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apokalyptik/Use iPhone as a webcam input source on your Mac for web based video conferencing.md

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Use iPhone as a webcam input source on your Mac for web based video conferencing.md

About this document

This will tell you how to use your iPhone as a webcam input source on your Mac (running OSX) for web based video conferencing apps such as WhereBy and VirtualEDH

So... How absurd is this setup? Well here in the opening of 2020 with the pandemic drying up the market for cheap webcams... it's a lot less absurd now than it would have been 3 months ago, and probably a lot more absurd after that whole thing clears up. Right now finding a webcam can be difficult.

Phase 1: Install Software

On your iPhone

Download a full screen camera app. I used FullScreeen which cost me one dollar in app to buy pro as an IAP

On your Mac

Download and install CamTwist

Prepare your Iphone

  • Set your phone to full screen camera
  • Connect your phone to your mac with the cable (as if to sync. don't sync)

Prepare your Mac (part 1 of 2) -- Quicktime

  • Open quicktime player (on your Mac. This comes preinstalled)
  • File -> New Movie Recording
  • From the v dropdown next to the record button select your iPhone
    • You should now see your iPhones screen inside the quicktime preview window

Prepare your Mac (part 2 of 2) -- Camtwist

  • Open Camtwist
  • View -> Preview (so you can see)
  • Under Step 1: double click "Desktop+"
  • Under "Settings"
    • Choose "Confine to application window"
    • Choose "Select from existing windows"
    • Choose "Quicktime Player (Movie Recording)"
    • Uncheck "Do not scale"
  • Under Step 2: double click "Rotation Translation"
    • Adjust under "Settings" as desired
  • Under Step 2: double click "Zoom" (for later)
    • Adjust under "Settings" as desired

Use

  • Join a WhereBy/VirtualEDH room
  • On the video preview you may need to click the Gear icon (possibly WhereBy only)
    • Select CamTwist from the dropdown (there might be more than one, try different ones if necessary)
  • You should see your iPhone video as the video on screen

Notes

  • The controls on quicktime will fade away after a few seconds, you don't need to zoom past the record button
  • I tried a crapton of things BEFORE this setup. I'm not 100% sure if there is more configuration or whatnot needed besides this
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