How to stream a USB camera to a desktop screen? (Nearly Solved)

[April]

I wanted to mess around with cameras and was looking for a program that worked in Pupp that connected via usb to the desktop computer.

There does not seem to be anything standard that is useable to add a camera for something like skype etc .

What are you guys using please?

[rockedge]

What kind of cameras? Web cam directly connected by USB cable? Or some network cameras? Are you doing surveillance or something with security in mind?

What are the specs of the computer you plan on using? How many webcams at once.

I do a lot of work with Zoneminder and it does almost every camera type available but it could be overkill if you just need a to see a stream.
That you can do with VLC, guvcview and similar. Also I think MPV can be used with the right commands but I am not sure about that at the moment.

Or you are working with digital film cameras and want to offload photos?

[April]

Just playing with a go pro type of camera (Akaso Brave 4) with an SD card but it has a mode for a USB plug accessing the storage through your PC or running it as a camera on the PC but puppy has no way to input its stream that I have found so far.

No special requirements ,no zoneminder or Digiwatch needed just want to use it as a camera in a Skype way so I can see its picture on my screen . I'm using an old dell optiplex for this.

The camera has a wifi function but I don't want to use that .

Often I have seen in Puppy files in the /dev/ called video1 and video2 . How do I get them to work?

Edit downloaded vlc but not much use yet.
downloaded guvcview and got a camera . .. something to work with , Thanks

[mikewalsh]

@April :-

Take a look at this:-

https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=112299

Watchdog came up with this one years ago, when I was trying to use my old webcam under Racy. It still works under the newest Pups today.

Just out of curiosity, do the following, would you please? Run

Code: Select all

lsusb

.....thru the terminal, and let us have the readout? I'm after the hardware ID numbers; I'll run it through the UVC driver website database.....may help to give us a clue as to how easily - or not - your cam will be recognized by the kernel. And most important; what Puppy is this, please?

Mike.

[April]

Yeh Mike its showing up there and I've now got a stream in guvcview to play with . I'll have a look at yours shortly thanks.

root# lsusb
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0cf3:1006 Atheros Communications, Inc. TP-Link TL-WN322G v3 / TL-WN422G v2 802.11g [Atheros AR9271]
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0603:8612 Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 413c:2106 Dell Computer Corp. Dell QuietKey Keyboard
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 062a:4101 Creative Labs Wireless Keyboard/Mouse
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
root#

Novatek ..AKASO Brave 4 camera
I'm using xenialpup64-7.5

[mikewalsh]

@April :-

If you're in Xenial64, you'll need the 32-bit compat libs SFS loaded for VideoView, because it's 32-bit only. If you're functional with GuvcView, you may as well stick with that if it's working OK...

Mike.

[April]

Yeh Thanls Mike . The same old problem with no audio in what seems like all video programs in Puppy . I might give it a run in Fossapup64-9.5

Whats the source of that "32-bit compat libs SFS" or maybe the right name ?
OK found it
https://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/p ... nial64.sfs

[April]

Sometimes Puppy can be a pain .
Found the sfs Mike but sfs on the fly does not want to load it with this error message.

sfsload.jpg (8.37 KiB) Viewed 1168 times

Something is wrong with the sfs file as I can't look inside it either . It won't load .
Don't know if anyone maintains the sfs libraries?

How can you look inside a sfs file otherwise?

[OscarTalks]

If you mean the audio from the camera which is coming down the USB cable it will probably show up as a different (USB) soundcard on the system, so you will have to look for that in your device selection.

[mikewalsh]

Yah, Oscar's right.

If you want to find out the device designation of your webcam's sound card, there's one of two ways to obtain it:-

Either by entering

Code: Select all

alsamixer

.....in the terminal and hitting 'Enter', followed by selecting F6 to choose sound card. You can then set the recording level from the 'sliders' - remember this is operated via the cursor keys, not the mouse. You may need to select F5 (show all); alsamixer typically shows playback (output) controls by default, and a webcam only has recording (input) controls......think about it!

