Which webcam software is best?
Posted by 
Michael Walsh) on Jun 16 2008 | Tagged as: Acer
One of the answers to the question I asked in an earlier video was: “I wish Acer would make a much more simplistic webcam program. Something like Mac Os X Photobooth would be nice. SIMPLE to use.”
I’m not sure whether Photo Booth is that much easier to use and in one respect at least, both standard programs lose out to Debut which has virtually everything you could ask for.
Still there’s nothing objective about this. All of them are easy to use, all are free… The choice, as ever, is yours.
| 3.5 (1 person) |
on 16 Jun 2008 at 9:16 pm 1
Morris Lee (Check me out!) said …
Hey michael, sorry that I might have to warn users for Debut, all you say is pretty much true, smoother framerates if you get the codec right, but, I do realize that the “Sound” is NOT synchronized with the video itself. As for the Acer Aspire 5920, the Crystal Eye webcam sofware ONLY takes pictures, but the acer arcade did provide a webcam recording software that records with synchronized audio but at 320×240(framerates are very good too). Being a early Debut discoverer user myself, i did not like the software over acer arcade even that it takes longer to launch.
on 16 Jun 2008 at 9:36 pm 2
Michael Walsh (Check me out!) said …
When I downloaded Debut earlier on today, it automatically downloaded two Codecs from the parent site when I first ran it and then just worked first time every time (I had to redo this video a dozen times as it was running at 16 minutes which is why I sound rushed
).
I had no problems and no “camera is in use by another application” messages.
I must say I didn’t notice the sound out of synch on this highly un-scientific test I did although I’m going to have another look at the video and if it is I will update the original post as it’s something that drives me absolutely bonkers!
How weird that the 5920 software is pictures only. If that’s the case (and you are Mr. 5920 in my eyes) then the original reply was a very valid one and acer *should* make a better webcam software.
Having said that, and knowing what Photo Booth can (and can’t) do, do you think Debut is a good all-round webcam application?
on 17 Jun 2008 at 2:09 am 3
Morris Lee (Check me out!) said …
Debut is so far the best from all other ones I can find(other then the Acer Arcade specifically for 5920) maybe debut is designed for normal Webcam like my old one which is about 12 FPS I think, maybe it is adjusted for that timing. The “out of synch” only happens when after a few seconds of recording, the recording is extremely smooth for 5920’s webcam, feels like the MacBook Air one you have there, probably at a solid 30 FPS. Even so, i think it is the fact that debut can’t “capture” and “save” the correct frame, since by looking at the FPS (on the top right I recall?) it is not a steady 30.00FPS, the numbers are easily affected when you move too much, or change in brightness for the surrounding light sources. I did try to fiddle with the Acer Arcade recording resolution, but no good out come, one thing did suprised me, Arcade supports recoding from my old USB webcam too(when you have it installed, it will be selectable from the DV Wizard List)
I am writing novels here lol…….or maybe too hard to reduce the details, just trying to get everyone to understand
on 17 Jun 2008 at 7:41 pm 4
Mark J. McPhersonm (Check me out!) said …
Thanks Acer Guy, for the Debut tip! I have an Aspire 9810 and after upgrading to Vista, the orbi-cam software froze every time I tried to record video. I spent a lot of time un-installing, re-installing, updating etc., and on the phone with Acer, who could only recommend going back to factory install. But I find that the thing works like a charm with Debut!
on 17 Jun 2008 at 8:50 pm 5
Michael Walsh (Check me out!) said …
Mark,
Glad to help out. Although to be honest I wouldn’t have discovered it myself if the standard OrbiCam program hadn’t generated so much traffic to this blog (do a Google search for “Acer Orbicam”)!
Glad to know you got it sorted
on 16 Jul 2008 at 12:20 am 6
Morris Lee (Check me out!) said …
Hello to all, I have just discovered another software for Acer laptop recording software, if you have suyin driver installed, you should be able to navigate to C:\Windows\SUYIN NB Cam\ and start LiveCam.exe to record, this one records at 640×480 at a steady 30FPS, sound and video are synch. if you have Bison installed instead, you might find it under C:\Windows\BISON NB Cam instead
on 03 Aug 2008 at 5:25 am 7
vera (Check me out!) said …
Thank you Morris Lee……after trying everything i could to make video with my orbicam…….i followed your instructions,and found the bison folder….am now able to make a video with my cam….no sound as yet,but im working on that.I have also pinned the shortcut to my start menu…….will try it shortly.
on 03 Aug 2008 at 6:11 am 8
vera (Check me out!) said …
An update……everything is working just fine,although have to set audio every time.The link on the start menu is very handy also.Can only get audio with mike,and not with inbuilt sound….but i am happy with it now.