Hi All

I discoverd vMix whilst trying to find a better solution for bringing Skype video calls onto our switcher. It seems Microsoft have slowly removed all its useful functions (like it entire API) making it very awkward to manage. There are specialist Skype TX boxes out there, but at $4000 a go is a VERY expensive way of doing it.

The capturing from desktop is a very messy way of doing it. Especially as windows move, and windows get minimised etc.

I have noticed their are a plethora of Skype Video recording programmes out there. Each manage to capture the 'Local' and 'Remote' video signals, and transcode's into any number of codecs (i.e MPEG2, H.264, AVI, WMV or MOV) and save the files onto the HDD. This demonstrates that even though Microsoft have officially deprecated the API (You can still find the API & SDK Kit on Internet Wayback Machine, they have left in the Video Hooks, so whilst most of it no longer functions, extracting the video does. The API alls seems to provide some simple reporting such as number of Audio and Video channel in use etc.

It would be great if vMIX could connect an input directly to a Skype remote camera feed, so interviews and guests can be composited into the broadcast chain without mucking about setting up desktop captures.

Anybody else have any experience of using Skype in broadcast. I have a bit of software that automatically answers a video call, and renders it full screen, and puts it out via a DeckLink SDI card (using VERY old Decklink drivers - wont work with modern 64bit drivers, so has to run on XP). Its a hack, but it works - I just think vMix could do a much better job internally. Just needs something that can Hook into the Skype GDI and present it as a Video Capture device.

All The Best

Keith

Runnriott, I don't know if its specifically Skype your require, as I am now trying some alternative options. In my situation I need to have two way audio, and one way Video (So members of the public can video call into a TV show). I needed something simple that anybody could use, didn't want the client having to install or configure any obscure third party software. I am now playing with WEBrtc, which allows you to embed webcam capture through any browser - no special client software. All you need to do is give the 'Guest' a simple URL and after authorising that URL to access Camera and Microphone the Webcam can be streamed through the browser point-to-point or via a server.

The issue is converting a WEBrtc in to a RTMP stream for vMix to pick up the signal. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Keith