Knowledge Base

Media Recorder - Camera Configuration

IP Cameras and ONVIF Support

Control can be done with MediaRecorder and audio from the camera can be recorded. For cameras that do not support ONVIF, pan, tilt, and zoom control must be done with a browser and audio must be recorded with a microphone connected to the sound card of the computer.

Power over Ethernet

IP cameras can be connected to a PoE (Power over Ethernet) or PoE+ switch to supply them with power. This way no extra power cables are needed. Each device is connected to one channel on the switch. A PoE switch can deliver up to 15 Watt per channel. A PoE+ switch has a higher capacity per channel (up to 30 Watt per channel). Make sure that the maximum total capacity of the switch is high enough for all cameras together. Cameras may also be powered using a 2 or 4-port Network Interface Card (NIC).

Example: you connect four cameras that need 30 Watt each to a PoE+ switch. This PoE+ switch must deliver at least 4 x 30 = 120 Watt.

• Axis M5525 - requires a regular PoE switch.
• Axis M5054 - requires a regular PoE switch.
• Axis P1375 - requires a regular PoE switch.

The PoE or PoE+ switch must allow a speed of at least 1 Gb per second.

Recording Devices - USB

Important Notes About USB

USB 2 and 3 Ports

The supported USB devices are all USB 3 devices and need to be connected to a USB 3 port. You recognize USB 3 ports by a double-S in front of the USB icon. Some USB 3 ports and connectors have blue labeling.

The Dell Precision T3640 desktop PC sold by Noldus IT has both USB 2 and USB 3 ports. The Dell Precision 3551 mobile workstation only has USB 3 ports.

USB Hub

Do not connect your cameras to a USB hub. If you run short of USB connections, connect your license key, keyboard or mouse to a USB hub and connect your USB device directly to the USB port on your computer.

Cable Length

USB devices can be connected to the computer without an amplifier with a cable of 5 m. For every subsequent 5 m, an amplifier must be used each. In theory, when using a standard resolution, the cables could be extended this way to 30 m. However, not all devices support this.

When Do I Need a USB Camera?

USB cameras are very easy to use. However, the settings may be limited; for example, many USB cameras have fixed zoom. A USB camera may be perfectly suitable for a usability study in which you film a person sitting behind a computer. A USB camera also works very well to create video files for FaceReader. On the other hand, when you need to create a video file of a person further away from your camera, a USB camera may be less suitable. For videos with accurate time information, needed for EthoVision XT, you need a high-quality USB camera.

Supported USB Cameras

• Basler acA1920-155um
• Basler acA2040-90uc

Other USB cameras may also work. However, it could be that you have to change the Color space to MJPG. See Show frame rate, resolution and format.

Tested Setups with EthoVision XT

The table below shows the maximum supported (1) resolution, (2) frame rate (fps), (3) number of devices, (4) recording time (hours), and (5) whether the test was carried out on a desktop PC (Dell T3640) or a laptop (Dell 3551).

Device	Resolution	Frame Rate	No. of Devices	Recording Time (hrs)	Desktop or Laptop
Basler acA1920-155um	1920 x 1200 / 1920 x 1080	60	1	0.5	Desktop
Basler acA2040-90uc	2040 x 2046	5, 10, 25, 50	1	8	Desktop
Basler acA2040-90uc *	2040 x 2046	25	1	1	Desktop
Basler acA2040-90uc **	2040 x 2046	25	1	48	Desktop
Basler acA2040-90uc	1920 x 1200	60	1	10	Laptop

• * Tested with output quality settings "EthoVision" and "DanioVision".
• ** Tested with output quality setting "EthoVision".

Tested Setups for Use in The Observer XT - Portable Set-Up

The table below shows the maximum supported (1) resolution, (2) frame rate (fps), (3) number of devices, and (4) recording time (hours). Tests were done on a Dell 3551 notebook.

Device	Resolution	Frame Rate	No. of Devices	Recording Time (hrs)
Logitech Brio (separate videos, Picture-by-picture and Picture-in-picture, camera audio only)	1920 x 1080	30	2	1
Logitech Brio	4096 x 2160	10	1	0.5

Notes

• When using the Logitech Brio camera, you have to change the Color space to MJPG. See Show frame rate, resolution and format.
• With multiple USB 3 cameras it takes a while before they become visible in MediaRecorder as it takes time for USB 3 cameras to initialize.
• Encoding the video stream of USB 3 cameras requires quite some processing capacity, which increases power consumption. If you use the supported devices on the recommended laptop, be aware that after 1 hour of recording the battery level drops from fully charged to 45%.

