Autobrightness does not work on two USB cameras

Question

In my Kmotion server I have 2 USB camera's. On startup I can see some color-setting changing but the brighness is not adjusted. In /etc/motion/motion.conf the setting "auto_brightness on" and i tried several values for "brightness". Both camera's seem to stay in fixed sensitivity. In the logfile /home/robbert./kmotion/www/motion_out the parameter ("Brightness", default 72, current 72) does not react on any brightness parameter in de motion.conf file nor if I physically cover this camera from light.

The quickcam pro is that sensible it only shows a white screen in daylight;-(

I cannot find errors in /var/log/dmesg with the cameras.

file: /etc/motion/motion.conf
<VERBATIM>
# Rename this distribution example file to motion.conf
#
# This config file was generated by motion 3.2.12


############################################################
# Daemon
############################################################

# Start in daemon (background) mode and release terminal (default: off)
# File to store the process ID, also called pid file. (default: not defined)
process_id_file /var/run/motion/motion.pid

# Start in Setup-Mode, daemon disabled. (default: off)
###########################################################
# Capture device options
############################################################
# to capture from those supported by your videodevice. (default: 8)
# E.g. if your videodevice supports both V4L2_PIX_FMT_SBGGR8 and
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_MJPEG then motion will by default use V4L2_PIX_FMT_MJPEG.
# Setting v4l2_palette to 1 forces motion to use V4L2_PIX_FMT_SBGGR8
# instead.
#
# Values :
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_SN9C10X : 0  'S910'
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_SBGGR8  : 1  'BA81'
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_MJPEG   : 2  'MJPEG'
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_JPEG    : 3  'JPEG'
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_RGB24   : 4  'RGB3'
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_UYVY    : 5  'UYVY'
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_YUYV    : 6  'YUYV'
# V4L2_PIX_FMT_YUV422P : 7  '422P'

# This is ONLY used for FreeBSD. Leave it commented out for Linux
; tunerdevice /dev/tuner0

# The video input to be used (default: 8)
# Should normally be set to 0 or 1 for video/TV cards, and 8 for USB cameras
input 8

# The video norm to use (only for video capture and TV tuner cards)
# Values: 0 (PAL), 1 (NTSC), 2 (SECAM), 3 (PAL NC no colour). Default: 0 (PAL)
norm 0

# The frequency to set the tuner to (kHz) (only for TV tuner cards) (default: 0)
frequency 0

# Rotate image this number of degrees. The rotation affects all saved images as
# well as mpeg movies. Valid values: 0 (default = no rotation), 90, 180 and 270.
rotate 0

# Image width (pixels). Valid range: Camera dependent, default: 352
width 640

# Image height (pixels). Valid range: Camera dependent, default: 288
height 480

# Maximum number of frames to be captured per second.
# Valid range: 2-100. Default: 100 (almost no limit).
framerate 10

# Minimum time in seconds between capturing picture frames from the camera.
# Default: 0 = disabled - the capture rate is given by the camera framerate.
# This option is used when you want to capture images at a rate lower than 2 per
 second.
minimum_frame_time 0

# URL to use if you are using a network camera, size will be autodetected (incl
http:// ftp:// or file:///)
# Must be a URL that returns single jpeg pictures or a raw mjpeg stream. Default
: Not defined
; netcam_url value

# Username and password for network camera (only if required). Default: not defi
ned
# Syntax is user:password
; netcam_userpass value

# The setting for keep-alive of network socket, should improve performance on co
mpatible net cameras.
# 1.0:         The historical implementation using HTTP/1.0, closing the socket
after each http request.
# keep_alive:  Use HTTP/1.0 requests with keep alive header to reuse the same co
nnection.
# 1.1:         Use HTTP/1.1 requests that support keep alive as default.
# Default: 1.0
; netcam_http 1.0

# URL to use for a netcam proxy server, if required, e.g. "http://myproxy".
# If a port number other than 80 is needed, use "http://myproxy:1234".
# Default: not defined
; netcam_proxy value

# Set less strict jpeg checks for network cameras with a poor/buggy firmware.
# Default: off
netcam_tolerant_check off

# Let motion regulate the brightness of a video device (default: off).
# The auto_brightness feature uses the brightness option as its target value.
# If brightness is zero auto_brightness will adjust to average brightness value
128.
# Only recommended for cameras without auto brightness
auto_brightness on

# Set the initial brightness of a video device.
# If auto_brightness is enabled, this value defines the average brightness level
# which Motion will try and adjust to.
# Valid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
brightness 5

