Convert RTSP stream to virtual web camera

Question

I am trying to use a RTSP stream from an IP camera as video input source for various applications on Windows (eg. Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.).

The only solution I have found so far is using "webcam 7", an application that fetches an RTSP stream and creates a virtual webcam driver that registers in system as webcam and that any application can then use. Unfortunately, this application often becomes unstable and might crash randomly.
Are there any alternative/better ways for achieving this?

Answer 1

Create your own DirectShow video capture filter (there are lots of examples - this is a great one) and handle the RTSP stream inside it. This way you can implement the stability yourself.

Answer 2

I know this is a bit old question. But you can also have look at vlc2vcam, looks promising.

Answer 3

Try Moonware Universal Source Filter from http://netcamstudio.com. The only drawback is that it creates only video "composite" device that sends both video + audio and Skype can only see the video (I think most of applications does the same). If I find an easy way to split that stream will post it here.

Answer 4

You can easily do it on Ubuntu, Debian, Raspian, and Ubuntu Linux for Windows subsystems using the following method,

1. Installing required libraries, v4l2loopback-dkms and ffmpeg:

sudo apt install v4l2loopback-dkms
sudo apt install ffmpeg

2. Emulate a video device:

sudo modprobe v4l2loopback card_label="Webcam Stream Name" exclusive_caps=1

3. Streaming from RTSP uri to the created virtual device:

ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i rtsp://uri -vcodec rawvideo -threads 0 -f v4l2 /dev/video0

You can replace the '0' at the end of /dev/video0 with the number of the available and playable video device.