www.AppleChat.info
...everything you wanted to know about videoconferencing with the Mac..
 

John's Video Conferencing Tips

• If you don't have broadband at both ends of your connection, be prepared for disappointment. There is only so much data that a modem can transmit.
   
• If possible, use iChat AV - it gives the best results I've seen on ANY home computer, Windows or Mac.
   
• Even if you Mac has a built-in microphone, sometimes external microphones - or the mics built into some cameras - give better results.
   
• Place the camera at eye level, just at the top of your display. Position windows on your display as close to the camera as possible. You are aiming for eye-to-eye contact, it makes all the difference.
   
• Pay attention to lighting. Don't have a bright window behind you. If necessary place a desktop lamp nearby to provide good illumination.
   
• Try to avoid moving or fussy backgrounds, a plain wall is best. Video compression works best if there is little moving at once.
   
• If you are behind a firewall or using a NAT device, you may have trouble connecting. Always try asking your partner to call you as well as you calling them: sometimes this allows the software to negotiate. You may need to put your computer in a DMZ (see your router's instructions) or temporarily connect your computer directly to the DSL/Cable modem.
   
• Don't answer the video-conference call naked. No-one wants to see that! ;-)
   
• External microphones often give better results, as they won't pick up noise from the computer itself and can be placed closer to your mouth.
   
• If you are using a camcorder as your video source, it may time-out and power down after a few moments. Most cameras won't power down if you take the tape out first, or select their "demo" modes. See your camera's manual.
   
• Video conferencing can feel weird and artificial at times. Some people find it easier to use a telephone-style handset than talk to the screen. Adjusting the location of the camera to make eye-contact really does make a large difference.
   
• If you are talking to young kids, make an effort and dress up or make a silly background to break the ice. Some children simply won't perform to camera and forcing them won't help - it can be a slightly creepy and scary experience for them! Ask them to show you a picture they have drawn, or get them to type their name or smiley face in iChat instead.
   

iChat AV / iSight Tricks
(spotted on various discussion boards)

• Some USB cameras apparently work if a Firewire camera is also present. Sounds whacky, but if your (supported) USB camera is connected and then you plug in a camcorder, several folks report the USB camera will start functioning. See also the iChatUSBCam utility.
   
• If you are communicating with another Mac owner who doesn't own the hardware required for iChat AV to send video, you can still have fun. A slow Mac on a modem can support voice with iChat AV, and if you can live without real-time video, there are many programs that will act as webcams and send images albeit rather slower than real-time. For example,
   http://www.evological.com/evocam.html and http://www.bensoftware.com/.
   
• To record video conversations with sound try SnapzProX. You can record audio using Audio Hijack, from Rogue Amoeba. It's polite - and possibly illegal if you don't - to inform the person you are speaking to that your conversation is being recorded.
   
• The desktop-style iSight stand can be used with most ordinary camera tripods by using a standard screw through the hole in the base.
   
• Here's how to capture video from iSight to your hard drive, courtesy of Derrick Story. QuickTime Broadcaster is neat software that you can have a lot of fun with!
   
• Want to chat with other iChat AV users? Personally, I don't really want to see and talk to someone I don't know (and you don't want to talk to me, trust me) but if you need a way to test your iChat set-up, then these sites are for you. Sign up, browse the lists, and find someone interesting. Most users seem be to guys looking for girls to talk to so be warned!
  
      iChatters, MyiSight , Seeser.org
      iChattin, iChatFinder, iSighting
  
   
• You can use a USB webcam with iChat AV if you use the utility iChatUSBCam from Ecamm Network. Great news - USB cameras are dirt cheap. Note: you'll still need a USB camera driver. See the list above.
   
• If you have a G3 Mac operating at less than 600Mhz, iChat AV will not support video. Unless that is, you use the iChatUSBCam utility mentioned above. A side-effect of the USB hack is that any speed G3 will work with USB and Firewire cameras. However, don't expect miracles - the CPU effort required is considerable which is why Apple included the limit in the first place.
   
• If you are using a Firewire camcorder as a video source, a Mac with a G4 processor is required. Extra processing is required to decode the DV video, and this requires a faster CPU.
   
• Save a copy of the iChat video image you see on screen by simply dragging the image to the desktop.
   
• Do you see strange flickering bands on your iSight video? If you are in Europe and are illuminated by fluorescent lighting, that's what is causing it. In Europe, the mains cycles at 50Hz, in the US it's 60Hz. Apple built in a 60Hz filter to the iSight. Hopefully that can be changed by software. In the meantime use other types of lighting.
   
• The Fire-I camera often reports "camera in use" when used with iChat AV. The problem seems to be extra drivers installed with the Fire-I, which should be removed.  The Apple support discussion forum has details on how folks have deleted drivers to get it working.
  
• Do you find the audio quality of iChat seems to degrade over a few minutes of conversation? Select mute and then un-mute, and the quality returns to normal.
   
• If you are using iChat over a speed limited network - a satellite link for example - change the preferences to limit bandwidth to the lowest setting and try again.