Turning your phone into a webcam will come in handy if you need to:
- Make an urgent video call via Skype, but there is no standard camera at hand, or it is broken;
- Install additional webcam for Internet broadcasting;
- Create remote monitoring using your phone.
Even a phone with a broken screen can be used as a webcam. The main thing is that the front or main camera module is in working order. For different ways phone connection you will need:
- USB cable;
- Wi-Fi hotspot;
- Programs for pairing a phone and a computer or laptop.
Method 1: How to use your phone as a webcam via USB
You can connect your smartphone as a webcam to a PC or laptop via a regular USB cable. You will need some software to set up video communication. The most popular and convenient is the DroidCam Wireless Webcam Android application, which can be downloaded for free from the digital store Google Play. You also need to install the DroidCam program on your PC.
This software will work in conjunction: the Android application will set up the phone as a webcam, and the PC program will receive and process the signal from the mobile device.
Consider step by step setup phone:
- Install the DroidCam Wireless Webcam app on your smartphone;
- Open the page http://www.dev47apps.com/ in your browser, download the distribution kit and install it on your computer or laptop;
- Turn on developer mode on your phone. You can read about how to do this in our article "The 10 Most Useful Hidden Features of Android";
- Launch the "USB Debugging" feature. To do this, in the phone settings, select the menu item "For Developers" and press the button in the corresponding item.
- Launch the DroidCam Wireless Webcam app;
- Connect your smartphone to your computer via a USB cable;
- Launch the DroidCam client on the computer;
- Click on the USB connection button;
- Click on the Start button.
An image from the phone's camera will appear on the client's screen. In the settings of the DroidCam Wireless Webcam app, you can select front camera as the primary connection, and assign the phone's microphone to capture sound.
Method 2: How to use your phone as a webcam over Wi-Fi
The DroidCam Wireless Webcam program allows you to set up your phone as a webcam through WiFi connection. To do this, follow steps 1 and 2 from the above instructions. Then go through the following steps:
- Start Wi-Fi in your phone;
- Open the DroidCam Wireless Webcam app;
- Open DroidCam program on PC;
- Click on the Wi-Fi connection button;
- In the Device IP line, type in the number that will be displayed on the main screen of the Android application in the WiFi IP item;
- Check the boxes Audio and Video;
- Click Srart.
After that, the application will capture the video signal from the phone's camera and transmit it through the client to the computer. Free version applications only connects the phone and PC, and also contains ads. Paid Application Droidcam not showing advertising banners and allows you to adjust the video: set the contrast and brightness, change the resolution, and so on.
Pay attention! There are many recommendations on the Internet for applications that allow you to use your phone as a webcam. The second most popular program is the USB Webcam Android application. It should work similarly to the DroidCam utility, that is, you need to download the application to your smartphone and the PC program from the official website. The problem is that, although the application is still available on Google Play, the offsite developer of the client has ceased to exist, and downloading the distribution kit from a third-party source is fraught with the introduction of a dangerous virus on your computer.
Method 3. Turning a smartphone into an IP camera for remote video surveillance
This method is suitable for those who do not want to limit themselves to length USB cable or home Wi-Fi reception area. You can turn your smartphone into a webcam while being at least on the other side of the city using the IP Webcam Android application, which is downloaded for free from the Google Play store. To output a video signal from a phone to a PC or Skype, you will need a special adapter, which is downloaded from the official website.
To set up your phone as a webcam, you need:
- Install the application on your smartphone;
- Install the adapter on the computer;
- Set up a camera for video capture in the application;
- Set the resolution and quality of the video;
- Change additional settings: video orientation, focus and flash mode, white balance, color effect and so on;
- Select "Start Broadcasting" in the application.
- Through the browser;
- Through the VLC player;
- Through Skype.
To view the video in the browser, enter the IP address and port of the device into the search box. This information You can find out by clicking the "How do I connect" button in the application. Indicate that you are connecting directly and select the connection method: via mobile network or WiFi. In a pop-up window, the application will report the desired number, for example, 192.168.0.39:8080. Next, on the video broadcast page, select the viewing and listening mode.
