The Yeti isn’t everybody’s pick for the best-sounding USB microphone, but that’s par for the course when it comes to audio critiques. We sent samples of the same voice reading the same phrase into seven different microphones to four audio experts and five Wirecutter staffers. When buying a webcam for your Mac, you should be looking for features such as video resolution, frames per second and microphone quality to ensure you get the best out of your device. For home users, Epson makes the best cheap inkjet printer. If you are a photo enthusiast, or a photography pro, you'll probably want a Canon printer. At home or on the road, if the sound quality of your music matters, it's tough to beat the Marshall Kilburn Bluetooth speaker for wire-free listening.
The webcam on your PC can do a lot more than just click the occasional selfie or chat on Skype. Paired with the right software, you can use the humble webcam to take wide-angle selfies with your friends and family, or even use it for surveillance purpose. However, different users utilize their webcams in different ways, some want fancy effects to spice up their video feed, while others want something that can just get the work done.
Keeping in mind the aforesaid points, we have compiled a list of the 10 best webcam software for Windows and Mac that stand out on certain parameters, be it their slick user interface, the diversity of editing tools, ease of usage, etc. So, without any further delay, let’s go through our list of the 10 best webcam software which consists of both free and paid options.
The 10 Best Webcam Software
1. YouCam
Youcam is one of the most popular webcam software out there, and for a good reason. A clean UI, which is far from the cluttered interface you’ll find in other webcam software, makes YouCam an obvious choice for beginners. But that doesn’t mean the software is a barebones affair, instead, it offers a rich array of editing tools, filters, and effects whose diversity is impressive, to say the least. Scene filters, face distortion lenses, emoticons, dynamic effects, and stickers are just a few of them.
Sounds generic? Well, in that case, how about face ‘Avatars’, AR stickers, and live animations to make your video feed look like a well-edited film? YouCam has it all, and then some more. YouCam can also be synced with services like Skype and Yahoo Messenger, and also supports face login functionality for platforms like Facebook, Amazon, Twitter to name a few.
On the technical side, YouCam saves images in multiple formats (JPG, BMP, PNG) and is capable of recording videos in AVI and WMV (MP4 too, for systems with VGA cards) file types at resolutions ranging from 240p to Full HD. Burst shot is also on the table, and users can manually adjust the shutter speed to their liking. The only downside? The free trial period lasts only 30 days, after which you’ll have to purchase a paid version.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, 8/8.1, 7, Vista SP2
Download YouCam (Free 30-day Trial, paid version starting at $29.95)
2. ManyCam
ManyCam is not just simply a webcam app, instead, it can be called a full-blown video-editing tool, thanks to the plethora of presets, filters and effects which are available at the disposal of users. You can add a host of beautification effects like transitions, face masks, emoticons, and backgrounds to record and stream some really artistic videos. Apart from them, YouTube integration, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode and green screen are among the diverse set of goodies that ManyCam has to offer.
You can choose to record videos in a wide array of resolutions (240p, 480p, HD, FullHD, etc.) at frame rates ranging from 5-60 FPS in numerous formats like MP4, MKV and FLV to name a few. You can even adjust the audio bitrate values (between 96-192 kbps) and also apply a noise suppression feature which works quite well. Thanks to its vast portfolio of editing tools and effects, ManyCam is a highly recommended option, be it for creating tutorials, recording screen activity or live streaming. Best mac mini for graphic designers.
Supported platforms: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, MacOS X 10.9 and higher.
Download ManyCam (Free, paid versions starting at $24)
3. Debut Video Capture Software
Not all people are big fans of fancy filters and effects, and one or the other time, we all want a no-frills solution. For such scenarios, Debut Video Capture is one of the best webcam software whose clutter-free UI is its biggest USP. (Talk about using MS-Paint for editing images). All that you get in the name of video editing tools are basic variables like contrast, saturation which can be adjusted by using a slider, and three video filters viz. B&W, Sepia, and Negative. And yes, you get a watermark tool for that tiny bit of personalization you want to add to your videos.
