Troubleshooting...Video Capture Doesn't Work
Before capturing video with Logger
Pro, install the software that comes
with your camera. Connect the camera, and launch the manufacturer's
software. Following the manufacturer's instructions, get to the point
of seeing a live video stream on screen. This means that the camera is
connected, its driver is installed without conflicts, and
that the camera itself is working. Now exit the camera software, launch
Logger Pro, and choose Video Capture from the Insert menu.
Important: If you do not get a video
stream using the manufacturer's
software, it is unlikely that the camera will work in Logger Pro.
If a live video feed does not appear in the Video Capture,
confirm that the camera drivers or any video software have been
installed.
If the live video feed stops working, click the Initialize Camera
button and the Video Capture dialog box. Select the desired video
resolution and sound source.
Logger Pro only supports one camera at a time.
If moving objects appear blurred in your movie, you may need to use a
shorter shutter speed. Click the
Camera Settings option in the Video Capture dialog box to access these
settings. (Note: Not all cameras support this feature.)
If you are using a Digital Video camera to capture a video, you may
notice “interlacing” when examining individual frames of the video.
Interlacing causes moving objects to have a “banded” appearance. If the
interlacing interferes with the analysis, you may need to use
de-interlacing software or use a camera that does not produce an
interlaced video, e.g. a web camera or a progressive-scan video camera.
What to expect from video capture:
The synchronization between the video and the data will generally be
within half a second without additional adjustment. For many
experiments this level of synchronization is all that is needed; much
closer synchronization can be obtained using the directions in Video Capture Options.
The quality of the captured video depends strongly on the speed of the
computer and the type of camera used. If the computer is slow or is
performing other tasks during video capture, there may be some dropped
or duplicated frames. If there is blurring of objects in the captured
video, the shutter speed is too slow. Many, but not all, cameras allow
you to adjust the shutter speed. This adjustment is not a part of
Logger Pro, although you can access the camera's controls from Logger
Pro.
Other video capture details:
- The non-time-lapse capture rate is 15 frames per second.
- If 640x480 captures are used, the frame rate may be reduced.
- Analysis of rapid motion, such as for objects in free fall, may
require a dedicated video capture application or video recording with a
high-quality camera. Such videos can then be inserted into Logger Pro
and analyzed or synchronized with data. For example, you might record a
short video clip of a falling ball using a 60-frame-per-second camera.
After recording the video, transfer the file to your computer, and
insert the movie.
See Also:
Video Capture Options