7 ms·

Share OBS output as a webcam in Hangouts, Zoom etc

98 points by luxpir 7y ago

imperialdrive 7y ago
Good timing on the article - I was just setting this up yesterday with some luck (Snap Camera doesn't seem to respect the virtual cam instance) but still very cool.
cjcampbell 7y ago
I'd been looking into OBS/obs-virtualcam until I discovered that macOS support wasn't there. Not free, but I have successfully tested ManyCam, which I believe will work well for my streamlining the process of switching between screenshare and secondary camera sources for Zoom.
- deegles 7y ago
  Went down that rabbit hole this weekend too, I got an HDMI capture device so I could stream my Switch on Zoom with friends and the lack of virtual cam in OBS was a bummer. Hopefully it will be added soon.
  - MrLeap 7y ago
    The CEO of shopify put a 10,000$ bounty toward your hope. https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15 https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15
- Wowfunhappy 7y ago
  On OS X 10.9 (which I'm running), I use CamTwist (v3.0) for this. I have no idea if CamTwist also works in modern macOS, but probably worth a try. http://camtwiststudio.com/ http://camtwiststudio.com/
- Scottopherson 7y ago
  It's being worked on: Tobi Lutke (Shopify CEO) has put out a $10,000 bounty for cross platform virtual camera for OBS - https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 - https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio/issues/2568 https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio/issues/2568 - https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15 https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15 via dashesyan https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22749401 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22749401
- johnboiles 7y ago
  I made a plugin that sorta works for this last week: https://github.com/johnboiles/obs-mac-virtualcam https://github.com/johnboiles/obs-mac-virtualcam
  - cjcampbell 7y ago
    Thanks for posting. I will give it a shot!
  - skinnymuch 7y ago
    Awesome! Even if it is buggy or won’t work for me when I try it. Great that you already have this shipped. Not saying it is buggy. Just if it is, no problem having this out already! Been waiting for something for OBS for a while. since 2019 when Mojave made Syphon injecting much harder due to security changes. And demand for it and any other similar injecting almost entirely waned.
KingMachiavelli 7y ago
It's also a pretty good solution if you just want to display a static image or loop a 5 minute clip giving the appearence of having video enabled and making your screen more identifiable.
- Igelau 7y ago
  Just a five minute loop of thoughtful nodding and the occasional brow furrow.
fangfufu 7y ago
Just use webcamoid and get it done and over with. It is less hack.
- bdcravens 7y ago
  You say that like it's a quick install. You have to build it on your machine apparently: https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/wiki/Raw-build-and-install https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/wiki/Raw-build-and-in...
  - poyu 7y ago
    The release page doesn't have what you want? https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/releases https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/releases
    - bdcravens 7y ago
      At first glance, those might work, but when I go to the README, there's no mention of those binaries, and it links to the wiki under "Build and Install". However going to the project website at https://webcamoid.github.io/ https://webcamoid.github.io/ it does link to the executables, which is a little clearer. I guess I've gotten used to going to the Github repo for projects more than most would.
      - ta999999171 7y ago
        Which is scary, and unintentional gate keeping, because the average user sees a GitHub landing page as a list of folders they have no clue what to do with - and leaves. No scrolling, no clicking "Readme.MD". They just give up. Seen it happen personally, unfortunately.
  - fangfufu 7y ago
    It might be available on your distro. It is certainly available on Debian.
platz 7y ago
you can already share your desktop in zoom
- Igelau 7y ago
  Right, but this is about streaming something else instead of the webcam video.
Tepix 7y ago
On iOS you can use the NDI HX capture app (currently free) to stream via low latency NDI protocol to your PC. There‘s a video guide at Newtek.com. App link: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/ndi-hx-capture/id1501247823 https://apps.apple.com/de/app/ndi-hx-capture/id1501247823 Their NDI HX camera app is also currently free. It turns your iPhone / iPad into a low latency wireless webcam. You can use these with the OBS NDI plugin or the software provided by Newtek which turns an NDI source into a virtual camera.
- floatingatoll 7y ago
  Other iOS methods that may also be useful (as a general FYI): If you're just looking to share your iOS device to Zoom or other meeting apps, you can long-press the Control Center "Screen Recording" icon to select which app to direct your screen sharing to. If you'd like your iOS/tvOS device to be shown in a window on your desktop using only native iOS/tvOS/macOS tools, you can plug it into a macOS computer and use Quicktime Player > File > New Movie Recording and then select the iOS/tvOS device from the dropdown to the right of the Record button — no need to start recording — and it'll give you a live low-latency view of the iOS device.
  - skinnymuch 7y ago
    In the more casual-ish Zoom rooms I’m in. It’s pretty disliked for someone to natively Zoom screen share. Takes up too much space and initially focuses too much too.
- JonathanFly 7y ago
  Just what I was looking for. It is quite literally cheaper to buy a used or cheap smartphone than a webcam right now. Is there anything this good an Android? There's a lot of apps that promise to do it but they look a bit suspicious and I'm wary about putting them on my phone.
  - skinnymuch 7y ago
