[gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[William Kenworthy]

Hi all,

    I ve just installed MS-Teams from portage and do not have webcam
video (it sees the USB code, but gives a black screen).  I also tried
the linux download from MS and it behaves the same.  The camera works
fine in teams on chromium, Firefox, zoom etc. under the same user.

Has anyone any suggestions ?

BillK

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 7:58:00 AM CEST William Kenworthy wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
>     I ve just installed MS-Teams from portage and do not have webcam
> video (it sees the USB code, but gives a black screen).  I also tried
> the linux download from MS and it behaves the same.  The camera works
> fine in teams on chromium, Firefox, zoom etc. under the same user.
> 
> Has anyone any suggestions ?
> 
> BillK

Hi Bill,

I have been using MS Teams on Linux for over a couple of months now and the 
camera does work for me.

The settings I have are:
- User added to the groups "audio", "video" and "usb"

In Teams, I did have to configure the devices, the settings can be found by 
clicking on your "avatar", top-right of the window with your initials. (Mine 
says JR)
Then select "Settings" and go to "Devices"
I seem to remember it didn't auto-select my camera, but the preview should, 
when selected, actually work.

Here you can also select a headset as audio-device.

Also, make sure there is nothing else using the camera at the same time.

Do take note, the Linux version is lacking several features that the other 
"native" clients have. Notably:
- Only 4 camera-views at the same time (instead of 9, I believe)
- No background-blur or image

This means, you only get to show your real background or leave the camera off/
covered.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[William Kenworthy]

On 18/6/20 2:23 pm, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> On Thursday, June 18, 2020 7:58:00 AM CEST William Kenworthy wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>>     I ve just installed MS-Teams from portage and do not have webcam
>> video (it sees the USB code, but gives a black screen).  I also tried
>> the linux download from MS and it behaves the same.  The camera works
>> fine in teams on chromium, Firefox, zoom etc. under the same user.
>>
>> Has anyone any suggestions ?
>>
>> BillK
> Hi Bill,
>
> I have been using MS Teams on Linux for over a couple of months now and the 
> camera does work for me.
>
> The settings I have are:
> - User added to the groups "audio", "video" and "usb"
>
> In Teams, I did have to configure the devices, the settings can be found by 
> clicking on your "avatar", top-right of the window with your initials. (Mine 
> says JR)
> Then select "Settings" and go to "Devices"
> I seem to remember it didn't auto-select my camera, but the preview should, 
> when selected, actually work.
>
> Here you can also select a headset as audio-device.
>
> Also, make sure there is nothing else using the camera at the same time.
>
> Do take note, the Linux version is lacking several features that the other 
> "native" clients have. Notably:
> - Only 4 camera-views at the same time (instead of 9, I believe)
> - No background-blur or image
>
> This means, you only get to show your real background or leave the camera off/
> covered.
>
> --
> Joost
>
>
> Thanks Joost, looks like I am out of luck - just a black screen in preview (I am presuming that means it wont work in a real conference).  It finds the camera automaticly (no error messages) and is acting like its actually working ... but just a black screen.