Or, if you enter

Code: Select all

arecord -l

.....('aplay' won't do anything; remember, no 'playback device'), you can get the 'hw:x,x' device number this way. It's no good trying to access the webcam's sound card via the ALSA Sound Wizard, because this doesn't normally show up here. It's possible it may if yours is an integrated cam built-in to a lappie, but the sound card of a USB 'external' cam - like my Logitech c920 HD 'Pro' - doesn't usually get detected via the Sound Wizard.....

'alsamixer' in the terminal really is the best way to adjust the recording/input level for a webcam's card. If this is a laptop, you'll typically have a 'system' mike built-in, and if you're using an external USB webcam (which has probably got its own mike), then you'll have two to choose from.

--------------------------------------------------------

Audio recording CAN be achieved in Guvcview, but the app is quite fussy as to what container/codec you choose to use (there's quite a selection to choose from!) It also helps to make sure you're using a 'modern' version of 'ffmpeg', since this is where most of the audio codecs'n'stuff are obtained.....and Pup's default ffmpeg is often very minimal & 'stripped-back'. I'll be happy to elaborate on this tomorrow, if you want, but ATM it's "beddy-byes" time for me..!!

Catch ya later.

Mike.

[Clarity]

Any chance a 64bit version will surface? OR is there a PPM equivalent for USB cameras?

Wanna use with this FossaPUP64

Code: Select all

root# lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 026: ID 10d5:55a4 Uni Class Technology Co., Ltd 
Bus 006 Device 025: ID 0bda:58bb Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 
Bus 006 Device 024: ID 2109:2812 VIA Labs, Inc. VL812 Hub
Bus 006 Device 023: ID 046d:c534 Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 006 Device 022: ID 058f:9254 Alcor Micro Corp. Hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID abcd:1234 Unknown 1
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 152d:2338 JMicron Technology Corp. / JMicron USA Technology Corp. JM20337 Hi-Speed USB to SATA & PATA Combo Bridge
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

Webcam help.png (98.9 KiB) Viewed 1077 times

[April]

http://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/pe ... s-fossa64/

@Clarity Maybe see if the 32bit_compatibility_libs_fossa64 works?

[April]

If you mean the audio from the camera which is coming down the USB cable it will probably show up as a different (USB) soundcard on the system, so you will have to look for that in your device selection.

Hey Oscar . Yes I have found it as DEMO1 and have that in the camera screen but no sound yet.

Hardware.jpg (73.45 KiB) Viewed 1052 times

hardinfo.jpg (48.02 KiB) Viewed 1055 times

[April]

Yah, Oscar's right.

If you want to find out the device designation of your webcam's sound card, there's one of two ways to obtain it:-

Either by entering

Code: Select all

alsamixer

.....in the terminal and hitting 'Enter', followed by selecting F6 to choose sound card. You can then set the recording level from the 'sliders' - remember this is operated via the cursor keys, not the mouse. You may need to select F5 (show all); alsamixer typically shows playback (output) controls by default, and a webcam only has recording (input) controls......think about it!

Or, if you enter

Code: Select all

arecord -l

.....('aplay' won't do anything; remember, no 'playback device'), you can get the 'hw:x,x' device number this way. It's no good trying to access the webcam's sound card via the ALSA Sound Wizard, because this doesn't normally show up here. It's possible it may if yours is an integrated cam built-in to a lappie, but the sound card of a USB 'external' cam - like my Logitech c920 HD 'Pro' - doesn't usually get detected via the Sound Wizard.....

'alsamixer' in the terminal really is the best way to adjust the recording/input level for a webcam's card. If this is a laptop, you'll typically have a 'system' mike built-in, and if you're using an external USB webcam (which has probably got its own mike), then you'll have two to choose from.

--------------------------------------------------------

Audio recording CAN be achieved in Guvcview, but the app is quite fussy as to what container/codec you choose to use (there's quite a selection to choose from!) It also helps to make sure you're using a 'modern' version of 'ffmpeg', since this is where most of the audio codecs'n'stuff are obtained.....and Pup's default ffmpeg is often very minimal & 'stripped-back'. I'll be happy to elaborate on this tomorrow, if you want, but ATM it's "beddy-byes" time for me..!!

Catch ya later.

Mike.

Thanks Mike . no joy yet I followed your post through and the camera audio come up as per the post above . I followed the cli commands too but choosing the camera just says this card has no settings .

