PTZ remote control

How to enable and control PTZ remotely (director, viewer, API)

Overview

VDO.Ninja can remotely control pan, tilt, zoom, and focus on supported cameras. The sender must opt in with &ptz, and the camera/browser must actually expose PTZ or focus controls. Directors can control PTZ from the built-in video settings menu, while viewers can opt in using &remote.

To confirm device support, use https://vdo.ninja/supports with the target camera selected.

Quick Start (Push + View)

Sender (push link): https://vdo.ninja/?push=STREAMID&ptz&remote

Viewer (view link): https://vdo.ninja/?view=STREAMID&remote

If you want a shared passcode, add the same value on both sides: &remote=somepasscode

Director Control (Rooms)

Director link: https://vdo.ninja/?director=ptztestroom

Guest link: https://vdo.ninja/?room=ptztestroom&ptz

Directors (and co-directors) can adjust PTZ from the per-guest video settings menu. Viewers do not need &remote for this.

Viewer Mouse Controls (with &remote)

When &remote is enabled on both sides, viewers can use the mouse wheel over the video:

• Wheel: zoom in or out

• Shift + wheel: pan left or right

• Ctrl (or Command) + wheel: focus in or out

• Ctrl (or Command) + Shift + wheel: tilt up or down

• Hold Alt for smaller step sizes

Pan/tilt only work if the camera exposes those controls and the sender has &ptz.

Right-click Menu (with &remote)

Right-clicking a remote video (with &remote enabled) exposes the remote context menu (hangup/reload). PTZ is still controlled by the mouse/keyboard shortcuts above or the sliders below; the right-click menu does not currently surface PTZ controls.

PTZ Example App

Use the example controller: https://vdo.ninja/examples/ptz?view=STREAMID&remote

Make sure the sender uses: https://vdo.ninja/?push=STREAMID&ptz&remote

Chrome requires the sender page to remain visible on screen for PTZ controls to work. If the sender tab/window is hidden, the browser blocks PTZ changes.

On-screen PTZ Sliders

Add &ptzslider to a director or view link to show PTZ sliders (zoom/pan/tilt) directly on the video element. &zoomslider shows a zoom-only slider.

Example: https://vdo.ninja/?view=STREAMID&remote&ptzslider

Automation with &api

For scripted control or Stream Deck integrations, add &api=YOURKEY to the controlling page and use the HTTP/WSS API or IFRAME API commands (zoom, pan, tilt, focus).

References:

• IFRAME API for Directors

• HTTP/WSS API reference

Troubleshooting

• If you see the page is not visible or couldn't save defaults, the sender tab is hidden. Keep the sender visible or in a small always-on-top window.

• If controls do nothing, verify &ptz is on the sender link and &remote (with matching passcode) is on the viewer link.

• If only zoom or focus work, the camera may not support pan/tilt.