Help needed with my new webcam

5tevie · 5tevie #1 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 11:56 AM

Hi guys,
I finally took the plunge and got myself a webcam which was specifically designed for use with a Mac with an OS later than OS X 10.4. It is Plug & Play and works via USB 2.0.
Here is a link to the actual webcam that I bought .......

Mac Webcams -

There is one very important bit near the top where it says, "Built-in Microphone for Mac" and another important bit near the bottom where it says that this webcam is suitable for Snow Leopard.
There was nothing else in the box except for the camera with its USB lead.
I plugged the lead into my Mac Mini and the infra red lights came on on the front of the camera but nothing appeared on-screen to say that a new device was installed. I tried a few buttons and eventually got to iChat and my ugly mush showed up on a window within my TV screen. The picture is perfect. You couldn't wish for any better. It is crystal clear and when you move, it's like watching a TV picture.
Sound, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish.
I can see a "progress bar" kind of thing under my image and it moves up and down, in green, as I speak or clap my hands. The snag is that I can't find a way to record my voice and image and then play it back so that I can check it for quality. I found a bit where it says that when using iChat, I can ask the other persons permission to record a conversation but I can't find a way to record and play back just me.

Does anybody have any ideas?
Cheers,
Steve

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 03:30 PM

Moved. Does not belong in "Switcher". Please read forum descriptions prior to posting.

Chef_eam · Chef_eam #3 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 04:04 PM

If you are using Snow Leopard, you can record with QuicktimeX. Just open the Quicktime player, and choose File->New Recording.

Buzzard2010 · Buzzard2010 #4 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 04:06 PM

Lol just got in there before me with the Quicktime suggestion ;p

- Simon

5tevie · 5tevie #5 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 06:02 PM

Thanks guys.
I'll try that now and see what happens.

Buzzard2010 · Buzzard2010 #6 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 06:04 PM

Keep us posted pal

- Simon

5tevie · 5tevie #7 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 06:14 PM

OK, I must be doing something wrong here.
I can get the Quicktime bit up and running and I can record and play back my waves and head shaking. That side is perfect.
But I just can't seem to get any sound or even any kind of indication that sound is being picked up as mentioned in the opening post.
My guess is that there is a setting somewhere to change the input device for sound but I'm so new at Macs that I just don't know where it is yet.
Cheers,
Steve

5tevie · 5tevie #8 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 06:20 PM

YES!!!!
I found it hiding in "Sound" in Preferences. How sneaky can you get?
Thanks guys.

5tevie · 5tevie #9 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 06:27 PM

Sorry, guys. One last thing.
When you change a setting on a Mac, such as the device used to input sound, is there a sort of "Save" button that you need to click to make the Mac remember the setting, dare i say it, like on a Windows PC?

Chef_eam · Chef_eam #10 (**permalink**)

12-20-2010, 08:39 PM

From what I have seen, the Mac is smart enough to remember it on it's own. At least it has for every setting I have changed.

5tevie #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 30, 2010 Location: Blackburn, Lancs, North West England Posts: 256 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz.	12-20-2010, 11:56 AM Hi guys, I finally took the plunge and got myself a webcam which was specifically designed for use with a Mac with an OS later than OS X 10.4. It is Plug & Play and works via USB 2.0. Here is a link to the actual webcam that I bought ....... Mac Webcams - There is one very important bit near the top where it says, "Built-in Microphone for Mac" and another important bit near the bottom where it says that this webcam is suitable for Snow Leopard. There was nothing else in the box except for the camera with its USB lead. I plugged the lead into my Mac Mini and the infra red lights came on on the front of the camera but nothing appeared on-screen to say that a new device was installed. I tried a few buttons and eventually got to iChat and my ugly mush showed up on a window within my TV screen. The picture is perfect. You couldn't wish for any better. It is crystal clear and when you move, it's like watching a TV picture. Sound, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. I can see a "progress bar" kind of thing under my image and it moves up and down, in green, as I speak or clap my hands. The snag is that I can't find a way to record my voice and image and then play it back so that I can check it for quality. I found a bit where it says that when using iChat, I can ask the other persons permission to record a conversation but I can't find a way to record and play back just me. Does anybody have any ideas? Cheers, Steve The trouble with letting people like me loose on the interweb with a debit card is that I now have the latest Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, 320 HDD and OS X 10.6.5 all wired up to a 70" LED screen ...... And not the faintest idea of how to use it.
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,028 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	12-20-2010, 03:30 PM Moved. Does not belong in "Switcher". Please read forum descriptions prior to posting. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