Recording Devices - GigE Vision Cameras

GigE Vision cameras are hereinafter referred to as GigE cameras.

When Do I Need a GigE Camera?

GigE cameras are high-performance industrial cameras. They can have a higher frame rate and resolution than other supported cameras. The images are sent unprocessed to the computer using a standard network cable (UTP). With a high frame rate and resolution this results in a very high transfer of data. You can connect a GigE camera directly to an Ethernet card on your computer. In this way you can obtain very high quality videos. An important advantage of GigE cameras is the possibility to have long cables between the camera and the computer.

Network Requirements

To use MediaRecorder with GigE cameras, the following network requirements apply:

• An Intel Pro/1000 CT or Intel Pro/1000 PT (1 Gb) network adapter needs to be installed in the computer.
• The cables must be suitable for Gigabit Ethernet. The minimum cable quality is CAT5e.
• We recommend using a dedicated network.

Install and Setup

If you bought a complete solution from Noldus IT, the network adapter is present in the computer, the GigE cameras are set up and the MediaRecorder settings are made. If you bought your cameras and MediaRecorder separately, you must do the installation and setup yourself.

See Set up GigE cameras.

Power over Ethernet

GigE cameras can be connected to a PoE injector. This is a device that passes power along with data (in this case, video data from the camera) on twisted-pair Ethernet cabling. Cameras may also be powered using a 2 or 4-port Network Interface Card (NIC). This way no separate power supply is needed.

Supported GigE Cameras

• Basler GigE camera acA1300-60gm mono. Color space: Y800.
• Basler GigE camera acA1920-40gc color. Color space: RGB32.

Tested Setups with EthoVision XT

The table below shows the maximum supported (1) resolution, (2) frame rate (fps), (3) number of devices, and (4) recording time (hours). Tests were done on a Dell T3640 PC.

Device	Resolution	Frame Rate (fps)	No. of Devices	Recording Time (hrs)
Basler acA1300-60gm	640 x 480 / 800 x 600 / 1024 x 768 / 1280 x 1024	60	1	0.5
Basler acA1300-60gm	1284 x 1025	25, 60	1	8
Basler acA1300-60gm	960 x 640	30, 60	4	24
Basler acA1300-60gm	1280 x 1040	40	4	24
Basler acA1300-60gm *	1280 x 960	60	4	1
Basler acA1920-40gc	1920 x 1200	25	1	18

• * Tested with output quality setting "EthoVision" and "DanioVision".

IMPORTANT: The file size of an 8, 18, and 24 hour recording is very large (at least 12 GB). When four devices were tested, separate videos were made.

Cable Length

In theory, a cable length of 150 m is possible. However, the maximum length tested in-house with satisfactory results was 25 m.

Recording Devices - Screen Capture Devices

When Do I Need a Screen Capture Device?

You can easily record what your test participant is doing on his or her computer with a screen capture device. Such a device will provide you with high quality images of the screen at which the test participant is looking.

Supported Screen Capture Devices

Epiphan Screen Capture Devices

Epiphan screen capture devices are hardware devices that will stream the screen captures of the test computer to the computer with MediaRecorder. MediaRecorder supports Epiphan Pearl Nano.

See Epiphan screen capture devices.

MR Screen Capture Tool

The Screen Capture tool is an add-in to your MediaRecorder license.

See: Use of the Screen Capture tool.

Use of the Screen Capture Tool

The Screen Capture tool is an add-in to your MediaRecorder license. It allows you to record the screen of the computer with MediaRecorder. It is a software tool that is built in to MediaRecorder.

IMPORTANT: To record the screen of a computer other than the one with MediaRecorder installed, use an Epiphan screen capture device instead.

Prerequisites

• You record the full screen of the PC with MediaRecorder.
• You record one screen only.
• You use MediaRecorder on the Dell Precision 3551 mobile workstation.

See also System requirements.

Drivers

For the MR screen capture option, you do not need to install device drivers.

Supported Setup (Portable Lab)

The table below shows the maximum supported (1) resolution, (2) frame rate (fps), and (3) recording time (hours) on a Dell 3551 notebook.

Device	Resolution	Frame Rate	Recording Time (hrs)
Logitech Brio + Built-in screen capture	1920 x 1080	30	1

Other USB cameras may also work. However, it could be that you have to change the Color space to MJPG. See Show frame rate, resolution and format.

You can also combine built-in screen capture with, for instance, an IP camera.

