LiveTether 1.0.0 beta 3

Third test build of LiveTether. It turns the live view of a Panasonic LUMIX camera connected over USB into a webcam on macOS 14.1 and later.

This is a pre-release for testing. Please report problems in Issues with your camera model and macOS version.

Install

1. Download LiveTether-1.0.0-beta.3.pkg and open it. The installer puts LiveTether in the Applications folder and opens it.
2. Click Install in the setup guide, then allow LiveTether in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Camera Extensions.
3. Set the camera's USB mode to PC (Tether), connect it directly to the Mac, and choose LiveTether as the camera in your video app.

The installer and the app are signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.

Changes since beta 2

• After an update replaces the camera extension, LiveTether reopens itself when it cannot see the new camera, so it can feed the camera without a restart.
• Reinstall, offered when macOS does not start a replaced camera extension, reopens LiveTether once the extension is back.

Known issues

• When an update replaces the camera extension, apps that were already running may keep showing another camera until they are reopened. FaceTime's video service keeps running in the background, so FaceTime may need a log-out or restart.
• Right after the camera is plugged in, the picture takes about 7 seconds to appear.

In this build

• Virtual camera named LiveTether with 1920 × 1080, 1280 × 720 and 1280 × 960 formats at 30 fps
• Live view starts only while an app uses the camera
• Auto Framing that follows the people in the picture, processed on this Mac only
• English, Korean and Japanese

Limitations

LiveTether passes on the camera's live view, the small monitor image a camera sends over USB, not its recorded video. A DC-GH6 sends at most 1280 × 960 as compressed JPEG, with the current framing and display aids such as the zebra pattern, so the picture falls short of what a webcam is expected to deliver. For the camera's full video quality, use its HDMI output with a USB HDMI capture device.

Requirements

• macOS 14.1 or later
• A LUMIX camera that supports USB tethering

LiveTether is an independent project. It is not made, endorsed or supported by Panasonic. LUMIX and Panasonic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Panasonic Holdings Corporation.

LiveTether 1.0.0 beta 2

Second test build of LiveTether. It turns the live view of a Panasonic LUMIX camera connected over USB into a webcam on macOS 14.1 and later.

This is a pre-release for testing. Please report problems in Issues with your camera model and macOS version.

Install

1. Download LiveTether-1.0.0-beta.2.pkg and open it. The installer puts LiveTether in the Applications folder and opens it.
2. Click Install in the setup guide, then allow LiveTether in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Camera Extensions.
3. Set the camera's USB mode to PC (Tether), connect it directly to the Mac, and choose LiveTether as the camera in your video app.

The installer and the app are signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.

Changes since beta 1

• When an update replaces the camera extension and macOS does not start the new one, the General tab now offers Reinstall next to the restart notice.
• App-only updates no longer replace the camera extension.
• Unmatched PTP transaction IDs are logged once per change instead of once per frame.

In this build

• Virtual camera named LiveTether with 1920 × 1080, 1280 × 720 and 1280 × 960 formats at 30 fps
• Live view starts only while an app uses the camera
• Auto Framing that follows the people in the picture, processed on this Mac only
• English, Korean and Japanese

Limitations

LiveTether passes on the camera's live view, the small monitor image a camera sends over USB, not its recorded video. A DC-GH6 sends at most 1280 × 960 as compressed JPEG, with the current framing and display aids such as the zebra pattern, so the picture falls short of what a webcam is expected to deliver. For the camera's full video quality, use its HDMI output with a USB HDMI capture device.

Requirements

• macOS 14.1 or later
• A LUMIX camera that supports USB tethering

LiveTether is an independent project. It is not made, endorsed or supported by Panasonic. LUMIX and Panasonic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Panasonic Holdings Corporation.

LiveTether 1.0.0 beta 1

First test build of LiveTether. It turns the live view of a Panasonic LUMIX camera connected over USB into a webcam on macOS 14.1 and later.

This is a pre-release for testing. Please report problems in Issues with your camera model and macOS version.

Install

1. Download LiveTether-1.0.0-beta.1.pkg and open it. The installer puts LiveTether in the Applications folder and opens it.
2. Click Install in the setup guide, then allow LiveTether in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Camera Extensions.
3. Set the camera's USB mode to PC (Tether), connect it directly to the Mac, and choose LiveTether as the camera in your video app.

The installer and the app are signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.

In this build

• Virtual camera named LiveTether with 1920 × 1080, 1280 × 720 and 1280 × 960 formats at 30 fps
• Live view starts only while an app uses the camera
• Auto Framing that follows the people in the picture, processed on this Mac only
• English, Korean and Japanese

Limitations

LiveTether passes on the camera's live view, the small monitor image a camera sends over USB, not its recorded video. A DC-GH6 sends at most 1280 × 960 as compressed JPEG, with the current framing and display aids such as the zebra pattern, so the picture falls short of what a webcam is expected to deliver. For the camera's full video quality, use its HDMI output with a USB HDMI capture device.

Requirements

• macOS 14.1 or later
• A LUMIX camera that supports USB tethering

LiveTether is an independent project. It is not made, endorsed or supported by Panasonic. LUMIX and Panasonic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Panasonic Holdings Corporation.