- Install the distribution;
- Open the player;
- Select "Media" from the top menu;
- Click "Open URL";
- Type in a line with the address that is specified in the application and add the word videofeed, for example, like this: http://192.168.0.39:8080/videofeed ;
- Click Play.
To connect to the broadcast in Skype:
- Open the adapter program;
- Drive in the address similar to the one used for the VLC player;
- Specify the resolution 320x240 (if the signal does not connect, increase the resolution to the next level, for example 640x480);
- Click "Apply";
- In Skype, open Video settings;
- In the "Select webcam" select select MJPEG Camera.
From DroidCam Wireless Webcam, the IP Webcam app offers more features and easier connection that does not require installation additional drivers your phone.
While studying the ways in which a phone can be turned into a webcam, we used a gadget model from the Fly company.
Why Fly
Since 2003, the British company Fly has been a stable manufacturer quality smartphones in which engineers try to take into account all the requirements of modern users. The main focus of the company is on creating budget smartphones, which are not inferior in quality to models of the middle price category. Even in a gadget for 7-8 thousand rubles, the user will find a powerful 4-core processor, a capacious battery, an excellent camera, a high-quality IPS screen, and all this is framed by a stylish design.
For a while, we turned a smartphone into a webcam. Since testing took quite a long time, we needed a gadget with a capacious battery, big screen, a high-speed internet module and a fast processor. And the Cirrus 9 smartphone came up on every point. On the large 5.5-inch IPS screen, it was very convenient to manage application settings and study instructions for managing programs. A powerful 1.25 GHz quad-core processor ensured stable system operation while downloading and running multiple applets at the same time. The 4G LTE module allowed you to instantly download the most voluminous application, and a capacious 2800 mAh battery kept the smartphone in a state of full combat readiness all this time.
Using the camera as a webcam
Many are interested in the question: is it possible to use instead of a webcam for video communication on the Internet digital camera?For example, in a well-known program? The answer is definitely possible!
To solve this problem, I was prompted by dissatisfaction with the quality of my web-camera, which I acquired thoughtlessly, without first understanding its characteristics. As a result, I received a video broadcast of low quality, which did not give pleasure when communicating with my interlocutors. Having a decent high-quality camera, the thought has matured: should I use it instead of a web-camera? As a result, a method was developed to solve this design. This method is suitable for digital cameras that do not have the function of using the device as a webcam, but it is possible to connect to a TV via an AV (audio / video) cable.
To successfully implement this idea, several elements are necessary:
- a program that uses videotelephony - Skype;
- a TV tuner built into a computer, for example, from AverMedia, and the AverTV program;
- video stream distribution program - .
Having installed the above software on your computer, you need to make sure that it is working properly by running each of the programs in turn. In order for Skype to be able to recognize the video broadcast from your digital camera, do the following:
We connect the camera via the AV (audio / video) cable that comes with the kit to the composite input of the TV tuner. As a rule, it is yellow, like the cable tulip, respectively. Connecting via a USB connector in this case will not give the desired result, since the operating Windows system will perceive the digital camera as a flash-carrier;
- launch the AverTV program. In the settings, select the composite input as the video source (Composite);
- turn on the digital camera. On the screen of the AverTV player, we will see a picture coming from a digital camera. That is, the image will be broadcast directly from the camera;
- close the AverTV program, launch the Splitcam program. In its settings (File - Video Source), select AverMedia AverTV WDM Video Capture as the video source. Video from a digital device will also be broadcast on the program screen. You can also set the desired frame rate in the settings (File-frame rate) (normally 25-30 frames per second);
- launch Skype. Important - the Splitcam program must work simultaneously with Skype! Go to Tools - Settings - General - Video Settings. From the "Select webcam" list, select Splitcam capture. In the window (which is below) a broadcast from the camera will appear. Click Save.
In parallel, using the same Splitcam, you can turn on the program for capturing video and record conversations using the program voicespy. That's all, the whole laborious process is over and now you can normally use your digital camera as a webcam, the video quality will already depend on the characteristics of your camera. Have a nice chat!
Programs that might interest you
NeoSpy- a program for monitoring the computer.
— Verification of fidelity of spouses;
— Control of children on the Internet;
— Calculation of negligent employees at work.
