iChat and DV camcorder. Your camera is in use by another application

Question

iChat and DV camcorder. Your camera is in use by another application

I am having a problem using the AV capabilites of iChat. I read all the threads and haven't found the answer.
Here's the situation:
Using Mac 10.4.7/ iChat 3.1.5/Cannon ZR300 as my video source.

If I launch iChat or Yahoo Messenger first and go to preferences it says there is no camera connected to this computer.
If I turn on the camera then launch iChat or Yahoo Messenger it says camera in use by another application.
If I launch iMovie it sees the camera and all functions like import, play, rr etc are working. So I know the camera is ok.

I have tried opening up Garage Band and all the other suggestions like throwing away preferences for all affected programs, shutting down and restarting with camera on and off etc.

Any thoughts?

powerbook g4 1.67, Mac OS X (10.4.7), Cannon ZR300 DV camcorder

Posted on Sep 10, 2006 4:23 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nickrp88

Level 1

0 points

Sep 10, 2006 9:21 PM in response to Leslie Carter

I am stabbing in the dark here, but it may help. Best of luck. You say that the camera works with iMovie so I will assume you are using firewire. Try disconnecting the camera opening ichat preferences / video and selecting the open ichat when camera is turned on option. Then quit and see if it starts up when you connect the camera. Be certain that there are no other apps running when you engage the camera as iMovie is considered dominant when a video device is connected, also try turning off the "play through camera" option in iMovie preferences.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 13, 2006 3:02 AM in response to Nickrp88

Thanks for the suggestions. When I followed the steps of your first suggestion iChat didn't startup when I turned connected the camera and turned it on. I also checked and the play through camera wasn't engaged in iMovie. I even went to the Apple store and asked a Mac Genius and a couple of guys on the floor. None of them knew how to fix the problem. I also sent an email to Cannon and they passed it off on Apple. Now I guess Apple wants me to spend 150.00 on an iSight camera. Thanks for trying though. 🙂

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 14, 2006 3:46 AM in response to Leslie Carter

Finally!!! I found info in one of the other threads to uninstall QT 7.0.3 and reinstall QT 7.0.1. I never realized that QT 7.0.3 wasn't working correctly because I never use the content guide to search for music or movies. When I clicked on the links to movies and music in 7.0.3 I got no response. But now that I back graded it to 7.0.1 it works and so does my iChat. No more camera in use by another application. The only problem is that iTunes came up and said that I need 7.0.3 to see itunes videos . At the moment I'm not downloading videos so I'm ok but hopefully they will fix the bug.

Reply