    It says iOS 13.1 or later required. Brand new or refurbished at least, iOS devices that can run iOS 13 aren’t that cheap yet. So yeah for sure I’d be interested in an android equivalent. Little knowledge of the ecosystem but I assume getting an okay Android device mostly just for this would be pretty cheap.
numpad0 7y ago
I use SCFH DSF[0], updated for almost a decade and English support is a bit limited but works mostly fine [0] http://mosax.sakura.ne.jp/yp4g/fswiki.cgi?page=SCFH+DSF http://mosax.sakura.ne.jp/yp4g/fswiki.cgi?page=SCFH+DSF
joecot 7y ago
I'm on ubuntu 18.04 and haven't been able to get v4l2loopback related setup to work with OBS using the obs-v4l2sink * With the packages OBS Studio or the newest compiled * With the DMKS v4l2loopback kernel module or the newest compiled EDIT: Thank you for helpful comments. I managed to get this to work by: 1. Purging my existing v4l2loopback-dkms 2. Compiling latest v4l2loopback kernel module 3. Compiling latest OBS Studio 4. Compiling latest obs-v4l2sink plugin 5. sudo rmmod v4l2loopback 6. sudo modprobe v4l2loopback devices=1 video_nr=10 card_label="OBS Cam" exclusive_caps=1 7. unplugging my webcam and plugging it back in If you're currently having problems, before trying 1-4, try 5-7. It seems like v4l2loopback is getting loaded on boot, and some combo of that and my existing webcam was messing this up. Once I rmmod the kernel module and put it back, capture works but my webcam is gone. When I unplug my webcam and put it back, it all works. It may very well work fine with the standard v4l2loopback-dkms and obs packages without having to compile latest.
- luxpir 7y ago
  Did you try purging the dkms version and building the one in the post? I also spent an inordinate amount of time messing with it, but in the end the actual steps that worked were simple. I couldn't get it to work with my flatpak version, and Debian stable is not fun trying to compile OBS (need more recent version of cmake). But Ubuntu should be more straightforward... Did you get the option in the Tool menu yet? The other thing I got reading through all the GitHub issues was the need to sometimes change the YUV setting in that dialogue to YU2 (from memory). Hope you get it cracked without much grief, and I can share what I can remember fwiw.
  - joecot 7y ago
    I did attempt purge DKMS, and confirmed the kernel module is the one I've just compiled. I have it in the tool menu in OBS Studio. If I start the stream with RGB the camera doesn't work. If I start it with YUV32 as suggested in most guides, OBS just segfaults. switching it to YU2 was a helpful hint -- it just doesn't work as opposed to segfaulting.
    - 7y ago
elicash 7y ago
Is there something I can use besides Adobe Character Animator to stream a cartoon version of myself to Hangouts and Zoom? Something that talks when I do, uses my webcam to copy my movements, press keys to move arms, etc?
- skrebbel 7y ago
  Snap Camera comes close. https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/ https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/
- jfim 7y ago
  On Windows there's Facerig [0], although I don't think it does arm motions. It also has a Live2D plugin that does cel-style rendering [1]. [0] https://facerig.com/ https://facerig.com/ [1] https://youtu.be/OQ6nTQW4u94?t=12 https://youtu.be/OQ6nTQW4u94?t=12
StaticSaga 7y ago
I use this solution in a similar way, but I usually share a single window. I use this command, change /dev/video2 with your virtual output and WINXID with the XID of the window you want to view (use xwininfo to get it). gst-launch-1.0 ximagesrc use-damage=0 xid=WINXID ! videoconvert ! video/x-raw,format=YUY2 ! videoconvert ! queue ! v4l2sink device=/dev/video2 Also, I usually combine it with scrcpy, so I can share my Android phone/tablet's screen on my computer's videoconference session.
ronyfadel 7y ago
What's the use of this? I'm genuinely confused. Can't you already share your Desktop in Hangouts/Zoom/etc..?
- moron4hire 7y ago
  I don't get it for OBS, but for the teleconf apps it can let multiple people share screens at the same time (rather than taking over presenter role), and conceivable work better in browser versions that don't support desktop sharing (I think chromium requires an extra plugin). Edit: also, the page conspicuously mentions several times that it can be used for "educational purposes" to steam video running on the desktop, so it seems the intention is pirating video.
  - ronyfadel 7y ago
    > to share your desktop with more than 1 person (Hangouts) > to not have your meeting cut off at 40 minutes if over 3 people (Zoom). > Or you could play your old home movies and films to friends and family. Your call! Ok, I guess it's a neat little hack
  - luxpir 7y ago
    A little uncharitable to say the entire intention is pirating, especially given the global pandemic, quarantining and social issues this can help with. But yes, showing legal or illegal copies of movies you own or don't own is possible if one were so inclined, among the myriad legit uses. I can see why it looked like that was implied.
    - moron4hire 7y ago
      If the page hadn't been so "wink wink nudge knudge" about it, you might have a point. But they went out of their way to mention "for educational purposes" in some very awkward ways, several times.
- imtringued 7y ago
  Share both your desktop and your face. Share specific windows instead of the whole desktop. Then there is the scene builder that lets you basically do anything.
rjmunro 7y ago
The title of this is confusing. It should be something like "Share OBS output as a webcam in Hangouts, Zoom etc." OBS can do vision mixing between Webcams, pre-recorded video files, Screen shares, NDI streams etc. with picture in picture, chroma key and many other features. I actually wanted to do this about 10 years ago. I posted a question on superuser and it's still getting upvotes now: https://superuser.com/q/78515/742 https://superuser.com/q/78515/742
darkengine 7y ago
This is a godsend. Zoom screen share doesn't seem to work at all on Wayland.

