Just a quick write-up on a recent “hack” to share your desktop as a webcam, letting you share your screen or specific windows to any number of people in any video conferencing app.
You will need:
- OBS
- [v4l2loopback] (https://github.com/umlaeute/v4l2loopback) (Linux)
- [obs-virtual-cam] (https://github.com/CatxFish/obs-virtual-cam) (Windows)
To put them together you have to:
- Build or install a recent OBS
- Build the
v4l2loopbackorobs-virtual-camplugins, following instructions in the README files- Open OBS, go to Tools > v4l2 Video Output and select “Start” if the device selected is correct
- Go to the audio/video settings of the vidconf software and select the new video device
- Start your call and invite your crowd
You may need to play with options to get it working well, but I didn’t have to do much to get it playing HD videos with no noticeable audio lag over the popular video conferencing apps - Hangouts, Skype, Zoom etc.
In OBS I could switch scenes with my webcam + local video/desktop, or go full screen video/desktop.
This is useful for educational purposes, to comment on a recording of something done earlier or by someone else, to share your desktop with more than 1 person (Hangouts) or to not have your meeting cut off at 40 minutes if over 3 people (Zoom). Or you could play your old home movies and films to friends and family. Your call!