When it comes to technical aspects, Debut Video Capture provides a considerable amount of control to users. One can capture screenshots in two file types viz. JPG and PNG, while videos can be recorded in a wide array of formats such as AVI, MKV, FLV, and WMV to name just a few. Users have the flexibility to record screen activity in three aspect ratios (11: 9, 16:3, 4:3 ) in resolutions ranging from as low as 144p to HD, however, frame rate appears to be fixed at 30FPS at all resolutions.
Supported Platforms: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and Mac OS X 10.5 or above
Download Debut Video Capture Software (Free)
4. Yawcam
Yawcam is another webcam software whose USP is its simple interface, which more than makes up for its lack of fancy effects with its clean approach to present the core camera tools. However, the software is not as bare-bones as it appears, because it offers a couple of quite nifty features such as image-to-movie converter, text/image overlay and a nifty motion detection feature which detects any activity in view of the webcam and sends the user an email notifying them of the same.
The images captured by the camera are saved in three formats viz. JPG, GIF, and PNG, while streams are handled by JavaScript and MJPEG. When it comes to image editing, you don’t have variable like saturation or vibrancy to play with, as all that is handled by the software itself, and all you have to do is move a slider to adjust the image quality in percentage. You can also choose to display any image of your liking to the online audience when you go offline.
Supported Platforms: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10
Download (Free)
5. Webcam Toy
Downloading and installing a third-party webcam software too big of a hassle? Well, in that case, Webcam Toy is your best option. If all you want is to take a quick photo, add some quirky distortion effects and filters to it without waiting for a webcam software to load, head straight to Webcam Toy.
Usin Webcam Toy is as simple as it can get. All you have to do is open the website, select the ‘Ready?Smile!’ button followed by clicking on the ‘Use my Camera’ button to get started. You can choose from five presets (Mirror, Square, Countdown, Flash, Fullscreen) and select from the wide array of effects from the side-scroll buttons. One can choose to save the clicked images either locally (only JPG format) or post them directly to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter straight from the website.
https://high-powerkentucky.weebly.com/best-video-editing-apps-for-mac-sierra.html. Supported Platform: Web
Visit Webcam Toy (Free)
6. Photo Booth Pro
When it comes to webcam software, slow load speed and camera lag are a common issue, but not for Photo Booth Pro. The software is not only zippy, it also features a host of mirror effects and filters which can be tested in real time before recording a video or clicking a photo. Photo Booth offers effects like axial mirror effects, distortion lenses, blur effects and artistic filters to express your creativity. And hey, there is also a cool photo-strip feature that will let you capture four images with different filters and arrange them in a strip, whose layout can be tweaked later on.
Images are saved in JPG format locally and can also be uploaded on OneDrive. Moreover, one can also post them on Facebook and Twitter straight from Photo Booth Pro. On the other hand, videos are recorded in MP4 format in two aspect ratios viz. 16:9 and 4:3, however, resolution and frame rate are fixed at 640 x 360 and 30FPS respectively.
Supported Platform: Windows 10
Download Photo Booth Pro (Free)
7. Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder
If fluid interface and vast toolkit is a combination you seek in a webcam software, you can never go wrong with Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder. In my opinion, Apowersoft’s webcam software is an ideal choice for clicking images, recording audio files and capturing videos. The software’s home screen contains just the basic controls, but once you open the settings menu. you’ll realize that Apowersoft’s offering has all the tools and options to let you record your screen activity in whichever form or format you like.
The Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder saves images in numerous formats (PNG, JPG, BMP, etc.), while videos can be recorded at frame rate values ranging between 5-60 FPS in a wide array of file types such as MP4, WMV, AVI and FLV among others. You even have the option to record audio files in various formats such as MP3, AAC, FLAC and can also choose from different codecs as per your liking. In case you were wondering, the Apowersoft offering also boasts of Google Drive and Dropbox integration to let you quickly store your files on the cloud, aside from the option to share them on YouTube and Vimeo.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, macOS
Download Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder (Free)
8. IP Camera Viewer
Aside from live streaming and video chatting, webcams can also play an active role in surveillance. And one of the best software suited for the aforesaid task is IP Camera Viewer, a webcam software that will let you monitor and safeguard your home and workplace via IP cameras. The software has support for over 1800 different IP camera models and allows users to separately configure and customize the video properties like orientation, frame rate, coverage area, etc. of each IP camera they have added to the network.
The software can record videos in three resolutions viz. 360p, 480p, and 720p, whose properties (contrast, saturation, sharpness, etc.) can be manually adjusted. Moreover, users can perform digital zoom on a frame even if their IP camera does not have the zoom functionality. The software can add up to four cameras at once and lets users view their video feed simultaneously on a single screen.
Supported Platforms: Microsoft Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2012 / 2008
Best Webcam For Apple
Download IP Camera Viewer (Free)
9. Camwiz Webcam Recorder
Camwiz Webcam Recorder is one of the simplest webcam apps one can find in the domain, but its only drawback is the fact that it is exclusive to the macOS platform, so users registered on the Windows ecosystem are out of luck. Limitations aside, Camwiz features a very clean UI with all the core recording tools located on the home screen itself, thanks to the simple three row arrangement which contains camera toggle, recorder tools and tuning options.
A peek inside the software’s settings menu reveals that Camwiz also comes with some additional nifty features such as Motion Detection, Remote Webcam, and Screen Cam capture to name a few. Users can apply effects such as time stamp, night vision and view flip to the videos, which are recorded in resolutions ranging from 240p to 1080p. Moreover, you can also use Camwiz as a virtual webcam for other apps on your macOS device.
Supported Platform: macOS 10.9 or later
Download Camwiz (Free, with in-app purchase)
10. Windows Camera
Despite not being a third-party software with a lot of editing tools and effects, Windows Camera gets the job done as an effective webcam software. Windows Camera comes as a breath of fresh air as far as webcam software are concerned, as it brings a very minimalist UI which only features the core recording tools on the home screen, occupied almost entirely by the view in sight of the webcam.
Microsoft’s webcam software can capture photos in two aspect ratios viz.16:9 and 4:3, and comes with four framing grid options which include crosshairs and Golden Ratio among others. Videos can be only recorded at a frame rate of 30FPS in three resolutions, which are 360p, HD and Full HD. You can also choose to capture burst shots and activate a time lapse mode, that will let you capture multiple shots in succession until the camera button is pressed again.
Supported Platform: Windows 10
Download Windows Camera (Free)
Recommended: Top 8 Best Screen Recording Software for Windows
Choose the Best Webcam Software
Well, these are our picks for the top 10 best webcam software you can download right now. The software we included in our list have been selected after an in-depth assessment of their UI, their versatility and ease of usage, not to mention the different requirements of a diverse audience. We hope that you go through the list and select the one that best suits your needs.
What are your opinions about our list? Did we miss any webcam software that is truly useful and worth including in the list? Do let us know in the comments section below and tell us the webcam software you installed after reading the article.
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So Many Options for Apple Users
A decade or so ago, few printers offered compatibility with Apple computers, but now we live in a happier age. Most new printers and all-in-one printers (AIOs) ship with macOS drivers, and many that don't provide them on disc allow you to download Mac drivers during the installation process. Mac-connected printers support most of the printing and AIO features you can access on a Windows machine. (Any features not usable with Macs are usually detailed on the printer manufacturer's website.)
How We Test
We perform our printer testing on a Windows 10 testbed rather than a Mac, but in ad-hoc testing we have found that printing to the same printer from similarly configured Mac and Windows computers tends to yield very similar print speeds. Nearly all printer manufacturers today provide support for Mac users. Thus, a list of the best models for Macs largely mirrors an overall list of the best printers out there.
