Why Does My Nearity 360 Alien Video Look Grainy over HDMI?

If the video from your Nearity 360 Alien looks grainy or less sharp when connected through HDMI, first determine whether the image quality is being affected by the HDMI output, the video conferencing platform, or the room environment.

Before You Begin

Please note that the Nearity 360 Alien supports different maximum resolutions depending on the connection method:

• USB output: up to 4K
• HDMI output: up to 1080p

Because HDMI output is limited to 1080p, it may look less detailed than a 4K USB image, especially on a large display or when the image is enlarged. The actual resolution shown in a meeting can also be reduced by the conferencing platform, network conditions, or display settings.

Step 1: Check the Original Camera Image

Video conferencing platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams may compress the video feed and reduce image quality.

To check whether the issue comes from the camera or the meeting platform:

1. Temporarily connect the 360 Alien directly to your computer using USB.
2. 2. Close the meeting platform.
3. 3. Open the camera using Windows Camera, macOS Photo Booth, or QuickTime Player.
4. 4. Compare this local preview with the image shown in your meeting.

If the local preview is clear but the meeting image is grainy, the meeting platform or network may be compressing the video.

Step 2: Check the Camera Distance

We recommend placing the 360 Alien approximately 1 meter (3.3 ft) from the participants. Faces may appear less clear when participants are farther away, especially when the image is enlarged.

Step 3: Check the Room Lighting

Low or uneven lighting can introduce visible grain. Make sure participants' faces are evenly lit and avoid placing a bright window directly behind them.

After completing the checks above, you should be able to determine whether the grainy video is caused by the HDMI resolution, video compression from the conferencing platform, the distance between the camera and participants, or the room lighting.