How to set up an HDMI video feed input or connect a USB camera (Video Input)
Introduction
Yodeck is expanding the available options you have to display content on your screens. The "Video Input" option allows you to connect any USB video input device to your Yodeck Players to display a video feed on your screens. The typical use is an HDMI-in port; you connect a USB HDMI capture card and connect through HDMI to your set-top box receiver (satellite, cable, or terrestrial) to show live video along with your messaging in a cool layout. This also works with typical USB cameras (any webcam) if you want to relay a local live feed.
Connecting the hardware
The first thing you have to do is connect the USB HDMI capture card (or the webcam) directly to the Yodeck player.
You can use any of the four USB ports.
Configuring a Video Input
To use the Video-Input, do the following:
- Go to the "Videos" section and click the "Add" button.
- From all the options that appear, select "Video Input".
- In the form presented, type in a "Name" and add any other details you need, like Description, Tags, and Default Duration.
- By default, the Resolution and FPS are automatically set. Leave these at their default settings when setting this up for the first time.
- Click "Save".
You can now assign this Video directly to your Player to make sure it works as expected.
Recommended USB devices
Yodeck should work fine with all UVC (USB Video Class) devices. These include HDMI USB Capture Cards, USB webcams, other USB capture cards, and more. We have yet to find a USB Video Class device that does not work properly.
Recommended HDMI Capture Cards
The following USB HDMI Capture Card is very popular and can be found on Amazon, eBay, and local retailers worldwide. These are OEM and can be found under several brands and in different colors. It supports up to 4K input and up to 30 FPS at 1080p/4K. The capture resolution displayed on the Player's screen is up to 1080p, and the quality is quite good for general use.
The device gets quite hot, so some sellers bundle the units with a small USB extension cable for connecting it to the Yodeck Player. We recommend it too.
These come at a very low cost, retailing at $15, and they seem to work fine. We have performed prolong testing; however, we cannot guarantee long-term reliability. Online reviews are positive.
We have also tested the below high-quality HDMI Capture Cards from well-known vendors. We have tested several devices from AVerMedia, including:
Overall, most similar devices should work fine, given that the "Technical Requirements" detailed below are fulfilled. You can search eBay or Amazon for USB HDMI capture, and you will get hundreds of results!
USB webcams
We have tested a handful of USB Cameras. These are really straightforward to support, so almost all USB cameras should work.
Technical Requirements
In case you want to get more technical and dive into the details, here is what we need to be able to use a USB video device:
- Support of UVC (USB Video Class) profile.
- Support for MJPG (Motion JPEG) capture codec.
As long as these two basic requirements are fulfilled, then the device should work fine.
Troubleshooting a Video Input
- I am not getting any video
Some capture cards display a standard static feed if nothing is connected to their input, e.g., an error message or a colorful screen. Try unplugging your HDMI device (e.g., your set-top box) and see what happens. If nothing happens, then the USB HDMI Capture Card might not be connected properly or might not work at all.
- I am not getting any audio
Check that your HDMI device (e.g., your set-top box) is not muted and the volume is set high enough.
- There is a delay from input video to seeing it on screen
A slight delay of less than 1 second is expected. A higher delay may be due to the specific HDMI capture device you are using.
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