EpocCam

EpocCam is an iOS app created by Elagto which allows the user to turn their phone into a webcam and stream video over WiFi, USB or NDI to their computer (either Windows or macOS). While there are a few different options for turning a cellphone into a webcam, EpocCam is unique in that it has Snapchat Lenses built into the iOS app. This allows the camera operator to equip and interact with AR filters conveniently and organically (especially if the computer that it’s sending video to is farther away). EpocCam and similar apps are a great way to increase video quality using hardware you might already have.

COST:

  • Free version available with limitations

  • Full version $7.99USD

Projects that used EpocCam:


NDI | HX Camera

NDI | HX Camera is an iOS and Android app which allows the user to turn their phone into a camera feed and stream video over wifi using NDI. When open it will show up as a NDI feed to any NDI-compatible devices on the same network and the app has controls for bandwidth usage. While it might not be the best option if you don’t have any networking knowledge, it’s one of the more reliable video over wifi options and has the advantage of being seen by any program that accepts NDI input. This negates the need for intermediate clients running on your show control computer.

COST: $27.99CAD

Projects that used NDI | HX Camera:


NDI Tools

NDI Tools are a suite of tools made by Newtek for sharing video and audio across networks using the NDI protocol. While it is usually geared towards running on local networks as of version 5 it is possible to share video sources across the internet using NDI Bridge. NDI has direct compatibility with most modern video programs and has plugins for the Adobe Creative Cloud.

While NDI can be fairly CPU heavy to encode and decode, it can open up a whole host of possibilities for sharing video across various machines.  There are apps available to share smartphone cameras and screens as NDI sources and the tools package contains the NDI webcam utility which creates a virtual webcam (for zoom, etc) using any NDI feed on the network.

The full set of tools is Windows only but the MacOS tools still offer a lot of functionality.

COST:

  • NDI Tools are free

  • Some apps are paid

  • Specific hardware is also available


OBS

The Open Broadcast Software Project or OBS is a free and open-source software that is used for video recording and live streaming. Since it is open source, there are a lot of available plugins to extend functionality and there is a very active modding community. Originally only available via a plugin, OBS now has integrated Virtual Camera functionality.  This allows you to take your OBS composition and turn it into a camera feed that can be used anywhere where a regular camera input would be taken (Zoom etc).  This function opens up a wide range of streaming and remote working possibilities without requiring expensive software or hardware.  OBS has a highly customizable interface but because of this can seem a little intimidating to new users. 

Chroma keying can be done directly in OBS and can be pretty clean when paired with quality lighting.  The combination of OBS, chroma-keying, and vdo.ninja can be quite powerful for long-distance collaboration where the desired outcome is for multiple feeds to exist in the same virtual space. 

OBS has plugins that add functionality for NDI and Spout

COST: Free

Projects that used OBS:

 


TouchDesigner

TouchDesigner is a node-based visual programming language available for Windows and macOS.  It creates real-time interactive content and can be used in performance, installations and to create other pieces of media.  TouchDesigner really shines when paired with some form of real-time data that can be used to drive visuals and it is capable of rendering in both 2D and 3D.  As a creative coding tool, TouchDesigner has almost infinite possibilities and the cap of what can be programmed is usually based on what hardware is running it and the skill of the programmer.  

TouchDesigner is able to take input from almost any digital source and can output to pretty much anything that can be controlled digitally.  This makes it an excellent choice when working with any form of sensor.  

TouchDesigner can stream to any RTMP destination which allows to it connect to services such as Vimeo, Twitch, or Youtube Live

Using nodes, which in TouchDesigner are referred to as ‘operators’, users are able to create complex networks which generate or manipulate content.  What makes it so flexible and open however is also what can make it difficult for new users.  Without some instruction or the time to explore users can get lost in the myriad of possible nodes and unlike Isadora, TouchDesigner has no built-in cueing system. 

There are several nodes that come with specific hardware recommendations, if you run into trouble it’s always worth checking the wiki

COST:

  • Free for Non-Commercial license

  • Educational license: $300USD

  • Commercial license: $600USD

  • Pro license: $2200 USD

Projects that used TouchDesigner:

 


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