Arch Linux: Webcam Virtual Background Setup

Question

I have tried various tools like fakecam and blog posts like this (https://elder.dev/posts/open-source-virtual-background/),

however, I just can't get anything to run on my setup (Arch Linux).

Can someone help me out and write me a how-to for dummies on how to get a virtual background or blurred background for conferencing tools like Skype, Zoom, Teams on Arch Linux?

Answer 1

I managed to make it work in my Manjaro (Arch-based) Linux with this (thanks to the hint here)

1. Install the current Linux headers:

    sudo pacman -S "linux$(uname -r | awk -F. '{print $1$2}')-headers"
   

2. Install (and build) the v4l2loopack-dkms

    sudo pacman -S v4l2loopback-dkms
   

3. Load the module with the option for fakecam:

    sudo modprobe v4l2loopback devices=1 video_nr=20 card_label="fakecam" exclusive_caps=1
   

   (you may need to unload it if you have it already in, with sudo modprobe -r v4l2loopback)

4. Now fakecam (the snap installed with the package manager) works, after enabling it with snap connect fakecam:camera.

   

...for quite small values of "working":*

1. It's quite slow,
2. It fails to detect my body --- the floating head is a bit unnerving
3. Teams for Linux is unable to access the stream (black camera), so it's of little utility.

I will try later, or let this open to other people, to see if with https://github.com/floe/backscrub works better.