oh well, it will be Chromium again tomorrow :(

BillK

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:09:08 AM CEST William Kenworthy wrote:
> On 18/6/20 2:23 pm, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> > On Thursday, June 18, 2020 7:58:00 AM CEST William Kenworthy wrote:
> >> Hi all,
> >> 
> >>     I ve just installed MS-Teams from portage and do not have webcam
> >> 
> >> video (it sees the USB code, but gives a black screen).  I also tried
> >> the linux download from MS and it behaves the same.  The camera works
> >> fine in teams on chromium, Firefox, zoom etc. under the same user.
> >> 
> >> Has anyone any suggestions ?
> >> 
> >> BillK
> > 
> > Hi Bill,
> > 
> > I have been using MS Teams on Linux for over a couple of months now and
> > the
> > camera does work for me.
> > 
> > The settings I have are:
> > - User added to the groups "audio", "video" and "usb"
> > 
> > In Teams, I did have to configure the devices, the settings can be found
> > by
> > clicking on your "avatar", top-right of the window with your initials.
> > (Mine says JR)
> > Then select "Settings" and go to "Devices"
> > I seem to remember it didn't auto-select my camera, but the preview
> > should,
> > when selected, actually work.
> > 
> > Here you can also select a headset as audio-device.
> > 
> > Also, make sure there is nothing else using the camera at the same time.
> > 
> > Do take note, the Linux version is lacking several features that the other
> > "native" clients have. Notably:
> > - Only 4 camera-views at the same time (instead of 9, I believe)
> > - No background-blur or image
> > 
> > This means, you only get to show your real background or leave the camera
> > off/ covered.
> > 
> > --
> > Joost
> > 
> 
> Thanks Joost, looks like I am out of luck - just a black screen in preview
> (I am presuming that means it wont work in a real conference).  It finds
> the camera automaticly (no error messages) and is acting like its
> actually working ... but just a black screen.
> oh well, it will be Chromium again tomorrow :(

Strange, are you sure the camera is not covered?
Also, it does take a little bit for the camera picture to actually show on my 
laptop. Maybe wait a little?
And did you close all other applications that might be using the camera? (Like 
the browsers and such?)

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 08:23:29 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:

> Do take note, the Linux version is lacking several features that the
> other "native" clients have. Notably:
> - Only 4 camera-views at the same time (instead of 9, I believe)
> - No background-blur or image
> 
> This means, you only get to show your real background or leave the
> camera off/ covered.

I worked around this is Jitsi (it has background blur but not
replacement) by using OBS Studio, which does all this and much, much
more. With the plugin from media-video/obs-v4l2sink it creates a new
"camera" with its output. That's a standard-looking /dev/videoX device
and can be used with any software.

It's a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut just to get background
replacement bit it works well and I already had it installed from
something else.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional!!

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Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[William Kenworthy]

On 18/6/20 3:33 pm, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> On Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:09:08 AM CEST William Kenworthy wrote:
>> On 18/6/20 2:23 pm, J. Roeleveld wrote:
>>> On Thursday, June 18, 2020 7:58:00 AM CEST William Kenworthy wrote:
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>>     I ve just installed MS-Teams from portage and do not have webcam
>>>>
>>>> video (it sees the USB code, but gives a black screen).  I also tried
>>>> the linux download from MS and it behaves the same.  The camera works
>>>> fine in teams on chromium, Firefox, zoom etc. under the same user.
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone any suggestions ?
>>>>
>>>> BillK
>>> Hi Bill,
>>>
>>> I have been using MS Teams on Linux for over a couple of months now and
>>> the
>>> camera does work for me.
>>>
>>> The settings I have are:
>>> - User added to the groups "audio", "video" and "usb"
>>>
>>> In Teams, I did have to configure the devices, the settings can be found
>>> by
>>> clicking on your "avatar", top-right of the window with your initials.
>>> (Mine says JR)
>>> Then select "Settings" and go to "Devices"
>>> I seem to remember it didn't auto-select my camera, but the preview
>>> should,
>>> when selected, actually work.
>>>
>>> Here you can also select a headset as audio-device.
>>>
>>> Also, make sure there is nothing else using the camera at the same time.
>>>
>>> Do take note, the Linux version is lacking several features that the other
>>> "native" clients have. Notably:
>>> - Only 4 camera-views at the same time (instead of 9, I believe)
>>> - No background-blur or image
>>>
>>> This means, you only get to show your real background or leave the camera
>>> off/ covered.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Joost
>>>
>> Thanks Joost, looks like I am out of luck - just a black screen in preview
>> (I am presuming that means it wont work in a real conference).  It finds
>> the camera automaticly (no error messages) and is acting like its
>> actually working ... but just a black screen.
>> oh well, it will be Chromium again tomorrow :(
> Strange, are you sure the camera is not covered?
> Also, it does take a little bit for the camera picture to actually show on my 
> laptop. Maybe wait a little?
> And did you close all other applications that might be using the camera? (Like 
> the browsers and such?)
>
> --
> Joost
>
>
>
> Yep, all the above - I have a /dev/video0 (of course, as most other video software is woking fine).  I'll have a look at what Neil has suggested.

BillK

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:33:26 AM CEST Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 08:23:29 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> > Do take note, the Linux version is lacking several features that the
> > other "native" clients have. Notably:
> > - Only 4 camera-views at the same time (instead of 9, I believe)
> > - No background-blur or image
> > 
> > This means, you only get to show your real background or leave the
> > camera off/ covered.
> 
> I worked around this is Jitsi (it has background blur but not
> replacement) by using OBS Studio, which does all this and much, much
> more. With the plugin from media-video/obs-v4l2sink it creates a new
> "camera" with its output. That's a standard-looking /dev/videoX device
> and can be used with any software.
> 
> It's a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut just to get background
> replacement bit it works well and I already had it installed from
> something else.

Neil,

I don't have "media-video/obs-v4l2sink", I do have "media-video/obs-studio"

Is this a typo? Or are you using an overlay?

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:17:23 AM CEST J. Roeleveld wrote:
> On Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:33:26 AM CEST Neil Bothwick wrote:
> > On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 08:23:29 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> > > Do take note, the Linux version is lacking several features that the
> > > other "native" clients have. Notably:
> > > - Only 4 camera-views at the same time (instead of 9, I believe)
> > > - No background-blur or image
> > > 
> > > This means, you only get to show your real background or leave the
> > > camera off/ covered.
> > 
> > I worked around this is Jitsi (it has background blur but not
> > replacement) by using OBS Studio, which does all this and much, much
> > more. With the plugin from media-video/obs-v4l2sink it creates a new
> > "camera" with its output. That's a standard-looking /dev/videoX device
> > and can be used with any software.
> > 
> > It's a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut just to get background
> > replacement bit it works well and I already had it installed from
> > something else.
> 
> Neil,
> 
> I don't have "media-video/obs-v4l2sink", I do have "media-video/obs-studio"
> 
> Is this a typo? Or are you using an overlay?

Never mind this, was added recently.

Which USE-flags did you use and is there a simple howto somewhere?

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:17:23 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:

> > I worked around this is Jitsi (it has background blur but not
> > replacement) by using OBS Studio, which does all this and much, much
> > more. With the plugin from media-video/obs-v4l2sink it creates a new
> > "camera" with its output. That's a standard-looking /dev/videoX device
> > and can be used with any software.
> > 
> > It's a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut just to get background
> > replacement bit it works well and I already had it installed from
> > something else.  
> 
> Neil,
> 
> I don't have "media-video/obs-v4l2sink", I do have
> "media-video/obs-studio"
> 
> Is this a typo? Or are you using an overlay?

No and No. However, it is in testing, so you'll have to add it to
accept_keywords if you're running stable.

[I] media-video/obs-studio
     Available versions:  (~)25.0.8-r1{tbz2} **9999*l {+alsa fdk imagemagick jack luajit nvenc pulseaudio python speex +ssl truetype v4l vlc PYTHON_SINGLE_TARGET="python3_6 python3_7"}
     Installed versions:  25.0.8-r1{tbz2}(22:53:32 08/06/20)(alsa pulseaudio ssl truetype v4l -fdk -imagemagick -jack -luajit -nvenc -python -speex -vlc PYTHON_SINGLE_TARGET="python3_7 -python3_6")
     Homepage:            https://obsproject.com
     Description:         Software for Recording and Streaming Live Video Content

[I] media-video/obs-v4l2sink
     Available versions:  (~)0.1.0_p20181012-r1{tbz2}
     Installed versions:  0.1.0_p20181012-r1{tbz2}(12:17:29 16/06/20)
     Homepage:            https://github.com/CatxFish/obs-v4l2sink
     Description:         obs studio output plugin for Video4Linux2 device

Found 2 matches

You may find it installs the plugin to the wrong directory, the patch
here fixes that: https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=723210


-- 
Neil Bothwick

I am MODERATOR of BORG. Follow the rules or be assimilated.