So I'm sure sound is there somewhere as it pulls up a VU meter on the cameras picture output which varies with hand claps etc . Just the video on playback does not have any sound I can hear.

[rockedge]

@April did you check the audio card selected for output? If the meters are working and respond to the hand claps it should indicate your getting the audio stream but fail on the output.

[mikewalsh]

@April :-

Mm-hm. Well, I agree with rockedge; if you're registering sound via the VU meter, you're obviously getting an input from somewhere.....it may be via your system mic. Even if the card doesn't show settings, you're definitely getting an input.

This is where we come to recording codecs/settings'n'stuff. Click on Video - in the top Menu; try this. For Video codec, choose MPEG4-ASP.....for Audio codec, go with MP3 (MPEG audio layer 3). Try recording a short clip. Any joy?

(I've just made a short recording clip with those settings, and it works fine for me.)

--------------------------------

As far as the Linux port of Skype is concerned, in Settings - Audio & Video, for microphone the drop-down should list all the available inputs.....this would include the webcam's 'mike' AND the system's built-in 'mike', too. Much as I hate to admit it (!!), MyCrudSoft have made a pretty thorough job of making it run well under Linux nowadays; I can't fault them in that respect.

It may be worth upgrading ffmpeg. Fred and I have both recommended Puppians use John van Sickle's 'static' builds of this; the one you want may look HUGE compared to the default one - 47MB compared to about 900 KB! - but it's been compiled with absolutely everything including the kitchen sink, and it makes so many other things in Puppy just work 'properly'.

You can find the .pet package here:-

https://www.mediafire.com/file/3whe9r20 ... 4.pet/file

I've uploaded these to MediaFire, since I gather you don't trust Google....!

---------------------------------

@rockedge :-

Guvcview lets you specify a 'default' card. I presume that means Guvcview then uses that card for both input AND output. It doesn't give you the option to specify separate input & output.

Mike.

[Clarity]

I saw this and will report results for USB Camera on one of the WoofCE released 64bit PUP distro.

I want to avoid cluttering the system with any 32bit libs, if possible. Thanks for the offer and I'm confident that the 32bit library addition to a 64bit PUP could work in this case.

If success in my tests, that PET could be added to the current WoofCE repo for other PUP-DOG laptop and desktop users.

[April]

well I have tried everything mentioned and no sound .

The VU bars are on the screen when I record and there is activity on them when I clap. I think they are added by the Brave 4 camera.
When I turn everything up full in sound I can just hear a clap but only just.I have external speakers and the amplification is turned up full.
On just one setting I get a heavy rushing white noise which I think is where I probably should be, but reducing everything to play around with it won't give me any sound.

The sound card is integrated in the motherboard . Is there a sound card I can add to my desktop to try to isolate the problem ?
I'll buy one through ebay or ali and try that.

Screen Retrovol.jpg (185.37 KiB) Viewed 1008 times

[mikewalsh]

@April :-

What sort of connectors does your Brave camera have? Does everything go via a USB connector.....or do you have a separate lead with a 3.5 mm jack plug for the audio? Some do, some don't.....

EDIT:- Ah. Just d/l'ed and had a quick look at the user manual. You've got the same issue that I had when I tried to use a digital camera as a web-cam, only more so. Seems your Akaso Brave 4 is designed to work in conjunction with a mobile phone app via wifi. I very much doubt that that USB connector is doing quite what you think it is; it definitely didn't with my old Vivitar.....didn't even recognise it. Of course, with that you were supposed to install supplied Windoze drivers from a CD....and it's years since I tried it; could work far better with a more modern kernel, I suppose.

Trying to use these types of camera never works as well as a dedicated webcam.

Mike.

[April]

It has a normal android phone type connector and another I think is a type C connector . They said there is nothing for an external mike but there is a small slot cut for sound as normal use records sound.

I'm pretty sure if I could install apulse or other audio system it would work but Puppy does not like to install them well.They don't work .
Using Fossapup it's 'gucview' program crashes as soon as I try recording or a photo. Screen comes up fine though .Pity.

I have some other live distros on CD I'll try.