disable iSight without disabling other USB webcams

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Level 1

8 points

disable iSight without disabling other USB webcams

Hello,

Hopefully someone can help me. I need to disable the built-in iSight camera on a Macbook Pro but allow other USB connected webcams to function. Specifically, I'm using a program called Witness that uses USB webcams as a motion triggered security system. The problem is that in order for the softwrae to utilize more than one camera, each camera must be on its own high-spoeed bus and cannot share bandwidth with the built-in iSight camera. I've read the many posts about moving files from the Quicktime folder to disable the iSight, but I've read that this action also disables ANY USB webcams from functiong. Please help.

Magic Mouse-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Macbook Pro 2011, Mac Pro

Posted on Oct 5, 2012 2:06 PM

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Answer 1

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Oct 5, 2012 2:32 PM in response to digiboy1

I don't know a way to do what you want.

Because you need this because of a requirement of "Witness", the developer may be able to help you. Try their "Support" page http://www.orbicule.com/support/index.html or contact them via the email link on that page.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.8.2

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Answer 2

digiboy1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2012 2:55 PM in response to EZ Jim

Thanks for the reply, but I already contacted the developer. That's how I found out I couldn't have more than one webcam per high speed bus. Thanks anyway.

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Answer 3

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Oct 7, 2012 7:20 AM in response to digiboy1

digiboy1 wrote:

Thanks for the reply, but I already contacted the developer. That's how I found out I couldn't have more than one webcam per high speed bus. Thanks anyway.

Then perhaps some other software app that would not need iSight to be disabled would better serve your need?

For example, have you considered http://www.bensoftware.com/securityspy/ ?

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.8.2

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Answer 4

digiboy1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 8, 2012 11:43 AM in response to EZ Jim

Thanks for the heads up, EZ-Jim. I'll give SecuritySpy a try, though it looks a bit too sophisticated to use the simple webcams in the setup I'm trying to create. Additionally, I think the limitation of one USB camera per high-speed USB bus is a hardware consideration, not necessarily a software issue, as the throughput of data from the live video streams is why two cameras cannot be supported on one bus alone, hence my need to disable the built-in iSight while still allowing video from other USB cameras to be utilized.

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Answer 5

digiboy1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 8, 2012 3:30 PM in response to EZ Jim

I was right, EZJim. See the blog post below. Looks like SecuritySpy has the same limitations as Witness, so it appears that I either have to move to a network camera setup, or get a newer Mac Mini with two hi-speed buses.

http://bensoftware.com/blog/?p=29

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Answer 6

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Oct 9, 2012 6:35 AM in response to digiboy1

Right you are!

Seems you have found the best possible solutions for your needs.

Well done.

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