#132 Virtual webcam unselectable

What steps will reproduce the problem?
Install webcamstudio from PPA, install webcamstudio module 112, open the application.

What is the expected output?
The virtual webcam selectable in the dropdown menu.

What do you see instead?
Only the real webcam is listed.

The Operating system you are using (Linux, Windows etc)?
Ubuntu 14.04

What version of WebcamStudio are you using?
0.73 build 599

What version of Java are you using?
OpenJDK 7

What is your Webcamera vendor, model and version?
Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd

For *nix users please enter the output from "sudo lsusb"?
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c05a Logitech, Inc. M90/M100 Optical Mouse
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 04f2:b1e5 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

If I click the button "Video devices info" I actually see the real webcam in /dev/video0 and the virtual WSVideo (0x0000) cam in /dev/video1, but in the dropdown menu of webcamstudio I see only the real webcam, so I can't select the virtual one.

[Soylent TV]

Hi Random and thanks for the feedback.
The first time you install WS you have to restart the system to have it ready to use.
Once you restart the system running WS you can activate the WSVideo device (The virtual webcam) under the "Output" pane in the bottom-right part of the User Interface. Select the "Webcam" tab and the "WSVideo (0x000 ...)" button.
The dropdown menu you actually use is for the input Webcams (usually the real ones ...).
Once you activate the WSVideo device you will have the virtual cam selectable from the Browsers or from VLC, Skype, etc ...
For any other questions feel free to ask here or in the G+ community:
https://plus.google.com/communities/110329269823088092206
karl

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that solved. I was trying to record my desktop and I also needed to select a back-end in the little desktop window, otherwise it's all blank. Now another thing is not clear, both Cheese and Genymotion emulator don't let me select the virtual cam. Is it possible?

[Soylent TV]

Yes, Cheese didn't see the virtual cam (v4l2loopback) but i can't do anythig about it ... sorry.
I never test Genymotion, but if you tell me what you want to do i will try to help.
If you have to record your desktop with an overlay real camera you can use the function "record" in "Output" pane. this will produce an flv, avi or mp4 video.
Thanks for the feedback.
karl

[Anonymous]

I'd like to show my desktop or just an image of it on the Genymotion camera. I almost did everything now (I placed an image of the desktop over the real camera footage) but the problem is that when WS uses the camera, then Genymotion can't use it at the same time and viceversa. I remember a couple of years ago I used correctly the camera at the same time in WS and in flash player cameras in Firefox. Looks like can't handle it in the same way. Maybe it's a feature possible in flash only? I hope I was clear enough, maybe I ask the impossible. :)

[Soylent TV]

Sorry Random for the late answer,
for what i know two application can't use the same real camera at the same time.
You can try to use two virtual webcams like in this article.
If you didn't install the original v4l2loopback module and ffmpeg keep in mind that you have to use "webcamstudio" in place of "v4l2loopback" and "avconv" in place of "ffmpeg".
https://timdejong.nl/blog/use-webcam-two-applications-under-linux-simultaneously-using-v4l2loopback
I think that searching google will help you.
Good luck :)
karl.

[Anonymous]

I followed the instructions but I can't make it, the cam remains unavailable if already busy in another app. I don't know, maybe I'm doing something wrong but I've never been into cams and codecs so I accept it ahaha. Thanks anyway karl for you precious support, keep up the good work. :)

[Cris Teix]

Struggled with this issue for a day. Problem is that sadly, most build 'recipes' don't include v4l2loopback. Installed it and now it just works.

[Soylent TV]

Hi Cris,
and thanks for the feedback.
If you look in WS sources trunk under "vloopback" folder you will find the "WSDevice" fork sources. Anyway the original v4l2loopback will work ok.
Installing WS from PPA will automatically build the module using dkms.
Have a good day.
karl.