<p>OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is multi-platform (OBS is widely used in video game streaming). I haven't tried it yet myself for multiple cameras, but I know it supports at least one (as many streamers put a small video of themselves playing the game on their streams) and it does real-time preview.</p>

<p>Edit: I did run two c920 webcams with it on Linux (Ubuntu 16.04) and it works fine.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-11T01:43:48.413Z
2019-01-19T20:04:28.677Z
2019-01-19T20:04:28.677Z
Xavier
<p>Try QtCAM - An Open Source Webcam application for devices supported by UVC driver or any V4L2 compatible device. You can see the preview directly on your laptop. Their updated version has support for all USB cameras and you could download the source code from GitHub.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T09:48:38.637Z
2016-08-05T08:40:43.673Z
2016-08-05T08:40:43.673Z
QtLinux
<p>I would recommend Shotcut. It has become my goto editor for video in Linux.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T19:49:19.937Z
I don't know what is wrong with my answer. For those that don't know how to record from camera input in Shotcut, here is how you do it. Go to File =>  Open Other ... => select your input for webcam you would use Video4Linux and start recording .
Pavol Cupka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T17:28:17.980Z
2017-03-21T17:28:17.980Z
Pavol Cupka
<p>I am using Zoom.  Login as the only user, and select record.  The sound and picture are good, ir waves in mp4, and green screen is built in if you want it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-05T15:57:44.750Z
This should not be downvoted: it is a legitimate option, and has the advantage that many people already have it installed, unlike these specialty tools. If you just need one quick-and-dirty recording and don't want to install software you'll forget about later, open your personal room and do a cloud or local recording.
Jim Pivarski
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T16:57:00.857Z
2021-05-04T16:57:00.857Z
mike
<p>I was going to recommend <a href="http://www.kinodv.org/" rel="nofollow">Kino</a> which is the one I used when I needed to do that, but according to their web page the project is no longer mantained, so you can either use it the way it is or try the other software that is recommended on their web page:</p>

<p>Shotcut, Kdenlive, Flowblade, OpenShot, PiTiVi, LiVES, and LightWorks.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-21T11:10:29.163Z
2014-07-21T11:10:29.163Z
YoMismo
<p>I use Linux(Mint Linux Petra) and will probably switch to Ubuntu 14 soon.</p>

<p>I need to record video with my camera on my laptop(imagine I use a web-camera for simplification) and I need to see real-time what I am shooting and record the stream.</p>

<p>I tried <code>camera-app</code> and <code>cheese</code> but both fail on my distribution. </p>

<p>Also, I plan to use external camera for better quality, any suggestions on interfaces, etc.? I prefer to see the stream directly on my laptop screen.
(If you want to know why - it will save me some time while editing.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-23T08:53:41.953Z
Do you need audio or not?
Nicolas Raoul
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T03:58:08.320Z
What do you mean `both fail on my distribution` ? Cheese does exactly what you require (displays the stream during recording).
mp04
<software-recommendation><camera><linux>
What is good software for camera recording under Linux?
Mateva
# What is good software for camera recording under Linux?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-21)

I use Linux(Mint Linux Petra) and will probably switch to Ubuntu 14 soon.

I need to record video with my camera on my laptop(imagine I use a web-camera for simplification) and I need to see real-time what I am shooting and record the stream.

I tried `camera-app` and `cheese` but both fail on my distribution.

Also, I plan to use external camera for better quality, any suggestions on interfaces, etc.? I prefer to see the stream directly on my laptop screen.
(If you want to know why - it will save me some time while editing.)

**Tags:** software-recommendation, camera, linux

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you need audio or not?  
> **username_2**: What do you mean `both fail on my distribution` ? Cheese does exactly what you require (displays the stream during recording).  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2014-07-21. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I was going to recommend [Kino](http://www.kinodv.org/) which is the one I used when I needed to do that, but according to their web page the project is no longer mantained, so you can either use it the way it is or try the other software that is recommended on their web page:

Shotcut, Kdenlive, Flowblade, OpenShot, PiTiVi, LiVES, and LightWorks.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-09-11. Score: 2

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is multi-platform (OBS is widely used in video game streaming). I haven't tried it yet myself for multiple cameras, but I know it supports at least one (as many streamers put a small video of themselves playing the game on their streams) and it does real-time preview.

Edit: I did run two c920 webcams with it on Linux (Ubuntu 16.04) and it works fine.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-07-30. Score: 1

Try QtCAM - An Open Source Webcam application for devices supported by UVC driver or any V4L2 compatible device. You can see the preview directly on your laptop. Their updated version has support for all USB cameras and you could download the source code from GitHub.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-03-21. Score: 1

I would recommend Shotcut. It has become my goto editor for video in Linux.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: I don't know what is wrong with my answer. For those that don't know how to record from camera input in Shotcut, here is how you do it. Go to File =>  Open Other ... => select your input for webcam you would use Video4Linux and start recording .  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2021-05-04. Score: 1

I am using Zoom. Login as the only user, and select record. The sound and picture are good, ir waves in mp4, and green screen is built in if you want it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: This should not be downvoted: it is a legitimate option, and has the advantage that many people already have it installed, unlike these specialty tools. If you just need one quick-and-dirty recording and don't want to install software you'll forget about later, open your personal room and do a cloud or local recording.  

---