# Set the contrast of a video device.
# Valid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
contrast  0

# Set the saturation of a video device.
# Valid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
saturation 0

# Set the hue of a video device (NTSC feature).
# V1lid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
hue 0


############################################################
# Round Robin (multiple inputs on same video device name)
############################################################

# Number of frames to capture in each roundrobin step (default: 2)

</VERBATIM>

file: /home/robbert./kmotion/core/motion_conf
<VERBATIM>

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This config file has been automatically generated by kmotion
# Do __NOT__ modify it in any way.
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'default' section
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

quiet on

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'user' section from 'virtual_motion_conf/motion.conf'
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Virtual motion configuration for advanced users. The content of this file
# is inserted into the 'real' motion configuration file by kmotion before
# the motion demon is started.

# The 'real' motion configuration can be viewed at '../core/motion_conf' after
# a 'kmotion restart'.


# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'override' section
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

daemon off
control_port 8080
control_localhost on

thread /home/robbert/kmotion/core/motion_conf/thread01.conf

thread /home/robbert/kmotion/core/motion_conf/thread02.conf

</VERBATIM>

file: /home/robbert./kmotion/core/thread01_conf
<VERBATIM>
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This config file has been automatically generated by kmotion
# Do __NOT__ modify it in any way.
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'default' section
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

gap 2
pre_capture 1
post_capture 16

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'user' section from 'virtual_motion_conf/thread01.conf'
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Virtual motion configuration for advanced users. The content of this file
# is inserted into the 'real' motion configuration file by kmotion before
# the motion demon is started.

# The 'real' motion configuration can be viewed at '../core/motion_conf' after
# a 'kmotion restart'.

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'override' section
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ffmpeg_video_codec swf
snapshot_interval 1
webcam_localhost on

target_dir /home/robbert/kmotion/www/virtual_ramdisk
videodevice /dev/video0
input 8
width 640
height 480
quality 100
locate on
framerate 5
output_normal off
ffmpeg_bps 400000
ffmpeg_cap_new on

mask_file /home/robbert/kmotion/core/masks/mask01.pgm
jpeg_filename ../../../../../../home/robbert/kmotion/images_dbase/%Y%m%d/01/smov
ie/%H%M%S/%q
movie_filename ../../../../../../home/robbert/kmotion/images_dbase/%Y%m%d/01/mov
ie/%H%M%S
snapshot_filename 01/%Y%m%d%H%M%S
on_movie_end echo '$%H%M%S' >> /home/robbert/kmotion/images_dbase/%Y%m%d/01/movi
e_journal
on_event_start /home/robbert/kmotion/core/event_start.py 1
on_event_end /home/robbert/kmotion/core/event_end.py 1
on_picture_save echo %f > /home/robbert/kmotion/www/virtual_ramdisk/01/last_jpeg

</VERBATIM>

file: /home/robbert./kmotion/core/thread02_conf
<VERBATIM>
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This config file has been automatically generated by kmotion
# Do __NOT__ modify it in any way.
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'default' section
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

gap 2
pre_capture 1
post_capture 16

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'user' section from 'virtual_motion_conf/thread02.conf'
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Virtual motion configuration for advanced users. The content of this file
# is inserted into the 'real' motion configuration file by kmotion before
# the motion demon is started.

# The 'real' motion configuration can be viewed at '../core/motion_conf' after
# a 'kmotion restart'.

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 'override' section
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ffmpeg_video_codec swf
snapshot_interval 1
webcam_localhost on

target_dir /home/robbert/kmotion/www/virtual_ramdisk
videodevice /dev/video1
input 8
width 640
height 480
quality 100
locate on
framerate 5
output_normal off
ffmpeg_bps 400000
ffmpeg_cap_new on

mask_file /home/robbert/kmotion/core/masks/mask02.pgm
jpeg_filename ../../../../../../home/robbert/kmotion/images_dbase/%Y%m%d/02/smov
ie/%H%M%S/%q
movie_filename ../../../../../../home/robbert/kmotion/images_dbase/%Y%m%d/02/mov
ie/%H%M%S
snapshot_filename 02/%Y%m%d%H%M%S
on_movie_end echo '$%H%M%S' >> /home/robbert/kmotion/images_dbase/%Y%m%d/02/movi
e_journal
on_event_start /home/robbert/kmotion/core/event_start.py 2
on_event_end /home/robbert/kmotion/core/event_end.py 2
on_picture_save echo %f > /home/robbert/kmotion/www/virtual_ramdisk/02/last_jpeg
</VERBATIM>

