Built in iSight driving me crazy - erratic

Hello there,
My built in iSight (iMac 2011, 21", OSX Lion updated to date) is driving me crazy, as I need to record some videos for my job. When I´m on the administrator user -the only one I use- it works fine on Facetime, PhotoBooth and iChat, but on Quicktime and iMovie it does not (black screen on iMovie, no green light on camera, if I press "record" it stops after 3 seconds / on quicktime if I click on "record new video" it appears an error message, could be translated -my OSX is in spanish- as "the task can´t be done at the moment".
I tried adding a new user, and it worked fine with it, I did and SMC reset (same error), erased all preference files (same thing) and later I reinstalled Lion without formatting the hard drive.
After this last step it worked. I could record a demo video on both quicktime and iMovie. But this morning when I turned it on the error is there again, same behavior, same everything. Before trying to record I just:
- Changed the wallpaper and some mouse options, and the sound output from "internal" to my external usb sound card.
- Opened Safari to check mail
- Opened garage band (it looked for the .au)
- Opened Logic (same as garage band)
I´m out of ideas, any help would be great. I´ve just installed Skype to see what happened and it does also not work.
Thanks in advance,
Urko

You're welcome, Urko.
Well done tracking down the source of the conflict! 
FWIW, today I checked Focusrite's support pages and note that Scarlett 2i2/usb does NOT appear on the their list of products known to be compatible with Mac OS X Lion: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=1159
However, I did find several Focusrite articles concerning the Scarlett USB 2.0 Range products: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/category.php?id=108.   Article titles from that page, including "Scarlett 2i2", "Using iSight/Facetime HD webcam with your interface on a Mac", or "Latency issues using a Scarlett with Logic", may give you some cither ideas.
If properly applying the 10.7.5 Combo Update doesn't solve your problem, and if you don't get the real solution from info you find here, I agree that your best bet is direct help from Focusrite. They should best be able to tell you how to use their product with your Mac system.  http://us.focusrite.com/contact-support
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
Mac OSX 10.8.2

Similar Messages

  • EyeTV Hybrid / iSight driving me CRAZY!

    I am trying to broadcast something on uStream.tv by using my EyeTV Hybrid.
    The only choices uStream is giving me (as hardware installed) is a firewire input, dv input, and usb input. The USB input shows video / audio from my iSight. I want the video and audio to come from the EyeTV Hybrid instead. Any ideas on how to solve this??

    You're welcome, Urko.
    Well done tracking down the source of the conflict! 
    FWIW, today I checked Focusrite's support pages and note that Scarlett 2i2/usb does NOT appear on the their list of products known to be compatible with Mac OS X Lion: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=1159
    However, I did find several Focusrite articles concerning the Scarlett USB 2.0 Range products: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/category.php?id=108.   Article titles from that page, including "Scarlett 2i2", "Using iSight/Facetime HD webcam with your interface on a Mac", or "Latency issues using a Scarlett with Logic", may give you some cither ideas.
    If properly applying the 10.7.5 Combo Update doesn't solve your problem, and if you don't get the real solution from info you find here, I agree that your best bet is direct help from Focusrite. They should best be able to tell you how to use their product with your Mac system.  http://us.focusrite.com/contact-support
    Message was edited by: EZ Jim
    Mac OSX 10.8.2

  • Built-In iSight problem after migration on parallels

    I'm having a very strange problem. Recently I upgraded my MacBook Pro and migrated everything across from my old machine. Mostly without issue.
    Something is driving me crazy though. Now in Parallels when I try to connect my iSight XP tells me that it has discovered new hardware. So I go through the whole install new hardware rigmarole. It then tells me that 'It Cannot Install This Hardware' saying that wizard cannot find the necessary software. I do have the bootcamp drivers installed though.
    Also I'm noticing that when I'm trying to connect USB devices in parallels instead of it saying Apple Built-In iSight it's now saying Apple Built-In iSight #2.
    I've tried everything. Searched through these discussions, parallels forums and even tried editing the .inf file to get the driver to work.
    Does anyone have any ideas?
    Thanks in advance!

