User’s Guide Creative Live! Cam Voice How to use this manual This document has been designed to provide you with complete product knowledge. You can resize the document window or print this document, access linked web sites and get information from specially prepared graphics. • To jump to a linked topic or a web site, click the underlined blue text, or the hand symbol whenever it appears. • To show a short description (tooltip) of an object, move your mouse cursor over it.
Introduction
Introduction Congratulations on purchasing your Creative Live!® Cam Voice. You can enjoy fantastic voice clarity and high quality video images while video chatting with your friends and loved ones. This webcam captures 24-bit videos and still photos in 16.7 million colors at resolutions up to SXGA (1280 x 960). Its built-in microphones enable you to lean back and chat comfortably while video chatting! Read on to learn more about your web camera and how to use it to enhance your video chatting experience.
Minimum System Requirements ❑ Intel® Pentium® III or AMD® equivalent processor running at 850 MHz or higher (Intel Pentium 4, 2.8 GHz recommended) ❑ Microsoft® Windows® XP or Windows 2000 ❑ 128 MB RAM (256 MB RAM or higher recommended) ❑ 100 MB free hard disk space (excludes third party software installation) ❑ Available USB 1.1 port or a USB 1.1 hub with external power supply (USB 2.
About Creative Live! Cam Voice The figure below highlights the features of Creative Live! Cam Voice. 1 2 3 5 4 Component Description 1. Snapshot button Press to launch WebCam Center (when Cam Detector is running in the background) and capture images. 2. Microphones Captures voices clearly during video chats.
Component Description 3. Power LED Lights up green when your webcam is connected to your computer’s USB port. Lights up red when performing video and/or audio capture. 4. Hinged lever Use this to mount your camera on an LCD display panel. 5. USB cable Connect to your computer’s USB port.
Installing Your Webcam
Installing Your Webcam You need to install device drivers and applications before using your webcam. Do not connect your webcam to your computer before installing the drivers. If you accidentally begin installation with your webcam connected and the Add New Hardware Wizard or Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears, click the Cancel button. 1. Insert the Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Your CD should start automatically. If it does not, follow the steps below: i.
To verify the installation, see "Verifying the installation in Windows XP and Windows 2000". For Windows 2000 i. When a Digital Signature Not Found dialog box appears (see figure below), telling you that Creative Live! Cam Voice has been detected, click the Yes button. ii. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. You may be asked, after the drivers have been successfully installed, if you want to restart your computer. Select No until all the applications are installed. iii.
Note For users with USB 2.0-equipped computers only Creative Installation automatically checks that the software components required for optimal USB 2.0 performance are installed on your computer, and alerts you if these components are missing. If you receive such a message, do one of the following to ensure that your webcam always performs to its fullest potential over a USB 2.
Follow the diagram below to connect your webcam. 2 1 Component 1. Hinged lever 2. USB port Note • You can connect your webcam while your computer is turned on. • You can attach your webcam to a USB hub or device with its own dedicated power supply.
Verifying the installation in Windows XP and Windows 2000 1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop or in the Windows Start menu. 2. On the menu that appears, click Properties. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab. 4. Click the Device Manager button. A window appears. 5. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon. The entry “Live! Cam Voice” appears. 6. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Sound, Video and Game controllers icon.
Creative Live! Cam Voice Applications
Creative Live! Cam Voice Applications The Installation CD includes the following: ❑ Creative WebCam Center ❑ Creative Photo Manager ❑ Creative Photo Calendar ❑ muvee® autoProducer™ ❑ Orb™ with OrbSecure ❑ SightSpeed™ ❑ Yahoo!® Messenger Note • The applications included with your webcam may differ from those described here.
Creative Photo Manager With Creative Photo Manager, you can organize, arrange and manage all your photos and videos. It also comes with enhanced features and effects for advanced photo and video management.
For additional information and usage instructions, see the application's Help. Creative Photo Calendar Use Creative Photo Calendar to design and create your own photo calendar for print. You can also insert your own lunar calendar dates, public holidays and special events.
You can have your personalized photo calendar ready in three easy steps: just create, save and print! muvee autoProducer With muvee autoProducer, you can create videos easily and quickly. Its fantastic video editing technology enables you to produce professional videos in an amazingly short period of time.
For additional information and usage instructions, see the application's Help. Orb with OrbSecure Perfect for remote monitoring, Orb with OrbSecure is your personal home security application. From anywhere and at any time, you can view your home to assure yourself that all is right. When used together with Internet-connected devices such as notebooks or Personal Digital Assistants, Orb with OrbSecure also gives you instant access to files on your home computer.
For additional information and usage instructions, see the application's Help. Note • Only available for American customers. SightSpeed SightSpeed is an easy-to-use technology that transforms your computer into a video phone. With SightSpeed, you can see and hear your co-workers, friends and family, no matter how far away they are, without incurring long-distance fees.
For additional information and usage instructions, see the application's Help.
Yahoo! Messenger Enhance your Internet messaging and web chat experience with Yahoo! Messenger services. For additional information and usage instructions, see the application's Help.
