# Install somagic with Homebrew Linux capture program for the Somagic variants of EasyCAP. Version 1.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:somagic ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install somagic ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:somagic - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.1 - **Source summary:** Linux capture program for the Somagic variants of EasyCAP - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-08-04T22:13:35+00:00 ## Executables - somagic-capture (cli) - somagic-init (cli) - somagic-capture (alias) - somagic-init (alias) ## Dependencies - libgcrypt - libusb - somagic-tools ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: Before running somagic-capture you must extract the official firmware from the CD. See https://code.google.com/archive/p/easycap-somagic-linux/wikis/GettingStarted.wiki for details. - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-08-04 - Package-manager version: 1.1 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://code.google.com/archive/p/easycap-somagic-linux/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage somagic is the Linux capture package for Somagic variants of EasyCAP USB video capture devices. It provides `somagic-init` to upload firmware and reconnect the device, and `somagic-capture` to initialize registers and stream video. ### Project history The somagic-easycap 1.0 changelog records an initial release on 24 February 2012. Version 1.1 followed on 10 March 2013 with support for the 1c88:003f EasyCAP002 variant, a skip-check option in `somagic-init`, input-selection options in `somagic-capture`, and support for the 1c88:003d EzCAP USB 2.0 capture path. The README and manual pages present the project as a small C/libusb toolchain rather than a desktop video app: upload firmware, initialize hardware, then write captured video data for another program to consume. ### Adoption history The upstream project is archived on Google Code, but the Homebrew formula still packages version 1.1 with libusb, libgcrypt, and `somagic-tools` dependencies. Formula analytics show very small but continuing usage, typical for old hardware support packages. ### How it is used Before using `somagic-capture`, users must extract the official firmware from the device CD with `somagic-tools`. The man pages note that `somagic-init` and `somagic-capture` usually need root access because they interact directly with the USB capture device. ### Why package nerds care somagic matters because package managers often become the last clean distribution path for obscure but useful hardware utilities. The split between firmware extraction and capture also shows a common packaging pattern: ship the open tool, require the user to supply vendor firmware. ### Timeline - 2012: somagic-easycap 1.0 initial release. - 2013: somagic-easycap 1.1 adds EasyCAP002 and EzCAP USB 2.0 support. - Current: Homebrew packages version 1.1 as `somagic` with a dependency on `somagic-tools`. ### Related projects - `somagic-tools` extracts firmware for use by `somagic-init`. - libusb provides USB device access. - libgcrypt is listed as a build/runtime dependency in the upstream README and Homebrew formula. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** somagic - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://pkg.so/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Archive and compression packages](https://pkg.so/archive-compression-tools/) - Matched archive or compression metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://pkg.so/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Media and graphics packages](https://pkg.so/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [libgcrypt](https://pkg.so/brew/libgcrypt/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [somagic-tools](https://pkg.so/brew/somagic-tools/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [alsa-lib](https://pkg.so/brew/alsa-lib/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, linux, media. - [pulseaudio](https://pkg.so/brew/pulseaudio/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, linux, media. - [pipewire](https://pkg.so/brew/pipewire/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, linux, media. - [libgphoto2](https://pkg.so/brew/libgphoto2/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, media, usb. - [minidlna](https://pkg.so/brew/minidlna/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, linux, media. - [airspy](https://pkg.so/brew/airspy/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, media, usb. - [airspyhf](https://pkg.so/brew/airspyhf/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, media, usb. - [clamz](https://pkg.so/brew/clamz/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, libgcrypt, media. - [lib3ds](https://pkg.so/brew/lib3ds/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/somagic.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/somagic.yml) ## Sources - pkg.so package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - pkgdb category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph