Using
Your Existing Cameras and Audio system, and your H.323 Group
Videoconferencing Systems . . . on Skype video calls.
Using your existing AV cameras and
sound system . . . or your Group Videoconferencing system
. . . for live web streaming . . . and interfacing with Skype.
Click here or contact us for a specific
discounted price quote for your live web broadcast/streaming application
Catalog, Discount Price List
& Online Cart - for the VSS
Video Streaming Solution products and options
Our VSS-1 system lets you use your
existing cameras and audio system, or your H.323 or H.320 group
videoconferencing system . . . on Skype video calls.
Your videoconferencing system camera and mics
will work as a webcam and mic for Skype or other
PC applications. In a typical modern
group videoconferencing system
(using H.323 or H.320 for communications), there is a large screen
monitor (LCD/Plasma), a PTZ camera, a mic and speakers.
The remote site will appear on the large screen monitor.
For Skype, download and install the latest version of
the Skype free software via the following link:
Get Skype for your Business – free conference calls and video calling. Free calls and Low rate local calls
This is our Skype affiliate link
(that may earn us some future commissions for the referral).
A recent Skype version is 3.8
and a new version 4 beta is available – as of
January 2009.
Login to Skype using your Skype account info.
In Skype main window, click on Tools, then Options,
then Video Settings. Select the VSS-1 related
Webcam from the dropdown box.
The video from the camera should then appear in the
Skype test window.
To set up & test your webcam, please follow these
steps:
* Download and install the most recent drivers for
your video device (see VSS-1 documentation section
13).
* Select your video device in Skype under:
Tools > Options > General > Video Settings
If your webcam is functioning you will see your live
video displayed.
If you are not seeing yourself make sure that you have
Enable Skype Video checked and click Webcam Settings to see more info.
·
The recommended system requirements for Skype video calls are
a 1Ghz CPU, 512MB RAM, a video card with at least 16MB of memory (also the
latest version of DirectX installed) and a 512/256kbit (down/up) connection.
Video and call quality may vary greatly in environments with conditions
below those recommendations.
·
One key issue it to be sure that your webcam is connected and
not in use by another program.
Check the System tray; bring
up Task Manager and check processes.
Uninstall any application
software that came with your webcam (not the driver).
Some webcams can be set to run
continually e.g. to take periodic snap shots, and are then Skype reports
that the webcam is “Used by another Application”.
·
There are many PC configurations in use and many other issues
that arise – the Skype forum can often help – see
http://forum.skype.com/
·
Generally speaking, you won't be able to use your web camera
in more than one application at the same time. And you will have problems
too if you have more than one webcam or video source connected to your PC.
·
If you have multiple cameras/webcams, then software
must be placed between the camera(s) and the Skype
communication software. That software should split
the video signal and send it independently to each video consuming
application. VSS-1 has software that does exactly
this. Plus it adds some video processing: contrast, brightness and color
adjusting to enhance your video. Then you are not
limited to taking video from one web camera only - you can as well use your
existing video files as the video source . . . and live video from the your
videoconferencing system or other video sources.
You can change the video source in Skype from your webcam to the
any source, on the fly and back again.
If you are using your Group videoconferencing system
for the live audio source, then connect a RCA cable from the VCR output of
the videoconferencing system. Connect the Red and White connectors of the AV
cable to the Red and White connectors at the VCR output. Connect the
provided Zip-Linq AV cable stereo audio mini plug to the mic connector of
your streaming PC (often this is the pink colored connector on your PC).
Connect the red and white ends of the RCA cable to the Zip-Linq cable using
the two RCA couplers – provided in the kit.
The inbound audio volume level can be adjusted by
controlling the source audio hardware or software volume control on your
streaming PC audio source.
Next back in Skype, select your audio device at:
Tools > Options > General > Audio Settings
Select the mic input to match your hardware.
To test the mic settings in Skype, click on the link
“Make a Free Test Call” and follow the audio instructions. If you can hear
the audio playback, then you have configured Skype and your audio hardware
correctly.
1.
In a typical modern Group videoconferencing system, there is a large
screen monitor (LCD/Plasma), a PTZ camera, a mic and speakers.
2.
Place the PC near the monitor and connect a VGA cable from the PC to
the LCD/Plasma. Most modern monitors will allow you to select the input to
display (either VGA from the PC - or s-video, RCA video or HD video from
the Group videoconferencing system).
3.
Set the resolution on the PC monitor to VGA or XGA to match your
LCD/Plasma capabilities).
4.
In a Skype videoconference, the PC speakers will carry the sound from
the remote Skype site.
5.
You can see PIP (Picture in Picture) of the remote and local sites in
the Skype videoconference. It can show in either a window or full screen.
6.
On the LCD/Plasma you should see the Skype PC application (via the
VGA/XGA connection). Dial the remote Skype site as normal – see
www.skype.com for all the operational details.
7.
Note one other feature that may be useful - The group videoconference
system can also call other remote group sites
during a Skype conference call.
a. The
remote Skype site can be heard but cannot be seen by the remote Group sites
. . . but the remote Skype site can see and hear the sites in the Group
Videoconference. What they see depends on the settings of the VCR feature of
the local Group System (i.e. local site, remote site or auto switching).
