The PTZOptics cameras have many different ways of working within OBS. You can set them to pull in video over the network using RTSP or NDI, using HDMI or SDI with a capture device, or even pulling the USB 3.0 feeds of the USB models.
If you have a USB model camera, or if you are using an SDI or HDMI capture device, once you plug in the USB connection that should allow the device to show up as a Capture Device in OBS.
Setting up a video feed using RTSP
The most common way we see these cameras used is to be set up over the network. This allows the video feed, control, and even power (with a POE switch) to be handled over one cable. If you hook up an ethernet cable from the camera to your router on site, or from the camera directly to the computer. Linked below are a few articles to help get the cameras set up on your network.
For information on applying the NDI License, click the link below:
https://help.ptzoptics.com/support/solutions/articles/13000087138-applying-a-newtek-ndi-license
Once you get the camera set up on your network, you should be able to type the IP address into a browser and get access to the Web GUI (admin for username and password). This is where you can set the video settings for your camera's IP feed.
Pulling in an RTSP Feed from the camera
Once you have the camera setup on your network, you can pull that feed into OBS by using a “Media Source” or a “VLC Video Source”, or, if you have an NDI camera
MEDIA SOURCE - If you use Media Source, choose a new one and give it a name, and then click OK.
Once in the properties for your new media source, uncheck the local file box, and in the input field that appears, type out the RTSP string for your camera as follows:
rtsp://IPADDRESS:554/1
You should see the image from the camera pop up and the name of this media source should be listed under the Sources list. Keep in mind the sources here are considered layered, so whatever is at the top will show up in the preview window, and you can click the little eyeball to mute the video of that source.
VLC SOURCE - Click to add a source, and Choose VLC Source. This should show up if you have VLC media player installed. Choose New, give it a name, and click OK.
Click the Plus button and choose add path/URL, and enter in the following string.
rtsp://IPADDRESS:554/1
Pulling in an NDI Source from the camera
EDIT: 11/4/22: The newest version of OBS (V28 or above) broke the previous NDI Plugin. If you wish to use NDI you need to download the new NDI tool for OBS. The link is below.
https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/obs-ndi-newtek-ndi%E2%84%A2-integration-into-obs-studio.69240/
As long as you have an NDI model camera, or a camera with an NDI license installed on it, you should be able to pull in the camera as an NDI source into OBS.
The first thing you would need would be the NDI tool package and driver, without this you will never see the camera as an NDI source on the network. You can download the NDI tools from the link below.
https://ndi.tv/tools/#download-tools
Once you have the tools installed, you should just need to make sure your camera is set up correctly on your network. These articles should walk you through getting the cameras up on your network using DHCP or a static IP address.
With the NDI tools installed, and with the cameras setup on your network correctly, you should be able to add the camera to your OBS session as an NDI source. If you go to add source, and choose NDI Source. Choose New and give the source a name. You should then be greeted with a dropdown that should have your camera listed.
If you are not seeing NDI source as an applicable source selection, be sure you update the version of your NDI tools and the version of OBS you have. If it still does not work, here is the installer for the NDI capabilities for OBS Studio.
https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/obs-ndi-newtek-ndi%E2%84%A2-integration-into-obs-studio.69240/
Pulling in an SDI, HDMI or USB 3.0 feed into OBS
This method should involve a direct connection from the camera's USB 3.0 output (on the USB models) or using a capture device for the HDMI or SDI to pull into a computer running OBS. AS far as capture devices go most of them should work, but we do like the Magewell converters as we have tested them extensively.
http://www.magewell.com/capture/usb-capture
Any of these methods of setting up the camera would require adding the camera into OBS as a capture device. Choose a new source, and then choose “Video Capture Device”. Choose Create new and give it a name, then click OK. You should then be able to select your camera (PTZOptics) from the dropdown if you are using the direct USB 3.0 connection from a USB model camera. If you are using the SDI or HDMI output to a capture device, the capture device should show up here.
Controlling the camera from within OBS
You can also get control from within OBS using our free control software. We have a few different applications and methods of controlling the cameras.
You can go to the camera control application page on PTZoptics.com and there we have numerous control applications. The “OBS Plugin for PTZOptics” is the one you would want for this application. Once you click that and enter in your information, you should be greeted with this page. You can use our OBS controller for MAC or Windows, or you can use the Dockable controllers. The difference is that the OBS app is just like our standalone app but sits on top of OBS and can be turned on or off from within the Tools section of OBS. The Dockable controllers can be put into the GUI of OBS itself.
Using the OBS App
If you use the Windows or MAC OBS app you have to follow the instructions in the readme. You just move (3) files to one location on the obs-studio folder, and the imageformats folder to another location in there, that is all spelled out in the Readme. Once that is complete, you should be able to go to Tools, and see PTZOptics Camera Controller listed. If you select it, that will bring up your controller.
To use the controller you would have to have your camera on the network first, and then you can enter its IP address under settings, and then MultiCamera Settings. If you enter the IP address under camera 1, then once you finish up click the Camera1 button. You should have control of your camera. Pressing the View, then advanced view, will bring up the speed, OSD and exposure control.
Using the Dockable Controllers
The Dockable controllers are another form of camera control that you can do from within the actual GUI of OBS. You can set one of these up per camera and place them into your gui as in the pic below. While this is an option, it can be hard to get fine control. We do see a lot of customers using this though so I wanted to be sure to mention it here. You can find the Dockable OBS controllers if you go through the process to download the OBS app, the dockable controllers are another link there.
Setting up OBS to issue camera commands when switching scenes.
This is possible using the HTTP triggers available in OBS. The article walking you through this is linked below.