NeoSpy intercepts and sends all correspondence, screenshots, visited sites and passwords to your email.
passwordspy- a program for recovering saved passwords from browsers and email programs.
— Recovery of lost passwords;
- Support for more than 100 programs (ie, chrome, opera, firefox, outlook, the bat! and others);
- The portable version can be run from a flash drive.
Browsers, email programs, instant messaging programs store information about the passwords you use and PasswordSpy can recover them.
The same question is often asked on the Internet: “How to connect a Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, Samsung, etc. camera instead of a webcam?” This article may partially clarify the answer to this question, and possibly help fix bugs related to video image “slowing down”, freezing Skype programs or the entire OS during a video broadcast. http://oldoctober.com/
Pictures with a magnifying glass icon can be enlarged by clicking. To return to the article, you must either click on the button Close×, located in the lower right corner, or click past the picture on the "dark matter".
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a DSC instead of a webcam?
The benefits depend on the camera used. With many cameras, for example, you can set the white balance to the target, which is not available when using a webcam.
The sensitivity of modern digital cameras is higher, and the dynamic range is wider than that of most webcams, which allows you to broadcast video with acceptable quality in almost any lighting conditions.
The picture shows a frame captured from the video stream. The room is lit only by the light of the monitor. The arrow points to the reflection of the monitor in the glass of the furniture, which is located on the opposite wall of the room. http://oldoctober.com/
The disadvantages include the relatively high power consumption of a digital camera in the video broadcast mode. Additional power will also be needed if you use the continuous focus mode (AF tracking).
All this, with prolonged use, may require recharging the battery or connecting the camera to an external power source. The cost of a proprietary power supply can be comparable to the cost of a budget webcam.
Another disadvantage is the relatively low picture resolution when transmitting video. In any case, it cannot exceed 720x576i pixels at 50fps for PAL format and 720x480i at 60fps for NTSC format. In fact, the resolution of the video stream at the DSC output can be two or more times lower.
Which DSC can work as a webcam.
DSCs are divided into those that have the "webcam" mode (Webcam) and do not have it. As for the first, here special problems can't be connected, except for the usual problems that occur when connecting a webcam to Skype. You just need to connect the camera to the USB socket, and if the camera does not support the UVC protocol, then also install the driver that came with the camera.
Further, we will talk about DSCs that do not have the “webcam” function, but broadcast an analog video signal not only in the slide show mode, but also in the mode of transmitting a video image received through the lens in real time.
Before buying any kind of video capture device, connect your camera to your TV and make sure it is capable of transmitting video of the quality you want.
All digital cameras have a video output that allows you to view photos or videos on your TV screen.
That is why, in addition to the USB cable, the DSC comes with a cable for connecting to a TV.
If, when connected to a TV, your camera is capable of streaming video, then it can be used as a webcam for Skype conversations or recording video on a computer hard drive.
Well, if the camera allows you to turn off the information board with data on shooting conditions.
Video capture hardware.
The operation of transferring streaming (live) video from a camera to a computer is called capturing video (Capture Video).
You can capture video using any video capture device that has a composite cinch input (usually yellow color). This device can be a video card or tuner with video input as well as any built-in or external adapter for capturing a video signal.
In the picture, pos.1 and 2 are built-in and external TV tuners, and pos. 3 and 4 - built-in and external video capture adapters.
Video capture software.
Before installing video drivers on your computer, if possible, create an OS restore point, or even better, an OS backup.
Recognize some conflicts software and equipment is easier when you can roll back and start over. This, of course, concerns not only the installation of video drivers. Simply, conflicts that arise when using all kinds of video software can be a little more difficult to resolve.
Any video capture device comes with a driver program that allows you to record a video signal to a hard drive, but this program does not translate the video signal to Internet telephony programs. To send this video signal directly to Skype, it must be intercepted and redirected. For this purpose, you can use free program splitcam.
However, the software supplied with the video capture device must be installed, because without it, the video signal cannot be captured.
The only case where you can do without installing the accompanying software is when the video device supports the UVC (USB Video Class) standard. This standard does not require the installation of drivers in the operating system, starting with Windows XP SP2. Such a device, for example, could be a webcam, which, however, does not want to "cooperate" with Skype. Such cases occur, and we will consider them below.
Installing and using SplitCam.
