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Video inputs

The video inputs feature enables you to display the screen of your laptop, or any other supported device, on the canvas. This section describes how to set up screen sharing.

Canvus supports three categories of video inputs:

  • USB video devices — webcams connected directly to the application computer.
  • Hardware video capture devices — HDMI/DVI capture cards (Magewell on both platforms; DataPath Vision on Windows) connecting laptops, streaming devices, and AV equipment.
  • IP / network streams — RTSP, HTTP, RTP, and UDP video streams from IP cameras and network video sources.

Canvus can display any incoming video source. For example, webcams, laptops or desktop computers, tablets or personal devices, video conferencing devices, and IP cameras.

IP / network streams

Canvus can display video from IP cameras and any network-accessible video source using standard streaming protocols, including RTSP, HTTP, RTP, and UDP. This makes it straightforward to add a ceiling-mounted IP camera, a network video recorder output, or any RTSP-capable camera to a canvas without running a physical cable to the application computer.

IP streams are added and managed using the Video Streams feature. See Video Streams for full instructions, including how to add a stream URL, switch between streams, and the WebRTC delivery improvements introduced in 26.4.0.

DataPath Vision capture cards (Windows only)

On Windows, Canvus supports DataPath Vision HDMI capture cards via the RGBEasy driver interface. Confirmed supported hardware includes the VisionSC-HD4+ family. Other DataPath Vision cards that expose the standard RGBEasy API should also work, but only the VisionSC-HD4+ has been verified in the Canvus codebase.

DataPath Vision support is Windows-only. The RGBEasy library (rgbeasy) is not included in Linux builds.

Magewell capture card setup in 26.4.0

If your video capture card is a Magewell device, Canvus client 26.4.0 ships with improved handling of the Magewell support library (LibMWCapture.dll) and the MW Capture Runtime installer:

  • No more silent registration failures. LibMWCapture.dll is now bundled directly in the Canvus installer, replacing the previous RegSvr32-based step that could fail silently on some machines.
  • Fewer error dialogs during install. The Magewell runtime installer no longer surfaces spurious RegSvr32 errors on Canvus client install or uninstall.
  • Cleaner reinstall flow. Reinstalling the Canvus client over an existing installation now handles the MW Capture Runtime correctly instead of leaving the system in a half-upgraded state.
  • Runtime downloaded on demand. Instead of carrying the full Magewell SDK zip inside every Canvus installer, the installer now fetches the Magewell runtime executable when required.

For operators, the practical effect is: fewer prompts and dialogs during Canvus installation on machines with Magewell hardware, and no need to run a separate Magewell installer to register the capture library by hand.

Video input connection methods

Before you can share a device\'s screen with Canvus, you must set up a video connection between your device and Canvus. Most video sources must be connected to the video capture card on your application computer, but webcams must be connected to a USB port.

Webcams

Simply connect the webcam to any USB port on the computer running Canvus client. Canvus automatically detects the incoming video stream from the webcam.

Laptops or personal computers

You will need to connect the laptop or desktop computer to an input on the video capture card installed on the Canvus application computer. You can use a cable or wireless connection.

  • Cable connection: Connect the video output on your laptop or personal computer to a video input on the capture card.
  • Wireless connection: Connect the base unit of your wireless screen sharing device to the video capture and then connect your laptop or desktop computer to the base unit. You can use devices such as Barco ClickShare, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, etc.

Tablets or smart phones

First, you must connect your tablet or mobile phone to a streaming device such as Apple TV or Google Chromecast. Next, you connect the HDMI output on the streaming device to a video input on the capture card. You will need to use a suitable adapter or converter cable if your capture card only has DVI inputs.

Share your screen

You can now can share your device\'s screen with Canvus. Follow these steps:

  1. Connect your device to Canvus; see video-input-connections.

    Canvus automatically detects the incoming video stream and adds your device to the video inputs menu.

  2. Open the video inputs menu.

  3. When the menu opens, select your device.

Todo

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