Now that the expensive but excellent Firewire-based iSight is no more, Mac users lacking a built-in (USB-based) iSight webcam face a dilemma. Although Mac OS X 10.4.9 introduced iChat support for USB Video Class (UVC), and using such webcams means no extra drivers are needed, it is far from easy to walk into a store and choose a one that is certain to work. I threw my once-loved Cyberphone, blaming the non-native drivers for poor audio performance on my Intel Mac. Any cheap webcam (as with the Cyberphone) is likely to have poor Mac driver support, so a driver-free UVC camera seemed like the answer. But would the built-in microphone be recognised? Google didn't seem to come up with a definitive answer to this question. Furthermore, reports said that Vista-certified cameras "should" work—but elsewhere I read that some Vista-certified webcams support UVC and others do not. So how can you send high-quality Skype video and audio without hogging all your USB ports?
A microphone
In Wellington USB headsets abound (which I find cumbersome), but there is a dearth of desktop USB microphones. I could have bought a new iMic, which serves to amplify a line-level microphone—an additional purchase. I used to own the original iMic and was less than impressed when using it to send audio out via my hi-fi (the sound kept breaking up).
A camera
As for a camera I gather the Xbox Live Vision works natively with OS X 10.4.9, delivering a decent image for the money and available in-store for $NZ70. But there's no built-in mic, so if a separate one is added that's two precious USB ports spoken for.
Double duty
We have a camcorder that doesn't get out much. I wondered if I could use this with Skype and, sure enough, I got a picture—but no sound. The Sony miniDV camcorder delivers a pretty decent image and utilises one of the otherwise dust-gathering Firewire ports on the back of my display. Furthermore, it feels good to employ kit that is otherwise sitting around: the camcorder now has a double duty as a "no additional cost" webcam.
Could I pull a similar double-duty trick for audio input? I was sold on the BlueAnt X3 micro, a universal Bluetooth headset that comes with an AC, in-car, and USB charger. It paired readily with both my trusty T610 mobile and with my Mac:
The X3 and Mac mini make a lovely pair
The X3 works even while attached to the USB charger, giving it the appearance of a USB stalk microphone. In a charging state it glows red, but flashes blue when on standby. There is a tolerable delay before I begin transmitting audio when answering a Skype call, and it seems clarity depends on positioning of the headset. Oddly it seems to work better when on the desktop or attached to its stalk than when hanging off the ear. Of course it works (and charges) without going near your precious USB ports, and means I can continue a call while up to 5m away from the computer (you can't place or answer a Skype call via the headset).
Please excuse the rubber bands; these are required to keep the camcorder in its desktop cradle. The camcorder is mounted on a mini-tripod I hope my wife won't miss:
A Firewire camcorder and Bluetooth headset prove Skype-friendly on the Mac
Take two
Updated 20.04.07
It turns out that the audio quality of the Bluetooth headset was terrible; I recorded the direct audio input using QuickTime Pro and confirmed this. In addition, during further testing there were intermittent problems with the Bluetooth audio failing:
Failure of Bluetooth audio
Following this lead I found a Logitech Fusion webcam with "RightLight2" and "Works with Windows Vista" on the box, indicative of UVC support. Ignoring the installation instructions and Windows software CD-ROM, I just plugged it in and Skype (2.6 Beta) on the Mac detected the video without configuration:
Wide-angle USB video with good clarity
The wide-angle 1.3MP camera sits happily on top of my Cinema Display, held by the integral universal monitor mount. Audio input was likewise recognized ("Unknown USB Audio Device") and a direct recording was far superior to those I had made with the Bluetooth headset:
Automatic detection of the USB microphone
Here is a sample recording direct to QuickTime using the QuickCam Fusion on the Mac (.wav, 400KB).
Update Jun 2007: Apple's 10.4.10 update killed the microphone in my webcam; it no longer appears as an audio input device. Together with popping noises eminating from speakers attached to some Intel Macs, this appears to be a widespread problem. Think twice before applying the 10.4.10 "update".
Update Dec 2007: Apple's 10.4.11 update appears to restore UVC microphone functionality.
Update 17.07.08: A logic board failure led us to resuscitate a 700MHz G4 iMac. Contrary to expectation, the Fusion works well with Skype or iChat over the G4's USB 1.1 port.
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Thanks for the overview Bruce. I've been trying to find a UVC webcam with audio that works with OS 10.4.9 and will definitely check out the Logitec Fusion.
Just for the record Corey the QuickCam Fusion ("Works with Vista"/ RightLight2 model; beware old/ non-UVC stock) also works well with iChat. As I mentioned on your site I did install the Windows software under XP on Parallels out of curiosity and IMHO it's all gimmick. The lens is so wide-angle that face tracking is mute; echo cancellation added no benefit (but is suspect in causing the "Blue screen of Death" I saw several times); and low light performance is better than the built-in iSight on my wife's MacBook. The rest of the driver-based features are just toys.
Bluetooth support in OSX has been spotty recently... It works, and then an Apple update broke it, and then the next one fixed it again.
Well, I think he is using the older model of the Quick Fusion, I have the newer model and it is not supported, not even under Linux.
Vendor id: 0x046d
Product id: 0x08c1
Logitech have changed something inside that make it not compatible and lot's of people/company are still working on the differences and trying to write drivers for it.
So if you plan to buy on, just make sure it is the older model.
Andre
Andre, if you have product ID 0x08c1 according to this chart you have the old camera. Mine is 0x08ca, supporting RightLight2 and UVC.
