Custom Framerate support

[Abdusamed Ahmed]

Binary package hint: cheese

Right now, I can't use my webcam on Skype because the picture quality is extremely bad. Buying a new webcam makes no sense because the same webcam does have better quality if and only if I select to choose lower framerate.

When ever I chat on skype with video, the picture is extremely black. The issue became really annoying because I couldn't talk to people using my notebook's builtin webcam. In Windows 7, there is a custom application from the manufacture which allows to brighten up the picture internally [not simple bright which whitens the picture] by selecting 'Night Mode' What this mode simply did which I found recently is that it simply changes the amound of framerates broadcasted by the webcam to computer. Default it's 30FPS which is smooth but in normal condition, black or dark video but 10FPS brightens up the picture

Till now, I have only found guvideo which allowed to select different rate but the problem is that it only allows those frame with the application, not any other. Unlike cheese, which sets allows setting to be used in different application like skype with frames,effects and all that goody. What I'm asking is to implement a feature which allows different frame rates setting to be used for webcam. If its not possible or anything, can you please tell me how can I do change my framerates from the start so that what skype sees is 10FPS which is a bright picture instead of the usual 30FPS dark video. Like can I do it by changing some config file or something else? I need it it, thank you.

Ubuntu 10.4.1 Lucid

[Abdusamed Ahmed (sir508)]

Also, I have asked in ubuntu forum on how can I change some config file which would change the setting from the 'roots'. Thus far, no ones either doesn't know it or the right guy isn't there.

[Vish (vish)]

Not a cheese bug. Cheese is just a recording program, it displays the video output from the webcam. and it can only make software changes.

The webcam settings [FPS, etc..] are controlled by the drivers and how far the webcam driver support has been done for the particular webcam model.

To test, Install package : v4l2ucp
Depending on the level of webcam support , Once installed you will have the options in :
System > Preferences > Video4Linux Control Panel

If you dont have the options the drivers are not yet completed for your webcam.
[this bug report has no information about the webcam model or kernel version, but this just seems like a forum question than a bug report. In future kindly file bugs using $ ubuntu-bug PACKAGENAME]

[Abdusamed Ahmed (sir508)]

First I did try the forum but soon realize it would be great feature for Cheese dev to implement in the program. I did install v4l2ucp and doesn't seem to effect anything even with the 'backlight compensation' on and updated.

What I'm asking is there some config file I could edit and just set the frame rate 10FPS manually?

Driver - uvcvideo
Webcam Name - Chicony USB 2.0 Camera

Linux bahie-laptop 2.6.32-24-generic #43-Ubuntu SMP Thu Sep 16 14:58:24 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Vish (vish)]

In windows, the driver and the software settings are controlled in the same settings window, so it seems like they are handled in one place. [i guess the webcam is logitech]

Well, the options for the frame rate are named as "Auto-exposure" -> usually a checkbox , "Exposure" -> values that you can set.
If those options are not available then the drivers are not complete for your webcam.

You need to file a bug in linux kernel regarding those features not something that can be done in cheese.

Kindly file a bug in the upstream kernel, similar to how I have done for my webcam: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=16290

Filing a bug in the upstream tracker is better, as the main authors for the webcam drivers will get in touch.

[Vish (vish)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better. Examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report so we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs. For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#When%20not%20to%20file%20a%20bug.

[Vish (vish)]

Argh! ignore custom template reply comment 6 above! Launchpad does that!
I thought instead of closing your bug as invalid, we can handle it better in the answer tracker. Do let me know if you have any problems filing the bug in the kernel.

[Abdusamed Ahmed (sir508)]

So what your telling me is that to report the problem I am facing directly to the kernal developers. Got it! :) It's not that my camera isn't supported, it worked out of the box but it's not that 'well' supported that I wanted it to be. It's Chicony USB 2.0 Camera builtin in a Toshiba Laptop - [Qomsio F50-126] Many people were facing the dark picture issue but most of the threads I read on were dead.

[Abdusamed Ahmed (sir508)]

Following your advice, I posted it on bugzilla following your type of format which looks good :)

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/process_bug.cgi

[Vish (vish)]

Yeah, even if it is a feature request, its best handled in the kernel. Because that is where it needs to be fixed.
Btw, Wrong link.. :-) Do post the bug link and I'll have a look at the bug.

[Abdusamed Ahmed (sir508)]

sorry.. here

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=20062

Kinda weird, I had to manually search the bug number on a different browser. While logged in, the url on top will not work. Opened a new browser and copied the bug number and pasted it in the search of bugzilla tracker

[Vish (vish)]

Looks fine but i suggest that you change the attachment type.
Right now, dmesg (51.28 KB, application/octet-stream)
you need to change the application/octet-stream -> text/plain .
You can change that by using the "Details" link

[Abdusamed Ahmed (sir508)]

how long does it take one bug to grab attention? any tips of making it a red flag riser?

[Vish (vish)]

Well its not an urgent issue. You should have rather marked the bug as a wishlist instead of high priority.. ;-)
It will take time no one can say when.

[Abdusamed Ahmed (sir508)]

omg... I can't believe there is still no reply. If this do this, I can't imagine number of toshiba noteebook user benefiting because most toshiba notebooks have this brand of webcam in them

[Vish (vish)]

You have to realize that people working on the drivers do this during their free time. [they are not paid for their work ;-)]
And as i mentioned earlier, the bug is a wishlist and not really a major issue something like a webcam not working at all or crashing.

You could take the laptop outside and the framerate/image would be better.

Anyhoo... commenting about their response lag here is not going to hasten the upstream bug either :-)

[subhradeep (subhradeep)]

My Lenovo 3000 N200 has got almost same specs (Chicony USB 2.0 Camera, Driver - uvcvideo, uname -a: Linux localhost 2.6.32-21-generic #32-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 16 08:09:38 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux) and I too cannot set the frame rate either in cheese or camstream (the fps settings are greyed out in the latter). I had Fedora10 running in this machine before switching to Mint/Ubuntu, and as far as I can remember, I could change the fps in camstream there (probably not in cheese though). I can live without the webcam video, but would have been better if somebody had found a solution (the default video recording in cheese is not good -- very low fps?).