Buzzard2010 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2010 Location: Bakewell, UK Posts: 2,532 Mac Specs: iMac G3 800MHz :D \| PowerMac G4 \| MacBook Pro 15" 2.8GHz C2D 500GB HDD 4GB 9600M / 9600M GT 10.7.1	12-20-2010, 04:06 PM Lol just got in there before me with the Quicktime suggestion ;p - Simon Rest In Peace Steven Paul Jobs February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011 [aged 56] If you have been helped, don't forget to use the Reputation system just above the post to the right. May 2011 Nominated: March 2011 & April 2011
	QUOTE Thanks

5tevie #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 30, 2010 Location: Blackburn, Lancs, North West England Posts: 256 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz.	12-20-2010, 06:02 PM Thanks guys. I'll try that now and see what happens. The trouble with letting people like me loose on the interweb with a debit card is that I now have the latest Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, 320 HDD and OS X 10.6.5 all wired up to a 70" LED screen ...... And not the faintest idea of how to use it.
	QUOTE Thanks

Buzzard2010 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2010 Location: Bakewell, UK Posts: 2,532 Mac Specs: iMac G3 800MHz :D \| PowerMac G4 \| MacBook Pro 15" 2.8GHz C2D 500GB HDD 4GB 9600M / 9600M GT 10.7.1	12-20-2010, 06:04 PM Keep us posted pal - Simon Rest In Peace Steven Paul Jobs February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011 [aged 56] If you have been helped, don't forget to use the Reputation system just above the post to the right. May 2011 Nominated: March 2011 & April 2011
	QUOTE Thanks

Help needed with my new webcam

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

5tevie #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 30, 2010 Location: Blackburn, Lancs, North West England Posts: 256 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz.	12-20-2010, 06:14 PM OK, I must be doing something wrong here. I can get the Quicktime bit up and running and I can record and play back my waves and head shaking. That side is perfect. But I just can't seem to get any sound or even any kind of indication that sound is being picked up as mentioned in the opening post. My guess is that there is a setting somewhere to change the input device for sound but I'm so new at Macs that I just don't know where it is yet. Cheers, Steve The trouble with letting people like me loose on the interweb with a debit card is that I now have the latest Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, 320 HDD and OS X 10.6.5 all wired up to a 70" LED screen ...... And not the faintest idea of how to use it.
	QUOTE Thanks

5tevie #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 30, 2010 Location: Blackburn, Lancs, North West England Posts: 256 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz.	12-20-2010, 06:20 PM YES!!!! I found it hiding in "Sound" in Preferences. How sneaky can you get? Thanks guys. The trouble with letting people like me loose on the interweb with a debit card is that I now have the latest Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, 320 HDD and OS X 10.6.5 all wired up to a 70" LED screen ...... And not the faintest idea of how to use it.
	QUOTE Thanks

5tevie #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 30, 2010 Location: Blackburn, Lancs, North West England Posts: 256 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz.	12-20-2010, 06:27 PM Sorry, guys. One last thing. When you change a setting on a Mac, such as the device used to input sound, is there a sort of "Save" button that you need to click to make the Mac remember the setting, dare i say it, like on a Windows PC? The trouble with letting people like me loose on the interweb with a debit card is that I now have the latest Mac Mini Aluminium running at 2.4 GHz with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, 320 HDD and OS X 10.6.5 all wired up to a 70" LED screen ...... And not the faintest idea of how to use it.
	QUOTE Thanks

Chef_eam #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 12, 2009 Location: Midland,Tx Posts: 357 Mac Specs: iMac 27" 2.66GHz i5, 1TB HDD, 12GB RAM, OS X 10.7.3, iPod Classic 160GB,iPad 1 64GB Wi-fi, iPhone 4S	12-20-2010, 08:39 PM From what I have seen, the Mac is smart enough to remember it on it's own. At least it has for every setting I have changed.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Webcam Needed For 10.4.11	nathannew2008	Other Hardware and Peripherals	1	07-30-2008 10:34 AM
External Webcam Needed	ffournier	Other Hardware and Peripherals	0	08-21-2007 07:10 PM