Overview

Integrating audio and video hardware into your computer can be a challenging task. If you are using a laptop, you likely have a web cam and microphone already integrated into your computer (though if you experience difficulty with your laptop’s built-in web cam, you may wish to consult with the Pitt IT Help Desk). Many desktop computers, especially Apple varieties, have built in web-cams as well, however many desktops and laptops do not have any such hardware, requiring you to acquire any desired cameras and microphones on your own.

The Panopto Equipment web page contains links to the Panopto Equipment package guide, lists of officially supported Panopto equipment, as well as customer recommended equipment. This list will be useful in determining the compatibility of any equipment that you currently own, or help you make the optimal decision in purchasing any additional equipment.

For more information on how to choose the right hardware for your project, and what hardware may be available to you at Pitt, see Hardware for video: what should I use and where can I get it?

Integrating Hardware on a PC

The Panopto Focus Recorder comes with its own audio and video inputs, as outlined in the Using the Panopto Focus Recorder entry. Any recording devices connected to your PC should appear in the drop-down menu in your Panopto Focus Recorder.

If you are not seeing your hardware in either of these lists, you may want to check your computer’s audio or video devices.

You can check your audio devices by right-clicking the speaker icon in your bottom right-hand system tray.

Playback devices are referring to speakers for listening to audio, and Recording devices refer to microphones for capturing audio. Selecting either will open up your Sound Settings window, focused on either tab.

You should be able to locate your desired sound device in one of these two areas. Most webcams have microphones built into them, so webcams will often appear under Recording devices. If you can locate your desired device, you can right click it to Set as Default Device or Set as Default Communication Device.

For video cameras, you should be able to right-click your USB icon in the system tray and select Open Devices and Printers.

This should bring up a list of all the installed hardware on your computer.

If you still cannot locate your desired device, you may wish to contact the Pitt IT Help Desk.

Integrating Hardware on a Mac

The Panopto Focus Recorder comes with its own audio and video inputs, as outlined in the Using the Panopto Focus Recorder entry. Any recording devices connected to your Mac should appear in the Audio Source and Video Source.

If you are not seeing your hardware in either of these lists, you may want to check your computer’s audio or video devices.

You can check your audio devices by opening System Preferences and selecting Sound.

In Sound, you will find Output as well as Input. Output refers to your speakers, while Input refers to your microphones.

Your microphones and speakers should all appear under this list. If you do not see your desired hardware listed here, check the connection. If you’re still not seeing anything, contact the Technology Help Desk.