zonChess
Features · Current beta
ChessZCam combines an Android phone at the board with a Windows controller for broadcast and review. It is designed to reduce repetitive work, with operator review and correction when venue conditions create uncertainty.
Who benefits
Three common problems. Three practical ways ChessZCam tries to help—when conditions allow.
Problem: Viewers want a clean digital board. Creators often rewind video move by move overnight.
How ChessZCam helps: Record or Upload modes aim to produce a digital move list while you keep control to review unclear moments before publishing.
Creator workflow notes →
Problem: Many club and school events cannot afford electronic boards for every table—so featured boards often go unbroadcast.
How ChessZCam helps: Live mode sends the phone’s digital board to a Windows hub overlay for OBS or vMix, with operator tools when something goes wrong mid-round.
Budget livestream checklist →
Problem: Parents and coaches often cannot stand over boards. Waiting areas leave them guessing.
How ChessZCam helps: When organizers allow it, a device on the same reliable network can open the hub overlay URL and follow the digital position.
Parent viewing guide →Android app
Choose the mode that matches the job—live recording, archived footage, offline upload analysis, or live broadcast to a PC.
Live camera detection into a digital position and PGN. Designed for games you want digitised as they are played—without saving a video file.
Capture video with chess metadata (event, round, players and related notes) so later review stays organised.
Analyse a pre-recorded board video offline on the phone. Useful when you filmed first and digitise later. Further polish continues during beta.
Live detection linked to the Windows hub on the same Wi‑Fi. The phone stays at the board; the PC handles the broadcast overlay.
Windows hub
The hub is the calm centre of a live production: receive the phone’s digital board, correct when needed, and feed a browser overlay into OBS or vMix.
Open a local overlay URL as a Browser Source. Viewers see a readable digital board beside (or with) your camera programme.
Hands over the board, a bumped tripod, or an uncertain detection should not end the stream. Hold, correct, sync and undo tools are designed for recovery under pressure.
When enabled, the hub can show evaluation-style graphics on the overlay for commentary—not as an official game result.
Other devices on the same reliable network can follow the overlay URL when organizers allow it—without crowding the playing hall.
Why this matters
See what each mode does, what the operator controls and which conditions affect the result.
Help reduce the grind of rebuilding games from video—so more time goes to teaching, storytelling and coaching.
Phone + Windows hub + OBS/vMix can cover one important board when a full electronic-board install is not realistic.
An operator can pause, correct and resume when the detected position needs attention.
Give parents and coaches a digital board on the same network when venue rules allow—without hovering over children.
Keep organised footage with chess metadata, then use Upload when you have quieter time to review.
Results vary with lighting, framing, board contrast and device performance. Important games should still be checked by a person.
Current operating conditions
Lighting, framing, board contrast, hands over pieces, phone heat and venue Wi‑Fi can all affect results. ChessZCam is an assistive beta workflow. It is not an arbiter, not a fair-play system, and not a drop-in replacement for every professional electronic-board installation.
Beta waitlist
Get setup notes, testing invitations and launch updates.