Camera Setup Guide

Camera Setup

VisApex works with most Windows webcams. No special IR camera or additional hardware is required.

Connect your webcam before starting VisApex, or connect it later while VisApex is running. If the selected camera is disconnected and plugged in again, VisApex will automatically reconnect to it.

Camera Positioning

VisApex is designed to work with your webcam positioned in a variety of locations. For the best experience, we recommend placing the camera above or below your monitor or TV, near the horizontal center of the display. If necessary, the camera can also be positioned a little to the left or right of the display, although the available head tracking range may become slightly uneven between the left and right sides.

Adjust the camera angle so your face appears roughly centered in the camera image while sitting in your normal driving or flying position.

Tips
  • Place the camera above or below your monitor or TV.
  • Keep the camera near the horizontal center of your display whenever practical. Perfect centering is not required.
  • Adjust the camera so your face is roughly centered in the image.
  • Keep your face clearly visible with no significant obstructions.

First-Time Setup

The first time you start VisApex, you will be asked to select your webcam.

For most users, we recommend selecting the lowest resolution that supports at least 480p and your preferred frame rate.

Recommended Frame Rate

  • 30 FPS — Recommended minimum for a good experience.
  • 60 FPS or higher — Recommended for the smoothest and most responsive head tracking.

Higher frame rates reduce tracking latency and generally produce smoother head movement. In most cases, increasing the frame rate provides a greater improvement than increasing the camera resolution.

Choosing the Right Resolution

Higher resolutions are not always better.

Lower resolutions require less CPU processing and reduce the amount of image data transferred from the webcam, which can help reduce overall tracking latency.

For most webcams, 480p provides an excellent balance between performance and tracking quality.

If your webcam is positioned farther away from your face and tracking becomes less reliable, try increasing the camera resolution. The additional image detail may improve tracking accuracy at longer distances.

Changing Camera Settings

You can change your selected camera, resolution, and frame rate at any time from the Tracking tab. If you experience poor tracking performance, try lowering the camera resolution before reducing the frame rate.

Using VisApex in Low-Light Conditions

VisApex can track reliably in low-light conditions, even if the webcam image appears noisy or underexposed.

For the best results, use a webcam that can maintain a stable frame rate, as frame rate generally has a greater impact on tracking quality than image quality. Actual performance may vary depending on your webcam and lighting conditions.

If your webcam supports manual settings, consider using the Windows Camera app or your webcam manufacturer’s software to optimize its performance.

In low-light conditions, adjusting the camera exposure can help you find a better balance between image brightness and frame rate. In many cases, maintaining a higher and more stable frame rate results in better tracking than producing a brighter image.

If autofocus frequently hunts or loses focus, consider switching to manual focus and adjusting it for your normal sitting position. VisApex can generally tolerate a slightly out-of-focus image as you move your head, provided your face remains clearly visible.

Troubleshooting Your Camera

If tracking is not performing as expected, change the Tracking Preview to Camera mode.

The camera preview allows you to verify:

  • The correct webcam is selected.
  • The live camera image is updating correctly.
  • The actual camera frame rate.
  • Whether your face is clearly visible to the tracker.
  • Whether poor lighting or camera placement may be affecting tracking.

If the reported frame rate is significantly lower than expected, try:

  • Selecting a lower camera resolution.
  • Improving room lighting.
  • Closing other applications that may be using the webcam.
  • Using a different USB port if your webcam supports higher USB bandwidth.

Tips for the Best Experience

  • Start with 480p if it supports your preferred frame rate. Increase the resolution only if needed.
  • Prefer 60 FPS or higher if your webcam supports it.
  • Position the camera so your face remains clearly visible.
  • Increase the camera resolution only if your webcam is positioned farther away and tracking becomes less reliable.
  • If you need to troubleshoot, switch the Tracking Preview to Camera mode to verify camera performance.