Recently, I broke my webcam and it was time to buy a new one. Until I got a new one, I decided to use a few solutions, but quickly realized that using my phone as a webcam offered better quality and flexibility than using the webcam itself. After trying multiple apps and methods, two apps stood out for me while using my phone as a webcam in OBS.
1. Droidcam OBS
2. Reincubate Camo
While both are good, each has its own pros and cons which we will discuss below. Here you will find everything you need to know about using your phone as a webcam with Droidcam OBS and Camo.
1. Using the phone as a webcam with Droidcam OBS
This application is made especially for OBS. So you have the easier setup process compared to other apps. It connects wirelessly with your PC, so you have the flexibility to move your phone around while recording. Not to mention, the lag is negligible and the connection is stable. You get all of this without the need to install another application on your PC. You just need to add an OBS plugin and you are done. As a result, it is available on all platforms that support OBS such as Mac, Windows, and even Linux.
How to set up Droidcam OBS with OBS Studio
one. Start by installing the Droidcam OBS app from Google play store or Apple App Store.
two. Open the app and grant permission to access the microphone and camera to record.
3. On your desk download the Droidcam OBS plugin of their respective operating system.
Four. Once downloaded, open the file and install the plug-in just as you install any software on Windows and Mac. If you are on Linux, copy the downloaded file to the OBS-Studio plug-in folder to install the plug-in.
5. After installation, open OBS Studio (reopen it if you’ve already opened it to load installed plug-ins). In OBS Studio, click the More (+) icon in the Sources tab and select the option Droidcam OBS from the pop-up menu.
6. Click on the okay in the pop-up window to create a new instance.
7. Now make sure you are connected to the same wifi both on the phone and on the PC.
8. On the phone, you can find the Wi-Fi IP address in the Droidcam OBS application that you have installed.
9. Enter that IP address in OBS Studio desktop app in Wi-Fi IP option and click okay.
10. It will connect both devices and display the camera preview in the OBS Studio application on the desktop.
eleven. The original preview may not cover the entire screen and may be rotated. You can correct it yourself. Right click on the preview and select Transform. Here you can select the Fit to screen option to cover the entire screen and click Rotate 90 degree CW option to rotate the preview in landscape mode.
12. From here, you can stream it to any service like Twitch, YouTube, Google Meet, Zoom, etc. usually.
Pros
- Simple setup process
- Ability to connect wirelessly
- No need to install another application on your PC
- Supports up to 60FPS unlike many free apps
- Works on all desktop platforms, including Linux and Chrome OS
Cons
- The controls are not available on the PC, you must use your phone to zoom, switch cameras, etc.
- There is no wired option that can perform even better in latency.
- Few features like the ability to record when the screen is off are in Pro which costs $ 9.99
2. Use the phone as a webcam with Camo
Camo is the exact opposite of Droidcam. You can control all the camera controls directly from the PC. No need to touch the phone. Camo has its own app and can be wired. So it has little or no latency.
How to set up Camo with OBS Studio
one. Download and install the Camouflage application both on the desk and on the phone. It is available on Mac, Windows, Android and iOS platforms.
two. Once installed, open the application on your desktop and phone and connect both devices with a USB cable.
3. It will ask you for a confirmation notification for the first time. Click on okay. This will start showing the camera preview in the Camo app on your desktop.
Four. Now open the OBS Studio application, then click on the More (+) in the sources tab and select Video capture device.
5. In the pop-up window, click okay to start a new instance.
6. Here click on the drop-down icon next to Device and select the Reincubate Camo option and click okay. This will display the preview of the OBS Studio application within the Camo application.
7. The original preview may not cover the entire screen and may be rotated. You can correct it yourself, by right-clicking on the preview, select Transform. Here you can select the Fit to screen option to cover the entire screen and click Rotate 90 degree CW option to rotate the preview to landscape view.
8. You can use the Camo app on the desktop to focus, zoom, add basic filters, and adjust the video. So you don’t have to struggle with your phone to change settings when using PC.
9. From here you can stream it to any service like Twitch, YouTube, Google Meet, Zoom, etc. as usual.
Pros
- Little or no latency while streaming
- You can control the camera directly from PC
- Easy one-time setup process
- Supports up to 60FPS
Cons
- There is no wireless connectivity option so you have to be connected all the time.
- Can’t access any settings on desktop or phone without connecting both devices
- I don’t have an application for Linux and therefore Chrome OS
Conclusion: use the phone as a webcam
The choice of one application or another depends on your needs. If you want the flexibility of moving your phone around while streaming, then Droidcam OBS is an obvious choice for you. But if all you need is webcam-style functionality, Camo has better latency, providing desktop camera controls, video adjustments, etc., making it a good alternative to a webcam that can provide even better results.
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