DV-Camcorder as Webcam -> computer badly slows down

[cumi]

Hi there!

I have an Canon MV750i MiniDV Camcorder what I want to use as a webcam for Skype. It does works, if I connect it via FireWire and start an Application called SplitCam. I don't really know why do I need this Software, but without it doesn't works at all, Skype doesn't finds any streaming/webcam source. I read somewhere, that i need this App, if I want to use my camcorder as a webcam.

The problem is, that the processor-time is on 100% (obviously overloaded) and communication slows down, even the voice-channel is often interrupted... I have an 1800 Intel Celeron, 512MB RAM, a new 256MB Graphic Card and a 2Mb xDSL, so this shouldn't be an issue.

I tried to change the frame-rate in SplitCam from 25fps to 5fps and my PC "cooles" down, but after few seconds, it changes back to 25fps. Does anyone have any experience with this Software? Are there any alternatives?

I don't need a super quality video for webcam so I wouldn't use it via FireWire, but if I connect my camcorder via USB, no application sees any source of video. Does anyone has experience with Canon camcorders using as a webcam via USB? Normally, for transfering DV to PC, FireWire has to be used, USB is too slow. In this case I want to USB and lower quality, but I don't know how...

The processor is probably overloaded, because it has to convert inline/real-time the higher resolution camcorder signal to a lower resolution for the webcam. How can I avoid this? How can I force my camcorder to produce a lower (optimal for webcam) resolution signal? Is there an optimal resolution for webcam/Skype)?

Any tipp warmly welcome

[Baldrick]

Maybe try webcamdv, but it's not free though.

[JohnnyMalaria]

I would suspect that the reason that Skype doesn't see it is that Skype uses the older Video for Windows technology for handling video and capture from cameras. Microsoft's built-in support for DV camcorders uses DirectShow.

DV cams being unsuitable for webcam use was a very common complaint when they first came out. (I had to buy a cheap webcam for the same reason). There's not much excusing any modern software not supporting it.

SplitCam makes your DV cam source look like a different device to Skype.

Re the high CPU usage, I would go to the SplitCam users' forum - I saw a couple of related posts:

http://www.splitcamera.com/forum/index.php

[cumi]

I tried the whole procedure with TrackerCam. It's a bit better, but processor utilisation is stil above 90%. But at least Skype is usable...