98 points by luxpir 7y ago

Good timing on the article - I was just setting this up yesterday with some luck (Snap Camera doesn't seem to respect the virtual cam instance) but still very cool.

cjcampbell 7y ago

I'd been looking into OBS/obs-virtualcam until I discovered that macOS support wasn't there. Not free, but I have successfully tested ManyCam, which I believe will work well for my streamlining the process of switching between screenshare and secondary camera sources for Zoom.

deegles 7y ago
Went down that rabbit hole this weekend too, I got an HDMI capture device so I could stream my Switch on Zoom with friends and the lack of virtual cam in OBS was a bummer. Hopefully it will be added soon.
- MrLeap 7y ago
  The CEO of shopify put a 10,000$ bounty toward your hope. https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15 https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15
Wowfunhappy 7y ago
On OS X 10.9 (which I'm running), I use CamTwist (v3.0) for this. I have no idea if CamTwist also works in modern macOS, but probably worth a try. http://camtwiststudio.com/ http://camtwiststudio.com/
Scottopherson 7y ago
It's being worked on: Tobi Lutke (Shopify CEO) has put out a $10,000 bounty for cross platform virtual camera for OBS - https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1242641154576965634 - https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio/issues/2568 https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio/issues/2568 - https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15 https://github.com/obsproject/rfcs/pull/15 via dashesyan https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22749401 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22749401
johnboiles 7y ago
I made a plugin that sorta works for this last week: https://github.com/johnboiles/obs-mac-virtualcam https://github.com/johnboiles/obs-mac-virtualcam
- cjcampbell 7y ago
  Thanks for posting. I will give it a shot!
- skinnymuch 7y ago
  Awesome! Even if it is buggy or won’t work for me when I try it. Great that you already have this shipped. Not saying it is buggy. Just if it is, no problem having this out already! Been waiting for something for OBS for a while. since 2019 when Mojave made Syphon injecting much harder due to security changes. And demand for it and any other similar injecting almost entirely waned.

KingMachiavelli 7y ago

It's also a pretty good solution if you just want to display a static image or loop a 5 minute clip giving the appearence of having video enabled and making your screen more identifiable.