Using Creative WebCam Center
Using Creative WebCam Center Creative WebCam Center makes it easy to capture images and video with your webcam. You can also perform advanced tasks like remote monitoring, motion detection and time lapse video capturing. You can start Creative WebCam Center in any of the following ways: ❑ Click Start →Programs or All Programs →Creative →Creative WebCam → Creative WebCam Center. ❑ Right-click the Creative Cam Detector icon in your taskbar, and select Launch WebCam Center.
Capturing Images and Videos Taking a Photo 1. In the Creative WebCam Center window, click the Capture tab. 2. Click the Photo Resolution box and select the resolution that you want. 3. Click the Snap photo button to capture an image. Images are saved as files in the default media folder. To view the images in the image viewer, double-click the image files in the Thumbnails/Details pane. Note • Your photo resolution is determined by your video resolution.
Using Face Tracking With Face Tracking, your camera automatically zooms in on your face during video instant messaging sessions, or when recording video. Using color detection technology that locks on to skin tone, your camera will zoom in on and frame your face in real time. Face Tracking also recognizes and detects all faces if there is more than one face in your camera's field of view.
If you have more than one camera installed in your computer, you must first select the camera that you want. ❑ Click Start →Programs or All Programs →Creative →Creative Live! Cam Voice →Face Tracking Utility. Note • Face Tracking is only available with selected webcams. You will not see the Face Tracking Utility option if your camera does not support Face Tracking. Tips for successful Face Tracking ❑ Make sure the white balance is correctly adjusted so that there is no color cast.
Using the Pan and Tilt feature With the digital Pan and Tilt feature, you can control your webcam's view in zoom mode without moving your webcam manually. The software lets you adjust the view by panning horizontally, vertically and diagonally in eight different directions. Select one of the following options to start controlling your webcam’s view directly from your computer. ❑ With WebCam Center ❑ With Pan and Tilt Control. With WebCam Center 1.
3. To change the field of view, click any of the directional buttons. Alternatively, you can also navigate your camera view by pressing the arrow keys on your keyboard. 4. To zoom in or out of the camera's field of view, click the zoom button you want.
Understanding the WebCam Audio Control feature The WebCam Audio Control feature activates your webcam's stereo microphones, freeing you from wearing a headset during video chatting. The WebCam Audio Control feature includes audio enhancements like noise cancellation and directional beam. This patented technological feature will redefine voice clarity for video chatting.
Note • This feature is only available for Creative Live! Cam Voice. • It is recommended that you set Directional Beam with Noise Cancellation as the default setting before you begin video chatting. • To change your default recording device settings, see "Frequently Asked Questions" on page C-1.
Using Creative WebCam Features
Using Creative WebCam Features Enabling Advanced Video FX Utility Advanced Video FX Utility enables you to add fun and interesting effects to your webcam video. You can launch the Advanced Video FX Utility in the following ways: ❑ Right-click the Creative Cam Detector icon in the System Tray and click the Advanced Video FX Utility option ❑ Click Start → Programs or All Programs → Creative → Creative WebCam → Advanced Video FX Utility To apply a video effect, do the following: 1.
• For more information on Advanced Video FX Utility, refer to the Creative WebCam Features online Help.
Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications Construction ❑ Creative Live! Cam Voice with an attached USB cable Power ❑ Supplied by a USB port Sensor ❑ 1.3 Megapixels Sensor Video Resolution ❑ Up to 1.
Software compatibility ❑ TWAIN, Video for Windows, and WDM MiniDriver for DirectShow that runs in Windows XP and Windows 2000.
Note on USB Compatibility
Note on USB Compatibility While testing your webcam on motherboards with integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, we encountered a small number of motherboards that do not meet the USB specification exactly. These and other non-USB-compliant motherboards may not operate correctly with your webcam. Fortunately, the manufacturers of some of these motherboards have released new versions of motherboards or BIOS to address the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions This section covers questions you might have while using your webcam. If you have more questions about this product, you may wish to consult our self-help tool "Knowledge Base". Go to www.creative.com, select your region and then select Support. The audio enhancement (for directional beam) feature cannot be enabled during video chatting. To resolve this problem: 1. Exit from your video chatting application. 2. Click Start →Programs or All Programs Voice →WebCam Audio Control.
3. Select the device that you want from the Sound recording Default device list box. Note • Repeat the steps above if you want your webcam to be the default recording device subsequently. An application reports that the video driver is already in use, or that the camera cannot be found. The camera is not properly connected. To resolve this problem: 4. Ensure that the camera’s USB connector is inserted, and that the USB connector is enabled in the BIOS.
The webcam does not light up, or in Windows 2000, the computer restarts for no apparent reason. You may have USB devices drawing too much power from your computer. This can happen especially when connecting USB devices to a passive or self-powered USB hub. In Windows XP, a USB Hub Power Exceeded dialog box appears. Try the following: ❑ Connect the camera directly to your computer’s USB port. ❑ Use a USB hub with an external power supply.
Appendixes
License and Copyright
License and Copyright Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Creative Technology Ltd. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of Creative Technology Ltd. Copyright © 2005 Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.
