How can I use my camcorder as a webcam with USB?

Table of Contents Show

Introduction: How to Use Your Camcorder As a Webcam
Step 1: What Do You Need?
Step 2: Analog Camcorder Instructions
Step 3: Install TrackerCam Software
Step 4: Start Sharing You Webcam With Your Friends!
Be the First to Share
Recommendations
How do I turn my camcorder into a webcam?
How do I connect my camcorder to my computer via USB?
Does camcorder use USB?
Can I use my Panasonic camcorder as a webcam?

i bevangoldswain/iStock/Getty Images

A webcam enables you to keep in touch with your friends and family through video chat. Many Sony camcorders are equipped with a USB Streaming port that enables you to use them just like you would normally use a webcam. However, you must use the AC power adapter to power your camcorder and have the USB Streaming driver installed on your computer before you can attempt to use the device as a webcam. You can find the USB Streaming driver on the disc that came with the camcorder.

Step 1

Connect the Sony camcorder to an electrical outlet using the AC power adapter that came with the device.

Step 2

Connect the Sony camcorder to your computer using the USB cable that came with the device.

Step 3

Move the "Power" switch to the "Camera" position to turn on the Sony camcorder.

Step 4

Press the "Menu" button on your camcorder, select "Settings," select "Camera," select "USB Streaming" and set the "USB STREAM" option to "On" to turn on USB Streaming. If you can't find this option, consult the manual that came with the device to see if your camcorder has a USB Streaming port.

Step 5

Launch the webcam software on your computer. It should detect and use the Sony camcorder automatically. If it doesn't, consult the documentation that came with the software.

Tips

You can usually find documentation for your webcam software in the Help section of the menu.

Warnings

Not all Sony camcorders have a USB Streaming port; consult the manual that came with your device if you need more information.
Information in this article applies to Sony camcorders. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.

Writer Bio

Kirk Bennet started writing for websites and online publications in 2005. He covers topics in nutrition, health, gardening, home improvement and information technology.

Introduction: How to Use Your Camcorder As a Webcam

If you are like me you have a lot of friends that have moved away from home, and are living thousands of kilometers away, or you have friends that you went to university with that are all living in different places. I personally hate phones and instant messaging but when you combine their features with a webcam, it is almost like you are hanging out with those friends again. You can see them, their families, their messy rooms. It makes chatting a lot more fun. Downside is you need a webcam and the best webcams have quality issues.

So I found a way to use my camcorder as a webcam!

Step 1: What Do You Need?

You will need:

A Camcorder (Firewire or Analog)
A Firewire Card (For Firewire Camcorder)
A Video Capture Card or TV Tuner (For an Analog Camcorder)

A way to connect the Camcorder to the corresponding cards.

The Eagletron TrackerCam Software.
Go to trackerCamhttp://www.trackercam.com/TCamWeb/download.htm to download it, it is a free download. You need additional hardware to get full use of the software, but for a basic webcam this software is enough.

Step 2: Analog Camcorder Instructions

For this instructable I am using an Analog Camcorder since that is all I have.

Setup your camcorder somewhere within the cables reach of the computer, and plug it into your video editing card (mine is an old Pinnacle DC-10+ that I have had for years) or your TV Tuner Card.

Step 3: Install TrackerCam Software

Install and Run the TrackerCam software, mine automatically detected my Video Editing Card and instantly started showing my Camcorder's output.

Now you can start sharing your webcam, using Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo Messenger.

There are other options to this, but I had a webcam and videoediting card lying around not doing anything so it works for me.

One other option is to use your digital camera as a webcam if it supports a webcam function.

There are also many addons to the TrackerCam software that allow you to remotely control the camera, (ie:zoom and pan) or automatically track moving objects, which would be cool if you were operating a sexcam or were paranoid and wanted to use it as a security camera.

Recommendations

On-board and basic webcams may be easy to use, but they don't always give the clearest picture. Using your Sony Handycam as a webcam could give you a sharper image and could be a good substitute if your standard webcam fails. You'll need a Handycam with a USB port to stream images as a webcam, because the device uses a standard USB connection to stream images over the Internet. Some older Handycam models, however, may not support USB connection and those models cannot be used in this capacity.

Insert the CD-ROM that came with your camera into your computer. Choose the option for installing the "USB Streaming driver." Follow the steps as prompted by the installation manager. Restart your computer when installation completes.
Plug the smaller end of the USB cable that came with your Handycam into the USB streaming port on your Handycam. Connect the larger USB cable end to the USB port on your computer.
Hook your Handycam up to a power supply using the power cord. The Handycam won't work as a webcam when running low on battery power. Turn the Handycam on.
Press the menu button on your Handycam. Search for the "USB Streaming" option and select "On."
Run your web chat program or other webcam software as needed. Your computer should automatically use the Handycam as the main webcam.

How do I turn my camcorder into a webcam?

Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the camcorder HDMI output and the other end of the cable to the HDMI input of the video capture device. Connect the video capture device to the computer using the USB cable. Turn on the camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the CAMERA position.

How do I connect my camcorder to my computer via USB?

Connect the camcorder directly to an USB port that is build into the computer; do not use a port replicator or USB hub. Make sure the USB cable is securely connected to the camcorder and the computer. Turn the computer on and wait until it has booted completely.

Does camcorder use USB?

USB Streaming is a feature found on some Sony® camcorders that will allow live video and audio to be transferred to a computer using a USB cable connection. This feature is especially useful when using a camcorder as a webcam for video conferencing.