See How We Test Printers
One item worth mentioning is the Bonjour protocol, Apple's implementation of zero-configuration networking, which is built into macOS Mojave, all OS X versions going back to 10.2, and iOS (and can be installed on Windows, Linux, and BSD systems as well). Bonjour allows users to quickly discover devices, including printers, on their networks. (It is also what lets AirPrint identify compatible printers on a LAN.) You can set up a printer without Bonjour, but its presence simplifies the task. Nearly all new network printers are Bonjour compatible, though very old routers may not support it.
Who Needs a Mac-Friendly Printer?
Macs are widely used by publishing professionals and graphic artists who rely on Adobe programs, such as Illustrator, to ensure the best output quality. Illustrator, as well as Photoshop and Acrobat, are optimized for Adobe's own PostScript printing language. You can print graphical material with text made in these programs from non-PostScript printers, but at a potential loss of quality, including occasional dropped elements and formatting. For any business that prints a lot of graphics, a printer with a PostScript driver (or at least PostScript emulation) is a big plus. PostScript has been a staple of the graphic arts since its inclusion with the Apple LaserWriter printer launched the desktop publishing revolution in the mid-1980s.
Many specialty printers are Windows-only. This is especially true of label printers (those that are able to connect to a computer at all). A few good exceptions are the Brother P-touch Cube+ and the Brother QL-820NWB, both Editors' Choice models. Some recent 3D printers, such as the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer, work with Macs as well as Windows machines; check the manufacturer's specs for Mac support when shopping for a 3D printer.
How to Print From Your iPad
With iPads now commonplace in many homes and offices, there are several solutions to print from your tablet. The one most users will rely on is Apple's own AirPrint utility. which is built into all iOS versions since 4.2. This allows a Wi-Fi-connected iPad to communicate with a compatible printer on the same network. If your printer doesn't support AirPrint, there are several third-party utilities, including Printopia and Presto, you can download to your desktop. These effectively make your printer AirPrint compatible. Another alternative is to use a printing app, such as Samsung Mobile Print or Epson iPrint. When using these apps, your iPad and printer will need to be on the same network. Other solutions include cloud printing (sending your documents to a cloud server which then sends them to your printer) and email printing, which assigns an email address to your printer which you in turn use to print from your iPad by sending an email to your printer.
Which Mac Printer Is Right For You?
Below are our top-rated Mac-friendly printer picks. This roundup includes a generous selection of PostScript printers, as well as some non-PostScript models capable of high-quality graphics and/or photo output. But because many Mac users use their computers for tasks unrelated to graphic arts, we also present some top-notch general-purpose printers here. By and large, the qualities that make a Mac-compatible printer great are the same things that let any printer stand out from the crowd: a winning combination of features, speed, and print quality at a competitive price. For more, check out our top overall printer picks, as well as our top inkjet printers and best-reviewed laser printers.
