How to use a webcam on a Mac Mini?

[zabouti]

I have a Mac Mini (2018) Macmini8,1 running Mojave 10.14.6 and I want to attach a webcam to it. I bought a cheap no-name webcam from Amazon and it works fine on my MacBookAir (2013) running the same OS.

But nothing happens when I attach it to my Mac Mini. Zoom doesn't see any video input.

What can I do? I really surprised that my Mac Mini is so useless for something so simple.

 

[casperes1996]

It should detect it the exact same way the Air does. Try and use something like Quick Time to see if there's any video input in there or if it's a Zoom issue with selecting the device

 

[zabouti]

It should detect it the exact same way the Air does. Try and use something like Quick Time to see if there's any video input in there or if it's a Zoom issue with selecting the device

When Zoom starts up, it shows me this dialog box:

But if I continue, I am eventually able to tell Zoom to use my camera. I think it's strange behavior, but it does eventually work.

Where would I find a way to open video input in QuickTime? I don't see it under Prefs or any menu.... Maybe Jobs has hidden it under a button that needs me to press the Option key?

So thanks, casperes1996.

- ge

 

[Cookie18]

First of all, what does it say under sound settings in system preferences? It should give you some options for microphone and speakers. Your webcam should appear as a microphone input.

Go to system preferences > Sound > Input

If it appears there it should be connected.

I don’t use Zoom but on Skype and other video calling services you can select which video input you want to use. If there is the same option in Zoom, is your webcam selected as the default?

 

[casperes1996]

When Zoom starts up, it shows me this dialog box:

View attachment 956480

But if I continue, I am eventually able to tell Zoom to use my camera. I think it's strange behavior, but it does eventually work.

Where would I find a way to open video input in QuickTime? I don't see it under Prefs or any menu.... Maybe Jobs has hidden it under a button that needs me to press the Option key?

So thanks, casperes1996.

- ge

To select the input in Quick TIme click “New Movie” (I think that’s what it’s called anyway) in the File menu (Menu Bar). It normally defaults to showing the webcam at this stage, but there should be a little triangular button next to the record button, where you can pick quality settings, webcam and microphone.

This sounds like a Zoom issue to me