Solution: Logitech C920 Webcam Listed as "Disabled" and not Providing a Video Feed in Isadora

Woland

Hello all,

I, like many folks, enjoy the Logitech C920 webcam because it's a fabulous little piece of tech (HD video capture, decent audio capture, Mac and Windows compatible, long cord, can be attached to a tripod, etc.), but recently a couple friends and I discovered that in the Live Capture Settings, when we went to select the Logitech C920, we sometimes wouldn't get a feed and it would show up as "disabled". We found a weird solution to this, (only on Mac, not sure how the C920 behaves with Windows to be honest), and I wanted to share this solution with the community.

If your Logitech C290 webcam is plugged in, showing up in the Live Capture Settings, but is listed as "disabled" and won't give you a feed:

1) Quit Isadora.

2) Open Facetime.

3) Select the Logitech C920 as the video source for Facetime.

4) Reopen Isadora.

5) The Logitech C290 webcam should now work if you select it in the Live Capture Setting.

6) If this doesn't work, rinse and repeat until it does.

Not sure why this works, but it does. Also not sure why the webcam registers in Isadora, but won't give one a feed sometimes and is listed as "disabled".

Best wishes,

Woland (Lucas Wilson-Spiro)

Michel

@Woland

I have a similar problem with the C920 but also with other USB Cameras. As you wrote, after re-opening Isadora the USB camera is labelled offline, but if you click the camera dropdown you will find the same Camera that is now called for example C920 #2 or #3. I am not only having this in Isadora but also in a software called security spy from ben software. It seems more a Mac problem I guess. Its looks like a similar problem with the display order, the Mac can't identify the devices correctly.

Best Michel

Woland

@Michel

I've seen that too, but in some cases though I'll only have one option and it will be, for example, "Logitech C920 #3 (disabled)" and there won't be another option.

CitizenJoe

Just to put it out there, the C920 and C930 work great in Windows!

H

bonemap

Hi

@michel, @woland

This thread is very timely for me. I have to replace a camera in an installation that uses a third party device tracking. I am looking at going out to get a C930 today (they are selling for a $30 discount at a local HiFi chain).

Can you tell me any more about this issue on Mac OS? What happens when the patch is re-launched, does the camera input setting need to be reset each time?

I am going to be changing the installations configuration to do the tracking in Isadora using Eyes++, as I can’t get a stable operation with the third party software. However, it will likely involve extending the C390 with an active USB extension cable. Have you used the camera successfully with extended cables before?

Any advice is appreciated, to help get this installation piece running for longer duration. Currently the third party software unexpectedly quits after about 30minutes to 1 hour.

Regards

Bonemap

Woland

@bonemap

I can't actually advise you on how the C930 behaves as I, and the folks who I've worked with who've had this issue, have only used the C920. It happened intermittently, which is part of what made it so annoying. In terms of extensions, we were using a USB extension in each case, but the extension was not an active one because we didn't need to go farther than a few feet. I have extended the Logitech c920 around 100' in one case using a USB-over-Cat5/5e/6 extender though, but that was about a year ago, and I wasn't seeming to have any issues with my C920 at that time.

Best wishes,

Woland

mark_m

@bonemap

Just going to say that I use the Microsoft LifeCam Studio.
Manual settings 'stick' in Isadora's live capture input, my PC - and Isadora - recognise more than one of them, and I've used one successfully with a 10m active USB2 extension.
But of course I'm running Windows, so YMMV on a MAC.
HTH

Mark (No not...)

bonemap

@Woland said:

I can't actually advise you on how the C930 behaves

I have unboxed a new C930 and installed the 'Camera Settings' application from the Logitech website (offers PTZ, and image control). I can confirm that all is working fine. The initial launch of Isadora with the camera connected to one of the USB ports on a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) listed the camera as expected. When unplugging the camera from the computer while Isadora is running an active live capture - the preview live capture window displayed the text (disabled) - however, after stopping and starting the live capture the camera input drop down listed another reference to the camera - similar to what @michel described.

In terms of extending the distance using USB cables, I have only tested with what I have at hand. The camera has functioned with an active 5 mtr usb extension, and two joined active 5mtr USB cables, even 1 passive 5mtr USB connected to 2 x active 5mtr USB. I have an active 10mtr USB cable but this has failed (might be a cable issue).

I then found a really interesting thing to do with the camera:

regards,

bonemap

Woland

@bonemap said:

@Woland said:
I can't actually advise you on how the C930 behaves
I have unboxed a new C930 and installed the 'Camera Settings' application from the Logitech website (offers PTZ, and image control). I can confirm that all is working fine. The initial launch of Isadora with the camera connected to one of the USB ports on a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) listed the camera as expected. When unplugging the camera from the computer while Isadora is running an active live capture - the preview live capture window displayed the text (disabled) - however, after stopping and starting the live capture the camera input drop down listed another reference to the camera - similar to what @michel described.
In terms of extending the distance using USB cables, I have only tested with what I have at hand. The camera has functioned with an active 5 mtr usb extension, and two joined active 5mtr USB cables, even 1 passive 5mtr USB connected to 2 x active 5mtr USB. I have an active 10mtr USB cable but this has failed (might be a cable issue).
I then found a really interesting thing to do with the camera:
regards,
bonemap

Thanks for the detailed run-dow, very helpful.

Also keep us all updated if and when you do modify your webcam. That link is very interesting to be sure.

Best wishes,

Woland

bonemap

@Woland said:

the detailed run-down

Unfortunately, the camera has stopped with an unexpected error when left to operate unattended. It is not clear what the cause is. I am able to use the 'Capture Control' actors to re-establish the live feed, however the warning dialogue box that appears "Isadora-Live Capture Error" requires a click through so I can not fully automate the recovery of the live feed - unless it is possible to disable the Isadora's Live Capture Error pop-up?

Regards

bonemap

bonemap

@mark_m

thanks for your advice. there is certainly a drift towards Windows based operation of Isadora in this forum! I love the sound of the Blade laptops that @Fred uses!

best wishes

bonemap