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by jabberwik 2207 days ago
Most meeting software already allows you to broadcast your webcam and a screen-share session at the same time. So this is only necessary if you want your webcam feed to be embedded inside your screen-share, and you want your screen-share to be your webcam feed. For example, this sounds like it would be a horrible experience in something like a Zoom gallery view. Am I understanding correctly?
2 comments
rahimnathwani 2207 days ago
OBS can do a lot more than embed your webcam over your screen share.

You can:

- combine and arrange multiple portions of the screen as you like

- filter things

- switch between different layouts whilst you're in a call

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jabberwik 2206 days ago
I'm asking specifically about the virtual camera. Why not just screen-share OBS' preview window?
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frob 2207 days ago
I believe you aren't. Obs+virtual cam means you can run a live, multifeed show without having to rely on zooms auto-switching. Essentially, you can spotlight your feed, use zoom and other software to feed into obs, and then have a talking-heads experience with multiple people on the same view at the same time without the jumping jitters between two speakers. You can also then embed anything else you want, like video files, images, text, etc.

Essentially, it let's you run a live production over zoom and it is a blast. I've run two shows myself and helped with tech on another two with this setup and they've all been fun.

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jabberwik 2206 days ago
The advantages of OBS are clear, but I still don't understand the virtual camera. Why not just screen-share OBS' preview window?
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frob 2206 days ago
Good question. For me, it has just been experience.

I've found that the preview window tends to be glitchy. I don't know what causes it, but I've had obs crash on me multiple times when using that interface.

Also, the virtual cam allows you to output at a given resolution but if you want to do the same with the preview window, you need to scale it up which just beats more desktop space and may also just eat more resources.

Finally, it is just more direct of a connection. I would rather be able to get a feed directly out of a program rather than have to go the window-capture route as that just add an additional layer of possible bugs, jitter, and fail.

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