    RichardBradbury wrote:
    I'm having a very strange problem. Recently I upgraded my MacBook Pro and migrated everything across from my old machine. Mostly without issue.
    Something is driving me crazy though. Now in Parallels when I try to connect my iSight XP tells me that it has discovered new hardware. So I go through the whole install new hardware rigmarole. It then tells me that 'It Cannot Install This Hardware' saying that wizard cannot find the necessary software. I do have the bootcamp drivers installed though.
    Also I'm noticing that when I'm trying to connect USB devices in parallels instead of it saying Apple Built-In iSight it's now saying Apple Built-In iSight #2.
    I've tried everything. Searched through these discussions, parallels forums and even tried editing the .inf file to get the driver to work.
    Does anyone have any ideas?
    Thanks in advance!
    Welcome to Discussions, RichardBradbury
    I do not use Windoze, Boot Camp, or Parallels, so I have ever worked the specific trouble you post. However, I do have ideas that you can consider.
    If you get no better here, try all relevant suggestions from the iSight Troubleshooting article:
      http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090
    If your only problem in any user account is with Parallels, there is nothing wrong with your Apple hardware or software. In that case, I suggest you seek suggestions from Parallel's wide variety of customer Support options:
      http://www.parallels.com/support/
    If you cannot find what you need from their FAQs, knowledge-base, dedicated Parallels Forum, or other Free Support Resource, you can request specialized help from Parallels Technical Support personnel via the contact choices available in the Support web pages.
    EZ Jim
    Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
    LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook  1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

  • Built-in iSight problems-"camera in use by another application" but its NOT

    I am having an issue with my iMac G5 2.1GHz with iSight built in.
    I tried to iChat AV tonight after months of not using it. When I opened my own video window it says "Your camera is in use by another application."
    There are no other applications open in the dock other than Finder.
    Same results with Photobooth. The message reads -- Photo Booth cannot open because the camera is in use by another applicaton. Close the application using the camera, then try opening Photo Booth again. < OK >
    I searched this forum and tried the following:
    • zap PRAM
    • reset SMU
    • reset NVRAM
    I looked for iSight prefs, but couldn't find anything. Deleting prefs is the only thing I have not tried, but I do not know what to delete.
    Also, the camera shows up under USB under system profiler. The IR remote also shows up on the same bus, and the remote works just fine.
    The green light next to the iSight is never on.
    I switched to another user and experience the same problems, so it does not seem to be user settings.
    Any help to get my computer to recognize my iSight would be appreciated!

    Thanks for the note. I saw that Apple KB article #93216 that basically tells you not to have any other applications running that use the camera, which I do not. Also, I have Classic installed, but it is not running as I hardly ever use it.
    Since my original post last night I have tried several more things, with absolutely zero success.
    One unique thing that I thought would work (and it sort of did) was to add Photobooth to my Startup Items under the Accounts tab of System Preferences. Unlike iChat AV, Photobooth will not even open if the built-in iSight is not available. So, I thought, let's see if Photobooth will open at Startup and perhaps take over the camera before whatever is taking it over has a chance to do that.
    Sure enough, this trick worked, although the video screen was blank. On a second time the video screen showed erratic thick lines like it was starting to pass the video data through and then was stopped. Again, my iSight is recognized by Apple System Profiler, so the computer knows it is there and is getting power, etc. As soon as I quit Photobooth and tried to reopen it, I received the message again that the camera was in use by another application.
    My next steps, when I am able, are to try to boot off an external firewire hard drive that should have an older saved backup of my system, from when the camera was working. I will also download the combo updater as you suggest, MGW, and apply that as I understand that to be a sort of remedy for any number of problems.
    To me it appears to be a software issue. I would imagine with the OS and not related to any application in particular. (iPhoto cannot access the iSight, can it? For some reason my iPhoto opens automatically on my G5 iMac every time I boot it up, and I cannot figure out why. I will look into this issue and see if it is related.)

