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If your camera or microphone isn’t showing up, looks wrong, or has no sound, work through the checks below before reaching out. Most device issues come down to permissions, device selection, or how an external camera is connected.

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Quick checks

Start here — these resolve the majority of device problems.
  1. Confirm the device is selected. Click the arrow next to the camera or microphone icon in the Tella recorder and pick the right device from the list.
  2. Check the hardware connection. Make sure cables are seated, the device is powered on, and any hardware mute switch is off.
  3. Close other apps. Zoom, Meet, OBS, and Photo Booth can hold onto your camera or mic so Tella can’t access it. Quit them and try again.
  4. Reload or restart. Refresh the browser tab (web app) or quit and reopen the Mac app, then unplug and replug the device.
If you see sound moving on the mic icon while you speak, your microphone is working. See Why do I see the ‘no sound’ warning? for more.

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Permissions

If a device doesn’t appear at all, Tella may not have permission to use it. After changing a permission on macOS, fully quit and reopen the browser or Mac app so the new setting takes effect.

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Microphone debugging

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Camera debugging

  • Camera not listed — Check permissions above, then unplug and replug the camera and reopen the recorder.
  • Image is flipped or rotated — Some cameras output a mirrored or portrait stream. See Insta360 Link Controller issues for an example fix.
  • Want to use more than one camera — Tella records one camera at a time. See Can I record with multiple cameras? for workarounds.
Using a mirrorless or DSLR camera as your webcam — typically through an Elgato Cam Link 4K — gives a great image, but adds a few extra things that can go wrong. If your Cam Link camera shows a black screen, drops out, or doesn’t appear, check the following:
  • Use a clean HDMI output. In your camera’s menu, turn off on-screen info, overlays, and HDMI display data so only the image is sent over HDMI. Look for a setting like “HDMI info display” or “clean HDMI output.”
  • Match a supported resolution and frame rate. Cam Link 4K supports specific resolutions and frame rates. Set your camera’s HDMI output to a standard mode (for example 1080p) rather than an unusual one.
  • Disable auto power-off and sleep. Mirrorless and DSLR cameras often sleep after a few minutes, which kills the feed. Turn off the auto power-off / sleep timer so the camera stays awake while recording.
  • One app at a time. Only one application can use the Cam Link at once. Quit any other app that might be holding the camera before recording in Tella.
  • Check the full chain. A bad HDMI cable, adapter, or USB port is a common cause. Try a different cable and plug the Cam Link directly into your computer rather than through a hub.
The camera must stay set to “webcam,” “clean HDMI,” or live-view output mode. If it’s in playback or photo-review mode, no live image is sent to the Cam Link.

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Deeper camera debugging on macOS

If you’ve worked through the steps above and an external camera still misbehaves, a dedicated tool can show you exactly what your Mac sees from the device. Capture Inspector is a macOS app that inspects connected cameras and capture devices — including the formats, resolutions, and frame rates they report. It’s especially useful for diagnosing mirrorless/DSLR cameras paired with a Cam Link 4K, where the problem is often a resolution or format mismatch rather than Tella itself. Capture Inspector inspecting a connected camera on macOS
If Capture Inspector shows the camera working with a clean feed but Tella still doesn’t, share what you found when you contact us — it helps the team pinpoint the issue faster.

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Still stuck?

If none of the above works, reach out and we’ll help.

Contact support

Open a ticket from the in-app support portal with your device details and a description of what you’re seeing.