Frequently Asked Question
DeskCamera can create an audio-only stream when you need to send microphone audio or Windows system sound without video.
Audio-only streams are useful for sound monitoring, announcements, or cases where the NVR/VMS records audio separately from video. If you need normal video with audio, use a regular video media source and enable audio on that source instead.
Create an audio-only media source
1) Open DeskCamera.
2) Go to Video & Audio Settings.
3) Click Add Media Source.
4) In the Create Media Source window, select Audio only.
5) Enter a name for the source.
6) Select the audio input, such as Default Microphone or System sounds.
7) Save the media source and start DeskCamera.
If you want to stream Windows system audio, see Using System sounds audio in DeskCamera streams.
Using the stream in an NVR/VMS
Audio-only streams work best when the NVR/VMS supports audio-only RTSP streams or audio-only ONVIF profiles.
In Multiple channels mode, audio-only sources appear under the main DeskCamera camera. If your NVR/VMS still has an old audio-only DeskCamera entry that no longer works after an update, remove that old entry and add the audio stream again from the main DeskCamera camera.
If your NVR/VMS cannot use the audio-only profile from the main camera, try one of these options:
- Add the stream by its direct RTSP URL.
- Switch DeskCamera to Multiple cameras mode and add the audio-only source as a separate camera.
For more details about the two camera modes, see Choosing Multiple Channels or Multiple Cameras Mode.
Direct RTSP URL
Some systems work better when the audio-only source is added by RTSP instead of ONVIF discovery. You can find the RTSP URLs in the DeskCamera camera details window.
For instructions, see How to retrieve direct RTSP URLs for DeskCamera streams.
Troubleshooting
The NVR/VMS discovers the stream but does not play audio.
Check whether the NVR/VMS supports audio-only streams. Some systems require a video stream and cannot record audio by itself.
The old audio-only camera is offline after updating DeskCamera.
Remove the old audio-only DeskCamera entry from the NVR/VMS and add the stream again from the main DeskCamera camera.
The RTSP stream cannot connect.
Check that the PC firewall allows DeskCamera network traffic. See Ports used by DeskCamera and Configuring firewall rules.