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Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:21:12 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:

> > I don't have "media-video/obs-v4l2sink", I do have
> > "media-video/obs-studio"
> > 
> > Is this a typo? Or are you using an overlay?  
> 
> Never mind this, was added recently.
> 
> Which USE-flags did you use and is there a simple howto somewhere?

The homepage has clear instructions for setting it up. For doing the
background replacement in OBS, I googled and found some Youtube videos.

Am I getting old or do others also wish they could just get a text howto
instead of watching a video every time they want to do something new?


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Snacktrek, n.:
 The peculiar habit, when searching for a snack, of constantly
 returning to the refrigerator in hopes that something new will have
 materialized.

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Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:32:35 AM CEST Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:21:12 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> > > I don't have "media-video/obs-v4l2sink", I do have
> > > "media-video/obs-studio"
> > > 
> > > Is this a typo? Or are you using an overlay?
> > 
> > Never mind this, was added recently.
> > 
> > Which USE-flags did you use and is there a simple howto somewhere?
> 
> The homepage has clear instructions for setting it up. For doing the
> background replacement in OBS, I googled and found some Youtube videos.

Great, watching youtube for the guide...
Will start googling, did you bookmark them?

> Am I getting old or do others also wish they could just get a text howto
> instead of watching a video every time they want to do something new?

I prefer text-howto's over videos. Makes it easier to go through it at my own 
pace and rewinding/pausing text is soo much simpler than on youtube where it 
keeps adding adverts in the middle of an explanation.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:37:39 AM CEST J. Roeleveld wrote:
> On Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:32:35 AM CEST Neil Bothwick wrote:
> > On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:21:12 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> > > > I don't have "media-video/obs-v4l2sink", I do have
> > > > "media-video/obs-studio"
> > > > 
> > > > Is this a typo? Or are you using an overlay?
> > > 
> > > Never mind this, was added recently.
> > > 
> > > Which USE-flags did you use and is there a simple howto somewhere?
> > 
> > The homepage has clear instructions for setting it up. For doing the
> > background replacement in OBS, I googled and found some Youtube videos.
> 
> Great, watching youtube for the guide...
> Will start googling, did you bookmark them?
> 
> > Am I getting old or do others also wish they could just get a text howto
> > instead of watching a video every time they want to do something new?
> 
> I prefer text-howto's over videos. Makes it easier to go through it at my
> own pace and rewinding/pausing text is soo much simpler than on youtube
> where it keeps adding adverts in the middle of an explanation.
> 
> --
> Joost

Managed to get the video working through OBS. I did notice that if the 
resolution is too large, I get a black screen.

The largest I managed to get working is 640x360.

Bill, you might be able to get video by sending it through OBS as well?

I unmasked "media-video/obs-studio" and "media-video/obs-v4l2sink"
(Latest version, except for 9999)

Don't forget to apply the patch Neil mentioned in his email.

I added the "v4l" USE-flag to "media-video/obs-studio"


When all is installed, load the v4l2loopback driver with:

# modprobe v4l2loopback exclusive_caps=1 video_nr=5 card_label="loopback"

Then start OBS:
# obs

In settings, set "output (scaled) resolution" to 640x360 (You can find this 
under "VIDEO")

Add your real webcam as video-source (set resolution to 640x360 if at all 
possible, OBS will scale on the fly if necessary.

Start the V4L2 sink by:
Tools -> V4L2 Video Ouput

Set " /dev/video5 " as device and format " YUV420 "

Then start "teams" and select "loopback" as the video-device.

For me, this worked.

Now only to find out how to add a different background and do other silly 
things.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:37:39 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:

> > The homepage has clear instructions for setting it up. For doing the
> > background replacement in OBS, I googled and found some Youtube
> > videos.  
> 
> Great, watching youtube for the guide...
> Will start googling, did you bookmark them?