Best Printers for Mac Featured in This Roundup:
Best Webcam For Mac
Canon Maxify iB4120 Wireless Small Office Inkjet Printer Review
MSRP: $149.99Pros: Generous paper capacity. Low price for its capabilities. Above-par output quality across the board. Competitive running costs.Cons: Tiny, non-touch display.Bottom Line: The Canon Maxify iB4120 Wireless Small Office Inkjet Printer is inexpensive, but provides generous paper capacity, competitive running costs, solid speed, and excellent output quality.Read ReviewCanon imageClass MF269dw Review
MSRP: $279.99Pros: Small footprint. Competitive running costs. Good-looking output. Auto-duplexing ADF. Versatile connectivity options, including mobile.Cons: Lacks flash memory drive support. Antiquated control panel.Bottom Line: The Canon imageClass MF269dw is an entry-level monochrome laser AIO printer with just the right feature set, speed, and output quality to make it an excellent value for small and home-based offices.Read ReviewBrother HL-L2370DW Review
MSRP: $129.99Pros: Low price. Great text and good graphics quality. Good speed. Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, and USB connectivity.Cons: Slightly below-par photo quality.Bottom Line: The Brother HL-L2370DW offers above-par text and graphics, good speed and paper handling, a wide-range of connectivity choices, and competitive running costs in a low-priced mono laser for micro-office use.Read ReviewCanon Pixma TS9120 Wireless Inkjet All-in-One Review
MSRP: $199.99Pros: Lightweight and compact. Two additional ink cartridges for higher-quality photos. Two paper input trays. SD card, Ethernet, and Bluetooth 4.0 support. Excellent print quality. Fast snapshot printing.Cons: No automatic document feeder. Lacks NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. Slow document printing.Bottom Line: Though it lacks an automatic document feeder, the six-ink Canon Pixma TS9120 Wireless Inkjet All-in-One printer produces exceptional text, graphics, and photos.Read ReviewEpson EcoTank ET-M3170 Wireless Monochrome All-in-One Supertank Printer Review
MSRP: $449.99Pros: Very low running costs. 6,000-page ink bottle included in box. Good print quality. Fast first page out. Single-pass auto-duplexing ADF. Smart home voice-activation. Two-year warranty with registration.Cons: Pricey. A little slower than laser counterparts. Monthly print volume ratings are low.Bottom Line: The Epson ET-M3170 all-in-one monochrome inkjet prints and copies well, at exceptionally low running costs, making it an excellent choice for busy small offices.Read ReviewEpson WorkForce Pro WF-4740 Review
MSRP: $299.99Pros: Excellent print quality overall. Auto-duplexing ADF. Competitively low running costs. Supports Wi-Fi Direct and NFC. Fast for its class.Cons: No multipurpose tray. Small output tray. Slightly expensive.Bottom Line: The WF-4740 prints well and fast, and it supports just about every midrange business-centric inkjet feature available, including Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, and two-sided scanning.Read ReviewEpson WorkForce Pro WF-C8690 A3 Color MFP With PCL/PostScript Review
MSRP: $1499.99Pros: Excellent print quality. Prints super-tabloid pages. Supports Wi-Fi Direct and NFC. Emulates PostScript and PCL printers. Supports massive high-volume ink cartridges. High duty cycle. Competitive price.Cons: Expansion accessories costly. No multipurpose tray or slot. Meager out-of-box paper capacity. Borderless photos and pages unsupported.Bottom Line: The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C8690 is a high-volume wide-format inkjet all-in-one that prints quickly and accurately for medium- to large-size offices and workgroups.Read ReviewHP OfficeJet Pro 9015 All-in-One Printer Review
MSRP: $229.99Pros: Fast. Good print quality overall. Competitive running costs. Borderless printing. 35-sheet auto-duplexing ADF. Attractive, compact build.Cons: Only one paper input source.Bottom Line: HP's OfficeJet Pro 9015 All-in-One Printer churns out quality output at a low cost per page, making it a good value for small offices with light- to medium-duty copy and print volume requirements.Read ReviewHP Tango X Review
MSRP: $199.00Pros: Small and spiffy. Voice control with supported smart home UIs. IFTTT scripting for extending smart capabilities. Impressive print quality. Competitive ink costs with Instant Ink, plus free snapshot printing from your smartphone.Cons: Borderless prints limited to 5-by-7-inch. Single, small paper input. 'Scans' and 'copies' only via smartphone.Bottom Line: HP's Tango X 'smart printer,' the first we've tested with voice activation and smart home features, is all about printing from mobile devices. It's not perfect, but given its unique free-snapshot printing angle, it will be a tough act for future models to follow.Read ReviewXerox WorkCentre 6515/DNI Review
MSRP: $599.00Pros: Excellent text quality. Slightly above-par graphics. ADF supports single-pass, two-sided scanning. Includes Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct connectivity options.Cons: Similar printers deliver better graphics and photo quality. Limited optional paper capacity for its price.Bottom Line: The Xerox WorkCentre 6515/DNI provides above-par output quality, solid speed, and a thorough feature set for an all-in-one color laser-class printer.Read Review