  • Built-In iSight Image Reversed

    When using iMovie HD with my built-in iSight, the image I see is reversed instead of mirrored. I can't find a fix anywhere. Any ideas? BTW, the image is fine in iChat AV and Photo Booth.
    iMac 20-inch Widescreen, 2 GHz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB HD   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

    A zillion years ago I read Martin Gardner's "The Ambidextrous Universe", and although I seemed to take in and understand his descriptions of why a mirror reverses things left-for-right, but not up-for-down, I can't now remember why that is.
    We think nothing of driving a car, looking forward through the windscreen/windshield, then looking up at the rear-view mirror, re-accommodating (converging our eyes towards a nearer object), re-focusing (to a different distance), having everything we see swapped over left-for right, and still we make accurate split-second judgments about distance, speed, safety, etc, involving things both ahead of and behind us!
    We look in a mirror, and without - seemingly - a second thought we can touch any particular spot we see on the face there, but hold your watch up to the mirror and - especially if it has a seconds hand - it takes a while to figure out what you're looking at.
    It's a shock when you first see yourself as others see you - and it's a shock when you see the face of someone you know reflected in a mirror; their features are all the "wrong way round"!
    I well remember.. <..drones on like this for several hours..> ..so I insisted on going back home. But I was about nine at the time.
    <back on topic> But, of course, iMovie comes with that great 'Mirror' effect, which lets you set just how much of your clip gets reversed left-for-right. Useful for swapping the first appearance of Roy Batty, the replicant, in "Blade Runner", so that the image is restored to being the "right way round", if you want to..
    [..Sorry about all that: I'd just downloaded Apple's great new app 'iPhilosophise'..]

  • Socialize HD Problems Driving Me Crazy!

    Hello,
    Thank you very much for your time. I received my Socialize HD Camera and installed it. All seemed to be going well, and at this very moment in time, only video works. I cannot seem to make the sound work, which is driving me crazy. The microphone is built in with the camera.
    Having read about 20 of these threads now, I can safely confirm:
    I have installed latest drivers
    I have plugged the webcam in
    I have restarted and installed the software for the fourth time now
    Also, the Live! Central software does not work, and my firewall is not blocking this as I have checked all logs, so what can I do? This is sort of urgent, but thank you very much!
    Vincent

    I just got a Live! Cam Socialize HD and have a problem with static noise from the mic. I have it running straight into the USB on my Mac PPC w/ OS 10.5.8. There is static on Skype and when I record videos from the webcam. Any help?

  • IMovie '08: Built-in iSight camera not recognized in Yosemite

    On this page
    http://support.apple.com/en-us/TS2472
    iMovie '08: Built-in iSight camera not recognized
    it says:
    In Finder, navigate to /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/
    Select the file com.apple.mio.VDCAssistant.plist and delete.
    Restart your system.
    You should now be able to use your iSight camera with iMovie.
    However, in Yosemite, it only has this file name
    com.apple.cmio.VDCAssistant.plist
    and I don't want to delete it as instructed without someone who knows telling me it won't hurt my newly installed and thus far working well OS 10.10.1, with iMovie 7.1.4 on my iMac 24 inch, Early 2008, 2.8 GHz Intel Dore 2 Duo, 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2  SDRAM.  It worked with Leopard, and I don't recall having to use the above mentioned support page.