Igelau 7y ago
Just a five minute loop of thoughtful nodding and the occasional brow furrow.

fangfufu 7y ago

Just use webcamoid and get it done and over with. It is less hack.

bdcravens 7y ago
You say that like it's a quick install. You have to build it on your machine apparently: https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/wiki/Raw-build-and-install https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/wiki/Raw-build-and-in...
- poyu 7y ago
  The release page doesn't have what you want? https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/releases https://github.com/webcamoid/webcamoid/releases
  - bdcravens 7y ago
    At first glance, those might work, but when I go to the README, there's no mention of those binaries, and it links to the wiki under "Build and Install". However going to the project website at https://webcamoid.github.io/ https://webcamoid.github.io/ it does link to the executables, which is a little clearer. I guess I've gotten used to going to the Github repo for projects more than most would.
    - ta999999171 7y ago
      Which is scary, and unintentional gate keeping, because the average user sees a GitHub landing page as a list of folders they have no clue what to do with - and leaves. No scrolling, no clicking "Readme.MD". They just give up. Seen it happen personally, unfortunately.
- fangfufu 7y ago
  It might be available on your distro. It is certainly available on Debian.

platz 7y ago

you can already share your desktop in zoom

Igelau 7y ago
Right, but this is about streaming something else instead of the webcam video.

Tepix 7y ago

On iOS you can use the NDI HX capture app (currently free) to stream via low latency NDI protocol to your PC. There‘s a video guide at Newtek.com. App link: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/ndi-hx-capture/id1501247823 https://apps.apple.com/de/app/ndi-hx-capture/id1501247823 Their NDI HX camera app is also currently free. It turns your iPhone / iPad into a low latency wireless webcam. You can use these with the OBS NDI plugin or the software provided by Newtek which turns an NDI source into a virtual camera.

floatingatoll 7y ago
Other iOS methods that may also be useful (as a general FYI): If you're just looking to share your iOS device to Zoom or other meeting apps, you can long-press the Control Center "Screen Recording" icon to select which app to direct your screen sharing to. If you'd like your iOS/tvOS device to be shown in a window on your desktop using only native iOS/tvOS/macOS tools, you can plug it into a macOS computer and use Quicktime Player > File > New Movie Recording and then select the iOS/tvOS device from the dropdown to the right of the Record button — no need to start recording — and it'll give you a live low-latency view of the iOS device.
- skinnymuch 7y ago
  In the more casual-ish Zoom rooms I’m in. It’s pretty disliked for someone to natively Zoom screen share. Takes up too much space and initially focuses too much too.
JonathanFly 7y ago
Just what I was looking for. It is quite literally cheaper to buy a used or cheap smartphone than a webcam right now. Is there anything this good an Android? There's a lot of apps that promise to do it but they look a bit suspicious and I'm wary about putting them on my phone.
- skinnymuch 7y ago
  It says iOS 13.1 or later required. Brand new or refurbished at least, iOS devices that can run iOS 13 aren’t that cheap yet. So yeah for sure I’d be interested in an android equivalent. Little knowledge of the ecosystem but I assume getting an okay Android device mostly just for this would be pretty cheap.

numpad0 7y ago

I use SCFH DSF[0], updated for almost a decade and English support is a bit limited but works mostly fine [0] http://mosax.sakura.ne.jp/yp4g/fswiki.cgi?page=SCFH+DSF http://mosax.sakura.ne.jp/yp4g/fswiki.cgi?page=SCFH+DSF

joecot 7y ago

I'm on ubuntu 18.04 and haven't been able to get v4l2loopback related setup to work with OBS using the obs-v4l2sink * With the packages OBS Studio or the newest compiled * With the DMKS v4l2loopback kernel module or the newest compiled EDIT: Thank you for helpful comments. I managed to get this to work by: 1. Purging my existing v4l2loopback-dkms 2. Compiling latest v4l2loopback kernel module 3. Compiling latest OBS Studio 4. Compiling latest obs-v4l2sink plugin 5. sudo rmmod v4l2loopback 6. sudo modprobe v4l2loopback devices=1 video_nr=10 card_label="OBS Cam" exclusive_caps=1 7. unplugging my webcam and plugging it back in If you're currently having problems, before trying 1-4, try 5-7. It seems like v4l2loopback is getting loaded on boot, and some combo of that and my existing webcam was messing this up. Once I rmmod the kernel module and put it back, capture works but my webcam is gone. When I unplug my webcam and put it back, it all works. It may very well work fine with the standard v4l2loopback-dkms and obs packages without having to compile latest.