Installing the program is no different from installing other applications, except that during the installation process the installer offers to install a bunch of any related software that is not related to capture. I did not install any of the proposed software and do not advise you.
The picture shows the installation process. On pages with options that are not related to video capture, you can safely click the Declines button.
The installation process itself takes only a few seconds.
So, the Split Cam program is installed, and you can start switching the signal.
Switching the video signal when using a video capture device.
If your video capture device, such as an adapter or TV tuner, is not on your computer, you must first connect it to your computer.
Then, in the composite input (usually it is yellow), you need to include a cable connected to a similar digital camera output.
The digital camera has a timer to conserve battery power. automatic shutdown. Set it to the maximum time so that the camera does not turn off at the most inopportune moment.
Using an external power supply will eliminate the need for frequent battery recharge.
Before trying to redirect the video stream using SplitCam, make sure that the image from your camera is going to the video capture device.
To do this, run the program that comes with the video capture device.
We launch the SplitCam program.
In the program menu, select the signal source: File > Video Source > Your video capture device. Do this even if there is already a bird in front of your device.
This is a little counterintuitive, since, usually, when you re-select, the bird is removed. But, let's leave it on the conscience of the program developer, not forgetting that the program is free.
If you select the option: Options > Advertisements > Exchange ad and video windows, the picture with the captured video will move to a larger window.
Now that you have verified that the video signal was successfully intercepted, you can start Skype.
Latest Versions Skype programs themselves offer to check the quality of the video picture. But, if this did not happen, then you will have to select the signal source manually.
From the Skype main menu, select Tools > Options > Video Settings > Select Webcam. In the dropdown menu select SplitCam Capture.
Possible problems with video signal transmission.
The appearance of a video image in the Skype settings window is not a guarantee that you will be able to successfully transmit this video signal to your subscribers.
The first obstacle on this path is the Skype program itself.
If the video signal successfully passed Skype and went to your interlocutor, then we cannot significantly influence his further wanderings under the P2P protocol (Peer To Peer, equal to equal). Here, much will depend on a number of circumstances, such as the transmission speed between individual computers on the network (of which there may be many), the magnitude of pings, the number of lost packets, etc.
But, even worse, if, after some time after establishing a connection with the subscriber, the video signal “wedges” in the Skype program itself. The cause may be a software conflict due to a specific hardware configuration. This manifests itself as a “freezing” of the picture or even freezing of the Skype program itself. In the worst case, this conflict can lead to an OS freeze and require a computer restart.
Manufacturers are aware of existing problems and try to solve them, but the huge variety of hardware used and its configurations makes this process difficult.
On one of the tested computers, I met with a similar conflict, which manifests itself in the “freezing” of the video and freezing of Skype. I followed all the manufacturer's recommendations, from installing the latest drivers for all computer hardware to updating the BIOS with the latest software version, but nothing has changed from this.
If such a conflict takes place, then you can use another program that also knows how to redirect the video stream - ManyCam.
Installing and using ManyCam.
The ManyCam program is a multifunctional software that allows you not only to redirect the video stream in the same way as SplitCam does, but also provides a lot of other equally interesting functions.
For example, with the help of this program, you can show your friends a video recording that is on your computer's hard drive.
The function of showing the desktop has been extended compared to the similar function of Skype, which allows you to adapt the transmission of the picture to the capabilities of the existing communication channel.
Simply put, you can determine not only the size of the transmitted picture, but also the resolution of the video image.
With a narrow communication channel, the legibility of the image can be significantly increased by moving the selected area following the movement of the cursor.
Well, for fans of different baubles, ManyCam was taught to intercept streaming video and add all kinds of effects there, such as those that allow you to add branded software that comes with regular webcams.
I liked the ability to change the background right during the video broadcast. Moreover, the background can be not only static, but also dynamic. In the program, this effect is located under the button. background.
It works like this. First, ManyCam remembers the background behind you * , and then replaces it with its own static or dynamic background. Of course, upon closer examination of the picture, you can notice artifacts typical of the mediocre performance of Chroma key technology. But, if you try and pick up the real and virtual backgrounds by tone, then you can easily.
In general, if you are an active user of Skype, then this program may be useful to you, even if everything is already working well for you.
