Updated: July 23, 2020 Home » Freeware and Software Reviews
Your default Logitech or Microsoft WebCam software are decent but not good enough. More often than not, they lack some features such as streaming or funny effects. For some, the software does not support their older Windows XP, therefore these 3rd party software might come in handy. For those thinking of using a WebCam as a security camera, do note that a WebCam is not designed to run 24/7 for 365 days, they might overheat.
SparkoCam Virtual Webcam SparkoCam is a webcam and video effects software for broadcasting and applying live webcam effects to your video chats and recordings. Use Canon / Nikon DSLR camera as a regular webcam; Enhance USB webcam video by adding cool webcam effects and graphics to your live video chats and video recordings. OBS - Instructions - https://medium.com/@jkudo/how-to-use-a-virtual-camera-for-zoom-microsoft-teams-and-google-meet-in-obs-fo.
Alternative 2020 Article ➤ 11 Free Software for Video Capturing, Game Broadcasting and Online Streaming
Webcamoid is a webcam app focused on providing all major features required by power users with a very simple and intuitive interface. SparkoCam Crack is a most useful and awesome virtual webcam video effects tool that gives an opportunity to its users to turn on their DSLR camera into a high-quality webcam. This application allows its users to stream from various sides/sources also, they can use existing gallery files like videos, photos built-in webcam as well as DSLR camera.
There are many other free alternatives not included in this list, such as Yawcam and IP Camera, reason being that these WebCam software are tailored towards live streaming for monitoring purpose, not so much on chatting. Check out our list of the best video recording and image capturing programs for Windows 10 below.
WebcamMax is a slick interface, simple installation, and tons of customization features make WebcamMax an excellent option for using your Webcam with multiple programs simultaneously. Add videos, pictures and effects to virtual/real webcam and broadcast on messengers. You can share your screen or play movies for others. It enables Recording, PinP and Doodling, etc. Add thousands of fantastic effects to webcam video for your live chats and recording.
Webcamoid is a full featured webcam capture application. You can take photos and record videos with funny effects. Webcamoid is a surprisingly versatile open-source webcam suite for Windows, Linux and Mac. Launch the program and it looks very simple. Features:
WebcamStudio is a multifeatured virtual webcam software that can be used with Skype or a flash website like UStream, to create a professional looking broadcast, including banners, animations, transit animations and icons, etc. This tool is not meant as a video editor but as a live video mixer giving you the possibilities to change the look of the broadcast on the fly.
ManyCam is a free webcam software and video switcher that allows you to enhance your video chats and create amazing live streams on multiple platforms at the same time. With ManyCam, you’ll be able to create professional-looking broadcasts on your favorite platforms, record your screen, add many effects and much more.
Webcam Capture is a very simple software solution that enables you to monitor one or more webcam feeds from a streamlined, minimalistic user interface. It offers several visual effects and can help you modify your webcams properties. You can click Start Video button and here you go. You can easily change your webcam device properties using the software.
Free2X Webcam Recorder is is 100% Free Webcam Recorder Software. Record videos from any webcams, digital video cameras and save video as AVI, MP4, WMV file format. And record audio from any source. Audio can be recorded from microphone, line-in, or speakers. Another function excels in taking screenshots of webcam screen and saving it as a standard image format JPG/BMP directly. You can use custom keyboard shortcuts to control webcam, include record/pause/stop/snapshot. And you can edit the watermark on output file. You can also schedule a camera to record or stop at certain times using the scheduling tab. It also provides a powerful file manager that you can use to manage your files.
Debut is a video capture and screen video recording software. Record videos from your screen webcam, or other video devices. Capture your entire desktop or a selected portion and save the recorded videos as avi, flv, wmv or other video file formats. Email video recordings automatically when recordings has stopped or send via FTP. Set Debut to record video at specific times, record computer games, create how to demonstrations, capture video messages, add text or captions, adjust frame-rate and more.
This post shows steps to enable webcams in a VirtualBox guest OS on Windows host. OS/software and the version I used are below. I tested it with Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and Dell Precision 3510.
Host: Windows 10 running VirtualBox 5.2.6.
Guest: Ubuntu Linux 16.04.03 / Mac OS X High Sierra
Here is the steps.
Steps
1. Install ‘Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack’
VirtualBox Extension Pack is required in order to use webcams in VirtualBox guest OS. [1]
1-1. From the VirtualBox Download page, download the extension pack which has the save version as your VirtualBox. In my case, my VirtualBox is v5.2.6 so I downloaded this:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/5.2.6/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-5.2.6.vbox-extpack
1-2. Launch “Oracle VirtualBox Manager” and navigate to “File” -> “Preferences”.
1-3. In ‘Preferences’ window, select ‘Extensions’.
1-4. Press ‘Add new package’ icon.
1-5. Select the extension pack and install it.
2. Attaching webcam to guest OS
2-1. Launch the guest OS.
2-2. Launch “Command Prompt” on Windows (Press the Win + R keys, then, type ‘cmd’ and enter) and go to VirtualBox folder.
2-3. List available cameras.
The result should be like below. In case of Surface Pro 4, it has 2 cameras (front and rear).
2 4 6 | c:Program FilesOracleVirtualBox>VBoxManage list webcams .1'Microsoft Camera Rear' ?display#int3470#4&3b1d693f&0&uid13424#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c922319... ?display#int3470#4&3b1d693f&0&uid13424#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c922319... |
2-4. Attach webcam(s) you want to use. The number at the end of the line specifies the camera. In this example, if you want to attach the front camera, type like this:
VboxManage controlvm'Ubuntu 16.04.3'webcam attach.2 |
* Replace “Ubuntu 16.04.3” with your guest OS name.
* You can attach multiple cameras if you want.
3. Verify (Ubuntu Guest)
In case of Linux, cheese is handy to test webcam functionality.
3-1. Install it if it’s not already.
3-2. Then, just type ‘cheese’ to launch. You should be able to see a video stream in newly opened ‘Cheese’ window.
4. Verify (Mac OS Guest)
In Mac OS X, I used ‘Photo Booth’ application to verify.
4-1. Launch ‘Spotlight Search’ by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
4-2. Type ‘Photo Booth’ and enter to launch. You should be able to see a video stream in ‘Photo Booth’ window.
References
[1] Oracle VM VirtualBox User Manual 9.7. Webcam passthrough
[2] VirtualBox Download page
[3] Install VirtualBox Extension Pack on Linux and Windows
[4] Connecting a webcam to a VirtualBox guest OS