luxpir 7y ago
Did you try purging the dkms version and building the one in the post? I also spent an inordinate amount of time messing with it, but in the end the actual steps that worked were simple. I couldn't get it to work with my flatpak version, and Debian stable is not fun trying to compile OBS (need more recent version of cmake). But Ubuntu should be more straightforward... Did you get the option in the Tool menu yet? The other thing I got reading through all the GitHub issues was the need to sometimes change the YUV setting in that dialogue to YU2 (from memory). Hope you get it cracked without much grief, and I can share what I can remember fwiw.
- joecot 7y ago
  I did attempt purge DKMS, and confirmed the kernel module is the one I've just compiled. I have it in the tool menu in OBS Studio. If I start the stream with RGB the camera doesn't work. If I start it with YUV32 as suggested in most guides, OBS just segfaults. switching it to YU2 was a helpful hint -- it just doesn't work as opposed to segfaulting.
  - 7y ago

elicash 7y ago

Is there something I can use besides Adobe Character Animator to stream a cartoon version of myself to Hangouts and Zoom? Something that talks when I do, uses my webcam to copy my movements, press keys to move arms, etc?

skrebbel 7y ago
Snap Camera comes close. https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/ https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/
jfim 7y ago
On Windows there's Facerig [0], although I don't think it does arm motions. It also has a Live2D plugin that does cel-style rendering [1]. [0] https://facerig.com/ https://facerig.com/ [1] https://youtu.be/OQ6nTQW4u94?t=12 https://youtu.be/OQ6nTQW4u94?t=12

StaticSaga 7y ago

I use this solution in a similar way, but I usually share a single window. I use this command, change /dev/video2 with your virtual output and WINXID with the XID of the window you want to view (use xwininfo to get it). gst-launch-1.0 ximagesrc use-damage=0 xid=WINXID ! videoconvert ! video/x-raw,format=YUY2 ! videoconvert ! queue ! v4l2sink device=/dev/video2 Also, I usually combine it with scrcpy, so I can share my Android phone/tablet's screen on my computer's videoconference session.

ronyfadel 7y ago

What's the use of this? I'm genuinely confused. Can't you already share your Desktop in Hangouts/Zoom/etc..?

moron4hire 7y ago
I don't get it for OBS, but for the teleconf apps it can let multiple people share screens at the same time (rather than taking over presenter role), and conceivable work better in browser versions that don't support desktop sharing (I think chromium requires an extra plugin). Edit: also, the page conspicuously mentions several times that it can be used for "educational purposes" to steam video running on the desktop, so it seems the intention is pirating video.
- ronyfadel 7y ago
  > to share your desktop with more than 1 person (Hangouts) > to not have your meeting cut off at 40 minutes if over 3 people (Zoom). > Or you could play your old home movies and films to friends and family. Your call! Ok, I guess it's a neat little hack
- luxpir 7y ago
  A little uncharitable to say the entire intention is pirating, especially given the global pandemic, quarantining and social issues this can help with. But yes, showing legal or illegal copies of movies you own or don't own is possible if one were so inclined, among the myriad legit uses. I can see why it looked like that was implied.
  - moron4hire 7y ago
    If the page hadn't been so "wink wink nudge knudge" about it, you might have a point. But they went out of their way to mention "for educational purposes" in some very awkward ways, several times.
imtringued 7y ago
Share both your desktop and your face. Share specific windows instead of the whole desktop. Then there is the scene builder that lets you basically do anything.

rjmunro 7y ago

The title of this is confusing. It should be something like "Share OBS output as a webcam in Hangouts, Zoom etc." OBS can do vision mixing between Webcams, pre-recorded video files, Screen shares, NDI streams etc. with picture in picture, chroma key and many other features. I actually wanted to do this about 10 years ago. I posted a question on superuser and it's still getting upvotes now: https://superuser.com/q/78515/742 https://superuser.com/q/78515/742

darkengine 7y ago

This is a godsend. Zoom screen share doesn't seem to work at all on Wayland.