    Contact Apple. I believe you have a hardware issue there if it's not showing up in your System profiler.
    Dave M.
    MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
    Macsimum News Associate Editor  Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support'

  • Built-in iSight will not work with Skype

    I have a new Macbook Pro that I purchased about a month ago, running OS
    X 10.5.8.
    I've been using Skype to video chat, and at first everything was working
    very well. In the middle of a chat, however, the video stopped working
    altogether.
    If I go to the video tab in Skype preferences, the camera will then turn
    on and I can see myself, but once I go back to the call, the camera
    won't turn on (the green light on my camera stays off too). In video
    preferences I have the following options checked: Enable Skype Video,
    Automatically receive video from: People in my Contact list, and Show
    that I have video to: People in my contact list. I have also tried to
    enable the "Start my video automatically" option but to no avail. The
    video camera it is set to use is the Built-in iSight.
    I have tried reinstalling skype, including deleting all the preference
    files on the computer, but that did not help.
    The video works fine in other applications such as Photobooth, iMovie and Google Chat. I have browsed through the many Skype forum posts about similar issues, as well as Apple forums and have tried every fix that people have suggested including resetting my SMC, updating all my applications, trying Skype under different user accounts, reinstalling Quicktime, reinstalling Skype (as outlined in the Uninstall guide for mac), repairing permissions, etc.
    I am pretty sure that this problem began directly after I switched to
    SCREEN SHARING during a video chat. When I switched back to Video, it
    did not work.
    No other applications that use my camera are running.
    I am assuming that since it originally worked with Skype, and since I had not touched ANY of the options in Skype and have done nothing other than try screen sharing, and since I did a complete Skype reinstall includeing preferences, that the problem should NOT be with the Skype program itself, but rather something that was modified in the operating system configuration during screen sharing.
    The only other thing I can think of trying is to reinstall iSight, although I haven't been able to figure out how to do that, or to reinstall my entire operating system, which I don't see as an acceptable solution.
    I am using Skype Version 2.8.0.659
    Any help getting this fixed would be greatly appreciated.
    I have posted a similar topic in the Skype forums along with a screen shot of my Skype preferences window: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=422861
    From my online reading in both the Apple and Skype forums, it seems as though this is a relatively common problem. If I can find a solution from either Skype or Apple, I will post the solution in both of the forums.
    Update: I just upgraded my OS to 10.6.1 and my camera started working again. Then, I was in a chat and I lost my internet connection. As soon as I got back online I restarted the conversation and the camera doesn't work again. This is getting to be ridiculous.
    Thank you for your time,
    rystheguy

    Hi,
    It is years since I tried Skype. (Probably in Tiger)
    I use Little Snitch, a utility that can report the ports and IPS any App is trying to contact.
    For Video chats it seems the Skype process spreads the load across many "Servers" wanting to connect to about 3 doz (I got fed up with clicking the accept Button)
    For this reason I do not think it is very secure.
    I only today read a post that said Skype had Screen Sharing.
    iChat 5 makes it clear (well if you run /Applications/iChat.app/Contents/MacOS/iChat -errorLogLevel 7 In Terminal) that there is a "camera" setting for the Desktop which may be a forthcoming thing or is about produce the Screen Sharing pic. (i.e iChat lists two "cameras" in the log produced by the above Terminal command).
    iChat 4 and 5 use the Apple Remote Desktop engine to do Screen Share as does the Screen Sharing App invoked from the Finders Go Menu > Go to Server and using VNC:// as the Link type.
    I would have no idea what protocol Skype are using.
    They created their own Video protocols and similar with SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for Connecting to POTS (Plain Old Telephone Systems) Phones in disregard for Internationally agreed Standards.
    I doubt that it makes use of the ARD engine. It will probably be a reinvention of the wheel again.
    I took a look around the Skype web site but could not find any mention of how they are doing Screen Sharing.
    I would guess it is similar to the iUSBCam method of Desktop as Video Feed.
    Do the Console or System Log in Console (Applications/Utilities) have any messages about this ?
    9:59 PM Monday; September 21, 2009

  • HT3964 my built-in isight camera will still not work on my macbook pro after completing smc reset.  The green light comes on but no video.

    my built-in isight camera will still not work on my macbook pro after completing smc reset.  The green light comes on but no video. 
    Any Suggestions?

    Restart the computer.

