Andy

I'm just wondering if anybody has ever used a webcam as a video input device to Max. I may be starting a new project that would use a webcam but I am unsure which ones would be compatible with max. I've seen quite a few 1.3 mega pixel webcams on the web but I'm not sure which ones would work. Does anyone have any recommendations?

webcams

Jitter supports almost any webcam your OS supports.

If you're on XP, and the camera has WDM driver(all non-ancient ones 

usually do), it should work with jit.dx.grab;

If you are using OSX, usb webcams are a but trickier, but a lot of 

them work with macam component. check macam list of supported cameras 

http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/cameras/index.php

Best way to check would be to download macam, go to store, plug 

camera and check if it works right on spot.

Firewire cameras should work on both systems with not much fuss.

My recommendation would be unibrain Fire-i, checkout list archives 

for tales of that legendary device(you can connect many of them at 

once, they can use external power supply, have nice 'uncompressed' 

stream... heck, they even ship to Serbia!).

If you're on XP, and the camera has WDM driver(all non-ancient ones  
usually do), it should work with jit.dx.grab;

If you are using OSX, usb webcams are a but trickier, but a lot of  
them work with macam component. check macam list of supported cameras  
at:

Best way to check would be to download macam, go to store, plug  
camera and check if it works right on spot.

My recommendation would be unibrain Fire-i, checkout list archives  
for tales of that legendary device(you can connect many of them at  
once, they can use external power supply, have nice 'uncompressed'  
stream... heck, they even ship to Serbia!).

Thanks for the response. A bit more detail....

I would ideally want something that would work on both Mac OSX and windows XP.

I intend to attempt to make a program that would track a persons movement in real time (by tracking colour), and so would like a fairly decent resolution and framerate.

Thanks for the response.  A bit more detail....

I would ideally want something that would work on both Mac OSX and windows XP. 

I intend to attempt to make a program that would track a persons movement in real time (by tracking colour), and so would like a fairly decent resolution and framerate. 

Basic problem with most of the usb webcams is their video compression. This is due the limited bandwith of usb 1.1. Most cams still just support usb 1.1 and not 2.0. Those cams that do support USB 2.0 are working fine and a pretty good alternative to firewire cams. I have a few "quickcams for notebook pro" working wiht jitter. Tiny cams with a video resolution of 640 x 480 (you can take 1.3 megapx stills) that don't use the nasty compression by supporting USB 2.0.

There are bigger cams from logitech too that come with USB 2.0 and a res of 640 x 480.

Basic problem with most of the usb webcams is their video compression. This is due the limited bandwith of usb 1.1. Most cams still just support usb 1.1 and not 2.0. Those cams that do support  USB 2.0 are working fine and a pretty good alternative to firewire cams. I have a few "quickcams for notebook pro" working wiht jitter. Tiny cams with a video resolution of 640 x 480 (you can take 1.3 megapx stills) that don't use the nasty compression by supporting USB 2.0.

There are bigger cams from logitech too that come with USB 2.0 and a res of 640 x 480. 

Webcams