Use a Mobile Phone Camera As A Wireless Webcam in RightBooth

Update: 26th May 2022
This article describes the use of the iriun webcam app, but since writing it,  DroidCam has been brought to my attention and in many ways it is more reliable and better performing than iriun. 
So when reading this article, also consider using DroidCam:  https://www.dev47apps.com/

Want to use an iPhone's camera as a wireless webcam input into RightBooth?
This article explains how.
Also note that this solution works with an iPad's camera, or any Android phone or Android tablet's camera.

Note: This is a great solution for wirelessly capturing photos and recording 'talking head' videos. It may not be ideal for fast motion video recording, such as that obtained from a 360 spinner booth.  See Suggestions to improve performance (below).
​
Note 2: If you are looking to record 360 (or fast motion) videos wirelessly in RightBooth, we recommend using a GoPro camera, because the videos are recorded on the camera prior to them being transferred over WiFi to RightBooth for video processing.

Setting Up

​Step 1

• ​Make sure your RightBooth computer and your mobile phone (or tablet) are both connected to the same WiFi network.  Note: you could use your own dedicated router to create your own private WiFi network. Alternatively, you can use any public WiFi network.

Step 2

• Visit https://www.iriun.com  and install the Webcam for Windows app on your RightBooth computer.

Step 3

• Download and install the Iriun Webcam app onto your mobile phone (or tablet).

This is available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Step 4

• Run the Webcam for Windows app on your computer
• Run the Iriun Webcam app on your mobile phone (or tablet).

The two apps will then connect automatically over your chosen WiFi network and you will see the live feed from the camera in the Webcam for Windows app. In this example I am using the camera on a Samsung Galaxy S6 mobile phone to feed into the Webcam for WIndows app:

• When the two apps are connected you will be able to select your preferred video format in the Webcam for Windows app.  Here I am choosing 1280 x 720:

• Now make sure you keep the Webcam for Windows app running on your computer. You can minimise it to the Task bar.

Step 5

• Run RightBooth.
• Go to RightBooth Settings --> Cameras --> Main camera and choose 'Webcam' for both videos and photos
• On the Webcam video tab, choose 'Iriun Webcam' from the Device list
• Set your required Video size. Make sure you set this to match the video format size chosen in the Webcam for Windows app.  Here I have chosen 1280x720:

• Also choose the same size in the Webcam photo tab:

Working in Portrait Mode
If you prefer to work in Portrait mode, there is an option to switch to Portrait in the  Iriun Webcam app Settings on your mobile phone. 
​You will then need to tick the 'Rotate 90' check box in RightBooth Webcam video settings.

Step 6

• On the Webcam audio tab choose: Microphone (Iriun Webcam) :

Job done!
You can now capture high quality videos and photos in your RightBooth events, directly from your mobile phone (or tablet).
And because the camera input is treated as a webcam by RightBooth you can also make full use of all RightBooth's webcam features, including Snap Camera overlays, digital props, ink drawing, face detection, video enhancements and video augmentation.

Suggestions to Improve Performance
A number of users have reported that the video recording is not fluent when using iriun and that it can skip frames, especially when recording fast movement, such as that obtained on 360 spinner equipment.

If you are finding this happening, try the following:

• On both your computer and your phone, stop all other apps running that could be making use of the WiFi network.
• Reduce the chosen Video format size on the Webcam for Windows app.  Smaller size equals less processing time and less WiFi bandwidth requirements.
• Match the Video and Photo size in RightBooth to the one chosen in the Webcam for Windows app.
• Avoid using sizes higher than 1920x1080 for video recording.
• Try using a dedicated private WiFi network using your own router, with only your computer and phone connected, and position it in close proximity to your kit.
• Turn off the phone's mobile network.  The easiest way to do this is to remove the SIM card.
• Turn off the phone's Bluetooth and NFC.
• Contact the iriun developers to see if there is a newer version available or if they can  offer further advice.