Installing the ManyCam software takes 10 to 20 seconds.
When, during the installation of the program, you are prompted to install additional software, you can safely click Declines.
* When you try to use the background change effect, a pop-up window will appear and you will be asked to capture a snapshot of your background without you. Clicking on the button take a snapshot(Capture Snapshot), leave the webcam's field of view within 3 seconds.
The background, at the same time, must be motionless, and the lighting conditions must be unchanged. For example, if you, sitting down at the table, even slightly change the flow of light falling on the background, then this may cause additional Chroma key artifacts. Naturally, all settings (Focus, WB, Exposure) of the webcam should be in manual mode.
Is it possible to use a digital camera as a webcam to work in video communication programs via the Internet? It depends on the capabilities of the camera itself.
In some models, the manufacturer the function of working in webcam mode is laid(Webcam), and this should be written in the user manual. If the camera supports web cameras According to the instructions, you need to connect it to your computer via USB.
You may also need to install the driver that came with the camera.
Other cameras that, according to the instructions, do not provide for this mode of operation can be divided into two groups:
- The first group includes cameras that can be used as a webcam, but for this you need to install special programs.
- And the other group includes cameras that will not be able to work as a webcam.
To understand which devices belong to the first group, you need to connect the video output of the camera (see instructions) to the TV. Typically, this is done using a cord with tulips and a USB connector at one end, and at the other end there should be a connector for connecting to the camera. So, by connecting the camera with this cord to the TV using a yellow tulip, on the TV screen you should see an image that this moment the camera shoots through the lens in real time. On the TV receiver, you need to select the appropriate input. To do this, you do not need to enable viewing photos or video files on the camera.
If such a connection is possible, and you really see the real-time image from the camera on the TV screen, then you can use such a device as a webcam. Just need to install desired programs on computer.
Camera connection
To organize the operation of the camera as a webcam you need to have a video capture device (Capture Video) on your computer. This device will transmit the video signal to the desired programs.
Such a device for capturing video can be a TV tuner, video card or adapter. But at the input of such devices there must be a video input in the form of a "tulip" connector. We will connect the yellow tulip from the camera to it.
1) INSTALL DRIVERS AND PROGRAMS
After installing the necessary drivers, you will also need to install utility for redirecting video signal to the Internet(ManyCam , Active WebCam , SplitCam). After all, programs for ensuring the operation of video capture devices can save video recordings taken by the camera on HDD, but they cannot broadcast this signal to the network. This is where a special utility is needed to redirect the video stream.
2) CAMERA SETUP
For normal operation of the camera, you need to disable the shutdown function when idle in the settings. Also, to save battery power, it is advisable to connect the camera to the power supply. Especially if you use constant focus.
3) SWITCHING
After that, connect the camera to the computer using the yellow tulip A / V cable. Before that, you need to connect the tuner or adapter to the computer, if they are external and located outside. All connections must be made with the equipment turned off.
In the window of the program supplied with the video capture device, you should see the video from the camera (you may have to set the input to composite "composite").
4) UTILITY SETUP
Thereafter open utility window to redirect video recording and select the desired device as the signal source:
File > Video Source > Your video capture device.
Here you can also configure the video signal settings, which can be useful if the Internet is slow and the image is slowing down.
5) SKYPE SETUP
Already after this Skype can be opened or another video communication program and in the settings specify our utility as the source of the video signal:
Tools > Options > Video Settings > Select Webcam.
Possible difficulties
When installing all drivers and programs, it is desirable to create a restore point on the computer. Various difficulties and errors are possible when using video processing software. To secure your system, you should use the recovery options in the OS.
If at work Skype system hangs, restart your computer. If this happens often, then it is advisable to reinstall all programs and drivers (used in this guide). If this does not help, then you can use another utility program to redirect the video signal. If only minor interference is present, then you can try turning off all programs and turning them on again.
You do not need to change the order in which the programs are turned on (first the utility that directs the video stream, and then Skype).
Benefits of using your camera as a webcam
- The sensitivity of the camera is greater than that of a conventional webcam, which allows you to transmit normal video in low light conditions;
- You can adjust the white balance;
- The dynamic range is wider;
- There is zoom.
