Playing live video and recording it will require some form of connection from the camera control unit to a device that has Viewline installed. This is because Viewline is a Windows application and most camera control units (CCU) are linux based, otherwise it would be simple to install Viewline on the actual CCU. We are working on analternative but meanwhile we can deal with the existing systems.
The way the connection is made is via a video capture device (VCD). A video capture device is a piece of hardware or equipment used to record or capture video signals and convert them into digital data that can be stored, edited, or transmitted using a computer or other digital device. These devices serve as an interface between analogue video sources (like cameras) and digital systems (like computers).
When a VCD is connected to a PC via USB the PC will require a driver to be installed. A driver in PC terms is a specialised piece of software that acts as an intermediary between the computer’s operating system and a specific hardware device. In this case the VCD. It essentially “drives” the hardware, allowing the operating system to communicate with and control the device effectively. Without the correct driver, the hardware may not function at all or may have limited functionality. The driver is often supplied by the VCD hardware supplier.
When this is setup correctly you will see the VCD as a device by right clicking on the live video screen.
If you are having problems seeing live video and you are not sure why, it is worth checking the VCD using VLC. This is a free application that can be downloaded from the internet and is very versatile. To check your VCD, go to Media, Open Capture Device and select your VCD from the video device name dropdown.If you can’s see your device or it is there but does not open and play in VLC then there is either a problem with the driver or potentially the VCD.