I've used it with Zoom, Google Meet, BlueJeans, and Jitsi without any problems. This allows OBS to register a 'webcam device' so that it can be used with your videoconferencing software. OBS supports plugins, and for this to work correctly, you'll need to install a couple.įor Mac users, the first plugin to install is OBS Virtual Camera for macOS. OBS is the base software you'll use for this solution, so download and install it. OBS is also used heavily by streamers in the gaming community. You can add multiple input sources, switch between them, put text on the screen similar to news broadcasts, and do much more. OBS allows you to run live video processing, similar to what you would see in a live television broadcast.

(Kirk Bater, CC BY-SA 4.0) Install your softwareĮnter Open Broadcaster Software (OBS). So, of course, I felt the need to over-engineer this. Some of my clever co-workers have solved this problem with paper signs or index cards taped to pencils, but that's far too straightforward a solution for me. It's a very small screen, and if I'm not docked to my monitor, I need to look extra hard to pick up subtle cues. Instead of sitting in the same room with your co-workers, you're looking at tiny thumbnails of them, so body language context can be lost, especially on smaller screens. One of the biggest challenges with virtual communication is that it's a bit harder to pick up body language. Like when someone asks, 'Does anyone have anything else for the good of the order?' and I want to say, 'No, I'm good,' but I don't want to speak over anyone else who has something to add. Have you ever been in a web meeting where someone asks, 'Can you see my screen?' or 'Can you hear me?' and 400 people answer 'yes' at the same time? Or even worse, nobody answers at all? Have you ever wanted to show agreement or give a confirmation on a video call without having to turn on your microphone, because you feel it might be disruptive? This happens to me often.

Obs virtual microphone