Oh, so it is the opposite then, the newer models are supported as opposed to the older ones.
I was reading on another site that only the older one were supported... very strange.
Anyway, mine still not working, i've tried with MACCAM and also something like IOX2USB ... and still nothing.
Andre
There is a hack you can use which involves installing the 10.4.9 Apple.USBAudio extension, in place of the 10.4.10 one. This fixes the built in microphone, and has caused no adverse effects on my system.
The extension is available here.
Just replace it with the one in the System/Library/Extensions folder and then delete the Extensions.kextcache file in the System/Library folder and reboot.
Your microphone should now be detected and show up in the Sound system preferences pane.
Oh and by the way, a good camera to get is the Quickcam Ultra Vision....works perfectly. :-)
Oh yeah, almost forgot, u might need to run a repair permissions afterwards.
Thanks for that Will. I did try replacing extensions previously as suggested on MacFixIt, but this did not resolve the problem. Apple are apparently working on a fix for this specific issue, so I'll wait for this. Meantime I restored functionality by downgrading to 10.4.9.
Thanks Will. It works - nice trick! the microphone works again (quickcam ultravision) on OS 10.4.10.
Thanks a lot about the audio driver tip! I just bought the Quickcam Ultra Vision and got very scared when audio failed to be recognized. I just replaced the file, rebooted, REPAIRED the permissions, rebooted. Everything works like a charm.
Nevrozel -- when you say you 'repaired the permissions', do you mean disk permissions or user permissions?
Thanks!
When I said disk permission i was referring with Disk Utility > Repair Disk Permissions.
I just "fixed" my new Mac Mini's issue with the USB Logitch QuickCam Ultra's microphone by doing the downgrade on the Apple.USBAudio kernel extension. If you're more comfortable with the command line you can do the install cp of the older extension as su (to retain root ownership) and then "chown -R root:wheel ./AppleUSBAudio.kext" to assign the extension and child directories/files to the root:wheel user:group.
Just su-run the command "kextload -d AppleUSBAudio.kext" and it should hot-load the kernel extension w/o a reboot. You can validate it by doing "kextstat|more" and scrolling to the entry for the given extension.
Cheers,
Etienne
Any update on how the Logitech Quickcam Ultra Vision works with Leopard?
I can confirm that the Ultra Vision works GREAT with Leopard! It has all the drivers, BOTH video and audio. I just plugged it in and in worked like a breeze. Apple did a great job this time! ;)
Good news; thanks for the update nevrozel.
Will or anyone that can help,
I have a Logitech UltraVision and applied your fix to Tiger and everything worked great.... until I upgraded to Leopard... Now the video is odd - I get severe flickering in Skype on my end, and no picture on the other, and in iChat although it identifies the camera and the camera light comes on, no image ever shows up... Any ideas? I was thinking of attempting to roll back your changes in Leopard but after re-reading this thread (it was a while ago that I did the fix) I realized you only replaced the audio driver so I'm guessing that should not affect the video at all. Anyway any assistance would be appreciated.
Aaron
I have just bought the Logitech Fusion webcam for my old Ibook G4, running on MAC OS 10.4.10. The camera worked right out of the box through skype. However, the install CD is ignored, meaning I cannot download the software for the webcam. I.e - i get a picture but I can't zoom in, take stills etc. Is there any way I can get the software to work on my computer? (I am a bit of a novice, so I don't know how stupid a question that is!)
Any help would be apreciated, even if its a simple "no. Don't waste your time." Thanks.
So is anyone using the QuickCam Ultra Vision or UV SE w/ 10.4.11? I just updated this morning and am thinking of grabbing this cam since some family recently bought new MB's w/ isight and want to video chat. Can't believe I'm behind the times these days....hahahahaha.
Just got a Logitech QuickCam STX and downloaded Macam 0.9.1 driver for OX X 10.4.11. Camera works fine until I try to use Skype -- sound is fine but video is choppy. It seems to be a problem with video scanning because the top 10% of the screen is fine, then I get a variety of blotchy colours (sepia seems to be a favourite), images moves from left to right and back agiain, then returns to normal. Just really random behaviour!! Has anybody else had this problem and managed to fix it, and if so, how?
cheers
MIKE
Hi Mike. While it certainly seems that the Fusion and the Vision work fine under 10.4.11 or 10.5, these cameras do have UVC support.
The STX does not, and therefore is "unsupported" by Mac OS X. Which product ID does your STX have? According to this list 2 out of three PIDs should be working with the macam driver. Are any other apps open and trying to use the camera? Do you have more than one type of driver installed? Try the Skype forums; others are having various issues with this camera.
i just got my fusion off ebay after i saw the mac store in the uk selling them. there must be something up for the brits to sell a logitech in the apple store... sure enough, skype, yahoo and ichat all see it *boo yaa* i went to the only compusa close to me as it was in the clearance sale of the chatper 11 they filed and i bought a cheap CompUSA brand USB EHCI card and the system profilers says it's running at 480mbps, the firewire on this mac only gets 400 itself! great way to save some cash while adding usb ports. this is great advice for people who want a webcam for the mac (I had to upgrade to 10.5.2 anyway... so this is actually pretty nice)
Will: on webcams, most zooming is just software blowing up the pixels bigger.. no new information is added to the picture fyi.. still shots (along with some sweet effects and even "green screening" backdrops) are great in photo booth in your applications folder... or if not, get it from someone else's application folder lol