No I didn't, and there are a few in my history. I took my usual approach
with Youtube guides and picked the shortest one first.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."
 (Albert Einstein)

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Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 12:29:24 PM CEST Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:37:39 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> > > The homepage has clear instructions for setting it up. For doing the
> > > background replacement in OBS, I googled and found some Youtube
> > > videos.
> > 
> > Great, watching youtube for the guide...
> > Will start googling, did you bookmark them?
> 
> No I didn't, and there are a few in my history. I took my usual approach
> with Youtube guides and picked the shortest one first.

Neil,

I could really do with some help here.
All the videos I find either require a green-screen behind me (which is not 
going to work) or an additional tool in between that adds a virtual green 
screen.

How did you configure the filters to add a different background picture? Some 
screenshots would be helpful.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[Dr Rainer Woitok]

Neil,

On Thursday, 2020-06-18 09:32:35 +0100, you wrote:

> ...
> Am I getting old or do others also wish they could just get a text howto
> instead of watching a video every time they want to do something new?

Don't know anything about your age  ...  but you should know  you're not
alone ... :-)

Apparently coolness is meanwhile dominating reason ... :-/

Sincerely,
  Rainer

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:03:19 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:

> I could really do with some help here.
> All the videos I find either require a green-screen behind me (which is
> not going to work) or an additional tool in between that adds a virtual
> green screen.

I cheated, I used a "green" screen - it doesn't have to be green, just a
consistent colour that doesn't appear in your foreground image.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Experience is directly proportional to the value of equipment destroyed.

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Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[J. Roeleveld]

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 1:35:31 PM CEST Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:03:19 +0200, J. Roeleveld wrote:
> > I could really do with some help here.
> > All the videos I find either require a green-screen behind me (which is
> > not going to work) or an additional tool in between that adds a virtual
> > green screen.
> 
> I cheated, I used a "green" screen - it doesn't have to be green, just a
> consistent colour that doesn't appear in your foreground image.

It will be difficult to mount a big sheet behind me, but I managed to get some 
transparency (eg. hiding my background) using:

first:
Luma Key (both max sliders all the way to the right, and both min sliders all 
the way to the left)

second:
color key
- I chose white as colour (#ffffff)
- then the values as follows (top to bottom): 366 , 50 , 100 , 0.00 , 0.00 , 
0.00

third:
crop/pad to reduce the image to only show me and a little around it


If I then add an image (chose a random one) as 2nd source, my background is 
really difficult to identify, but I can be identified.

I think my face would be better if I would be less pale, but for now, I am 
happy with the result.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[Jack]

On 6/18/20 7:03 AM, Dr Rainer Woitok wrote:
> On Thursday, 2020-06-18 09:32:35 +0100, you wrote:
>> ...
>> Am I getting old or do others also wish they could just get a text howto
>> instead of watching a video every time they want to do something new?
> Don't know anything about your age  ...  but you should know  you're not
> alone ... :-)
>
> Apparently coolness is meanwhile dominating reason ... :-/

This is a real sore point for me.  Especially with organizations that 
talk about Diversity, but ignore diversity, particularly of learning style.

Jack

Re: [gentoo-user] MS-Teams on XFCE4/Gentoo

[antlists]

On 18/06/2020 12:03, Dr Rainer Woitok wrote:
> Neil,
> 
> On Thursday, 2020-06-18 09:32:35 +0100, you wrote:
> 
>> ...
>> Am I getting old or do others also wish they could just get a text howto
>> instead of watching a video every time they want to do something new?
> 
> Don't know anything about your age  ...  but you should know  you're not
> alone ... :-)

I've NEVER been a visual person.

Brought up in a house with books and no TV, and given the choice I would 
still live in one.

What was that sig? - "The sole purpose of X is to enable you to have 
multiple xterms open at once."

Cheers,
Wol