file: /home/robbert./kmotion/www/motion_out
<VERBATIM>

[0] Processing thread 0 - config file /home/robbert/kmotion/core/motion_conf/mot
ion.conf
[0] Processing config file /home/robbert/kmotion/core/motion_conf/thread01.conf
[0] Processing config file /home/robbert/kmotion/core/motion_conf/thread02.conf
[0] Motion 3.2.12 Started
[0] ffmpeg LIBAVCODEC_BUILD 3482112 LIBAVFORMAT_BUILD 3478528
[0] Thread 1 is from /home/robbert/kmotion/core/motion_conf/thread01.conf
[0] Thread 2 is from /home/robbert/kmotion/core/motion_conf/thread02.conf
[0] motion-httpd/3.2.12 running, accepting connections
[0] motion-httpd: waiting for data on port TCP 8080
[2] Thread 2 started
[2] cap.driver: "pwc"
[2] cap.card: "Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000"
[2] cap.bus_info: "usb-0000:00:1d.0-1"
[2] cap.capabilities=0x05000001
[2] - VIDEO_CAPTURE
[2] - READWRITE
[2] - STREAMING
[2] Test palette YU12 (640x480)
[1] Thread 1 started
[2] Using palette YU12 (640x480) bytesperlines 960 sizeimage 460800 colorspace 0
0000000
[2] found control 0x00980900, "Brightness", range 0,127
[2]     "Brightness", default 72, current 72
[2] found control 0x00980901, "Contrast", range 0,63
[2]     "Contrast", default 32, current 32
[2] found control 0x00980902, "Saturation", range -100,100
[2]     "Saturation", default 0, current 0
[2] found control 0x0098090e, "Red Balance", range 0,255
[2]     "Red Balance", default 65, current 79
[2] found control 0x0098090f, "Blue Balance", range 0,255
[2]     "Blue Balance", default 65, current 19
[2] found control 0x00980910, "Gamma", range 0,31
[2]     "Gamma", default 18, current 18
[2] found control 0x00980911, "Exposure", range 0,255
[2]     "Exposure", default 213, current 213
[2] found control 0x00980912, "Gain, Automatic", range 0,1
[2]     "Gain, Automatic", default 0, current 0
[2] found control 0x00980913, "Gain", range 0,63
[2]     "Gain", default 45, current 45
[2] found control 0x08000000, "Auto contour", range 0,1
[2]     "Auto contour", default 0, current 0
[2] found control 0x08000001, "Contour", range 0,63
[2]     "Contour", default 32, current 32
[2] mmap information:
[2] frames=4
[2] 0 length=462848
[2] 1 length=462848
[2] 2 length=462848
[2] 3 length=462848
[2] Using V4L2
[2] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 1 items
[1] cap.driver: "uvcvideo"
[1] cap.card: "Microsoft LifeCam VX-800"
[1] cap.bus_info: "usb-0000:00:1d.7-3"
[1] cap.capabilities=0x04000001
[1] - VIDEO_CAPTURE
[1] - STREAMING
[1] Config palette index 8 (YU12) doesn't work.
[1] Supported palettes:
[1] 0: YUYV (YUV 4:2:2 (YUYV))
[1] Selected palette YUYV
[1] Test palette YUYV (640x480)
[1] Using palette YUYV (640x480) bytesperlines 1280 sizeimage 614400 colorspace
00000000
[1] found control 0x00980900, "Brightness", range -10,10
[1]     "Brightness", default 2, current 2
[1] found control 0x00980901, "Contrast", range 0,20
[1]     "Contrast", default 10, current 10
[1] found control 0x00980902, "Saturation", range 0,10
[1]     "Saturation", default 4, current 4
[1] found control 0x00980903, "Hue", range -5,5
[1]     "Hue", default 0, current 0
[1] found control 0x00980910, "Gamma", range 100,200
[1]     "Gamma", default 130, current 130
[1] found control 0x00980913, "Gain", range 32,48
[1]     "Gain", default 34, current 34
[1] mmap information:
[1] frames=4
[1] 0 length=614400
[1] 1 length=614400
[1] 2 length=614400
[1] 3 length=614400
[1] Using V4L2
[1] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 1 items
[1] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 2 items
[2] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 2 items


</VERBATIM>

Environment

Motion version:	3.2.12
ffmpeg version:	0.8.6-4:0.8.6-0ubuntu0.12.04.1
Libraries:	ffmpeg, mysql, postgresql
Server OS:	Ubuntu 12.04

-- RobbertBen - 12 Jul 2013

Answer