DV Camera as a Webcam

[X-Caliber]

Hey Everybody,

I wanted to use my Sony Cam as a webcam. I have it hooked through my Adaptec firewire card, on a WinXP system. The camera works fine with video camera software, but none of the webcam software seems to detect it (except for CuSeeMe). The only thing with CUSEEME is that the video is really slow (granted I am running 1600x1200x85HZ on my G200 (16M)) I have heard that some of the other video-conferencing software has better video speed, like ISPQ and MS Netmeeting, or even MS Messanger, but none of them are able to detect my camera. I tried Yahoo Messanger, but the same result.

Are any of you guys having simliar problems? What other software do you guys use for video-conferencing ???

[Aryko]

Most webcam software won't detect a firewire device because most webcam software operates on the VfW (Video for Windows) standard and the video stream sent through firewire is WDM (?) standard.

I've used the Windows Media Encoder 7 to broadcast via a firewire camera, though on my machine I had to attach a separate cable to import audio through the line-in (the sound wasn't present through the firewire stream).

- A

[Dr Mordrid]

Another problem with using camcorders is that many have a 5 minute timer which turns them off if they aren't recording or playing.

Dr. Mordrid

[funsoul]

Hi All,

I've been trying to do the same thing and haven't gotten it working (I've got the added bonus of trying to run it through a networked pc which most chat apps seem to loathe).

I've heard and read (but not seen) that people are getting this to work by using a vfw-wdm wrapper. Micro$oft has said they'll release one but nothing as of yet. I managed to find one but no workie.

Has anyone played with these wrappers or know of 1 that might work? I'm using a Sony Digital8 cam with a Pyro DV Basic card.

-funsoul

[Greebe]

Doc I found that true on my Canon Hi8 but if you remove the tape it goes on and on and... somebody shoot dat wabbit!!!

[X-Caliber]

Hi

Actually I am using a Sony Hi8 cam, and CUSeeME is able to detect it. The reason that I made this post is that there is a company called orangemicro.com which produces the IBOT which is a firewire based webcam. Presumably this works with most webcam software, which is why I assumed it would be easy to use my videocam. There are other such similiar devices out there, so there must be a way.

-V-

[rleist]

Aryko,
According to the Media Encoder docs it only supports firewire cards from Canopus, which are expensive. What card are you using? Is it a Canopus?

Rob

[Aryko]

According to the Media Encoder docs it only supports firewire cards from Canopus, which are expensive. What card are you using? Is it a Canopus?

My system setup is an HP Omnibook 500 laptop with a firewire PCMCIA pc card. The exact vendor was firewiredirect.com, I couldn't tell you who they sublicenced the tech from (ie I doubt they manufacture the cards themselves).

- A

[Phil Pugh]

Originally posted by rleist

According to the Media Encoder docs it only supports firewire cards from Canopus, which are expensive. What card are you using? Is it a Canopus?

Rob

If you are using the Canopus Raptor then their analogue capture s/w works fine for web-cam usage. I have used it with Net-Meeting on a couple of occasions.