  • IMovie 6.0.3 does not recognize built in iSight Camera on new iMac

    New iMac, Intel, OS 10.5.4, QT 7.5.
    Built in Camera works with Photo Booth, the new iMovie 7.1.3 and iChat.
    iMovie HD 6.0.3 or 6.0.4 does not recognize the camera. Opening a new project results in a No Camera Connected error. I have tried selecting various options in the video format drop down when creating a new project. I have repaired permissions, tried it under various users, removed the imovie plist, reinstalled imovie (both 6.0.3 and 6.0.4) without success. All 10 of the new computers are exhibiting this problem.
    Any help would be appreciated.

    That is not an option that I can select on the imac's. On my iBook under 10.5.4 with iMovie HD 6.0.3 or 6.0.4 I can click on the triangle next to the camera icon and select the built in iSight camera. On the new iMacs that does not work. The built in iSight is not listed as an option.

  • Problem with built-in iSight

    Hello,
    I am having trouble with my Macbook Pro's built in iSight. I appreciate any help anyone could give me.
    As of a couple of days ago, iChat and Photobooth are now unable to access the iSight camera. iChat states, "There is no camera attached to this computer." Photobooth gives the error "There is no connected camera."
    The weird thing is, Skype and any flash based software are still able to use the camera perfectly.
    System profiler lists the camera correctly as "Built-in iSight" under USB. It doesn't list any problems. Nothing else is attached to the computer.
    I have tried resetting the PRAM, resetting the SMC, repairing disk permissions (twice), and reinstalling 10.6.4 with the combo updater.
    Can anyone think of anything else to try?
    I would think it was a hardware problem, except that several programs are able to use the camera. It just seems to be Apple software (iChat, photobooth, Quicktime X) that are unable to see that there is a camera built in.
    Thanks anyone for your time and help.
    -Matt

    MMariska wrote:
    Hello,
    I am having trouble with my Macbook Pro's built in iSight. I appreciate any help anyone could give me.
    As of a couple of days ago, iChat and Photobooth are now unable to access the iSight camera. iChat states, "There is no camera attached to this computer." Photobooth gives the error "There is no connected camera."
    The weird thing is, Skype and any flash based software are still able to use the camera perfectly.
    System profiler lists the camera correctly as "Built-in iSight" under USB. It doesn't list any problems. Nothing else is attached to the computer.
    I have tried resetting the PRAM, resetting the SMC, repairing disk permissions (twice), and reinstalling 10.6.4 with the combo updater.
    Can anyone think of anything else to try?
    I would think it was a hardware problem, except that several programs are able to use the camera. It just seems to be Apple software (iChat, photobooth, Quicktime X) that are unable to see that there is a camera built in.
    Thanks anyone for your time and help.
    -Matt
    Welcome to Discussions, -Matt.
    You seem to have tried all relevant suggestions from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090
    When only a couple of apps give trouble, their preference files might be corrupted. If you are using the OS X version of Skype successfully, my suggestion is that you reset the preferences for the apps that are giving trouble. If you need help:
    Here is how to reset Photo Booth preferences:
     • Quit Photo Booth if it is running.
     • Delete the com.apple.PhotoBooth.plist file from your ~ (Home) /Library/Preferences folder.
     • Restart Photo Booth and test. A new .plist file will be created when you launch.
    Resetting iChat is similar except iChat's camera preferences are kept in the com.apple.PhotoBooth.plist file in the same directory.
    Be sure to quit iChat before you reset preferences. When you start iChat again after tossing your iChat.plist file, you will need to reset any preferences that you want to be different from the default values.
    Message was edited by: EZ Jim
    Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
    LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook  1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

  • MacBook Pro no longer recognizes USB external hard drives or built-in iSight

    I have an older MacBook Pro 17" Intel that I use with various external USB hard drives (8 of them). It is connected to my LG 720p 32" flatscreen and works perfectly. Recently, when visiting, I disconnected my external HDs and connected my MBP to my brother's LG 1080p and it was OK.
    When I returned home and reconnected my external HDs and TV, it would not recognize the HDs and couldn't find my built-in iSight. Viewing System Information, the USB buses showed an assortment of items, such as the Apple Internal Keyboard/Trackpad, IR Receiver, and Bluetooth USB Host Controller in the buses. The High-Speed Bus showed an external HD as a Vendor-Specific Device, but none of these appeared on the desktop. I plugged in my external iSight to Firewire and it showed up in Photobooth, iChat, and Skype.
    What is the problem and can I fix it myself or must I take it to be serviced?
    Has anyone encountered the same problem? Got any answers?
    I really would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks.

    I have never heard of this before, but the fact that your external iSight works shows that at least some parts of your Macv's AV circuitry are undamaged. 
    Depending on exactly how you "disconnected" your "external HDs and connected" your "MBP to" your "brother's LG 1080p", I suppose it is possible that your software settings have been compromised somehow.   Here is what I would try if my system showed the symptoms you describe.
    (0) Start by making a current backup if you do not already have one.
    Then try any of the following you have not already considered or used.  Use them in any order you think appropriate and test after each one to determine if the problem is resolved:
    (1) Shut down (do not merely restart) your MBP.  Wait a couple of minutes before starting.
    (2) Test in a different user (NOT the "Guest") account: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mtusr001.html
    (3) Reset SMC http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
    (4) Reset PRAM: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mh26871.html
    (5) Repair your startup disk: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mchlp1718.html
    (6) Reinstall Lion and apply the 10.7.2 Combo Update:  http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1459
    (7) Contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service
    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

  • My i tunes won't open. i keep getting error7 (windows error 193) . contacted microsoft(thought it was a windows thing...not) have uninstalled itunes and everything related to it ,re installed and message still comes up. Help please,driving me crazy.

    help. my iTunes wont open. I keep getting the message error7 (windows error 193). contacted Microsoft they said contact iTunes support. I have uninstalled all iTunes componets and then reinstalled everything but message still comes up... its driving me crazy.

    If it's a Windows error, it's typically going to be a Microsoft problem. Uninstall any security software you have and if you have a restore point for your PC, you may want to restore your PC back to when iTunes was working normally. If none of those work you would need to contact Microsoft and demand help.

  • After upgrading to Lion, my Macbook Air's built in iSight camera has disappeared.  I'm not sure how to get it recognized again.

    After upgrading to Lion, my Macbook Air's built in iSight camera has disappeared.  I'm not sure how to get it recognized again.  Help -Sami

    Well, if you did then you may be able to track it, if you did not it's not possible.

  • How do I stop iTunes from automatically sorting by Album Artist?  Driving me crazy.

    How do I stop iTunes from automatically sorting by Album Artist?  Driving me crazy.
    I listen to primarily classical music
    All of my music was very deliberatley titled by composers "Last Name, First Name" as the artist.
    iTunes is changing it to the Album Artist.  I have to go in and delete that information - AND THEN IT LATER REVERTS IT BACK!!!
    Hours have been wasted and I am feeling so ticked.
    Any help?

    Purchased or ripped media?
    If these are ripped mp3s then another possibility is multiple embedded tags. iTunes works best with a single ID3v2.3 tag. Some software creates both an ID3v1.0 and IDv2.x tag. With multiple tags it is not certain which iTunes reads or which it updates, and any device may choose differently. Once songs have the correct info. in iTunes you can use Convert ID3 Tags... None several times, then Convert ID3 Tags... v2.3. The process removes any embedded art but otherwise preserves the data that iTunes knows. You could use my script CreateFolderArt before and after to save and then restore the artwork.
    In the long run you may be better off populating Album Artist properly with a copy of whatever is currently in Artist. My script CopyArtistToAlbumArtist can do this effectively.
    tt2

Maybe you are looking for