Procedure

1. In MediaRecorder, choose File > Video Settings.
2. From the Video device list, select Medialooks Screen Capture.
3. Click the Advanced Video Settings button to select recording options.
4. In the Medialooks Screen Capture Properties window that opens, select the frame rate and resolution in the Output field. Although you are allowed to select a high frame rate, the actual frame rate of the recording will depend on the processor speed of your computer. Most likely this will be in the order of magnitude of 10 frames per second.
5. Although this window has several recording options, the use of the built-in screen capture is designed and supported to record one window on the MediaRecorder computer only. Minimize MediaRecorder after you start recording.

To Re-enable Settings

As soon as you select the screen capture device, it is used for the video preview and you cannot change its settings. The Output fields are grayed out. To enable these fields again:

1. Close the Medialooks Screen Capture Properties window.
2. From the Video device list choose Select video device and click Apply.
3. Reselect the Medialooks Screen Capture device again and click the video icon to re-open the Medialooks Screen Capture Properties window. You can now change the frame rate and resolution again.

Notes

• The actual resolution of the recorded file may be lower than the value set in Output.
• The use of the built-in screen capture option is supported with a Windows text size of 100% or 125% (Control Panel > Display).
• If you change Windows text size to 125%, this may result in MediaRecorder capturing only part of the screen. To solve this, do the following:
  1. Make sure MediaRecorder is not running.
  2. Open the folder C:\Program Files\Noldus\MediaRecorder 6.
  3. Right-click the file MediaRecorder.exe and select Properties.
  4. Open the Compatibility tab.
  5. Select Disable display scaling on high DPI settings and click Apply.

Epiphan Screen Capture Devices

Supported Devices

MediaRecorder supports Epiphan Pearl Nano. This is an encoder device that is able to stream the output of the video card of the test computer to the computer with MediaRecorder.

Notes

• Audio: To record audio, connect a microphone to the sound card of your computer and select that source in MediaRecorder settings.
• Input: Epiphan Pearl Nano only uses HDMI input.
• Frame rate: The actual frame rate of the recorded video is limited by the bandwidth of the screen capture device.
• Resolution: To record enough screen detail, we recommend using signal resolution as frame size when using the screen capture device. MediaRecorder supports a resolution of 1920 x 1200. However, screen capture devices by default use the resolution of the screen of the test computer. To change the recorded resolution, change the resolution of the monitor of the test computer.

Recording Video

To Get Started

To start working with MediaRecorder, follow these main steps:

1. Connect all devices and, if applicable, switch them on.
2. If you have a hardware key, insert it into a USB port of the computer.
3. Start MediaRecorder. The main window now opens. The first time it opens, the preview window is black. That is because you still have to select the cameras. Proceed with the next steps to do so.
4. Click Video Settings to select the cameras, microphones and, optionally, the output. See:
   • Select a video device
   • Select an audio device
   • Video file options
5. Record your videos.

Select a Video Device

Use this procedure to select the cameras for recording.

Prerequisites

• Your devices are connected to the computer with MediaRecorder, and, if applicable, switched on.
• MediaRecorder is open.
• You have opened the Video Settings window. To do so, choose File > Video Settings, or click Video Settings in the main window.

If the Video Settings button is not visible, the recording properties may be closed. Click Recording Properties at the bottom of your window. By default the recording properties are open.

Procedure

In the Video Settings window:

1. Select your camera from the Video device list.
   • IMPORTANT: If you have IP cameras, see Set up IP cameras for how to set these up and select them in MediaRecorder.
   • IMPORTANT: If you use the Screen Capture tool, see Use of the Screen Capture tool on how to select the built-in screen capture device.
2. Select the preferred frame rate and resolution. The options depend on your type of camera.
3. For advanced camera settings, click the video symbol next to the name of your camera. The available options depend on your camera. For some cameras you can zoom and adjust settings for brightness and contrast.
4. Optionally change the names in the Video name column, to, for example, Webcam, or IP camera.
5. To record audio as well, continue with Select an audio device.
6. Optionally adjust Video file options.
7. When satisfied with the settings, click OK to return to the main window and record your videos. See Record your videos.

Note: Frame Rate and Resolution

By default, the optimal combination of frame rate and resolution for the camera is selected. If you increase the frame rate, the maximum resolution available goes down and vice versa. If you select an impossible combination of frame rate, resolution, and format, MediaRecorder gives a warning.

Select an Audio Device

Use this procedure to select the audio source.

Prerequisites

• Your devices are connected to the computer with MediaRecorder, and, if applicable, switched on.
• MediaRecorder is open.
• You have opened the Video Settings window. To do so, choose File > Video Settings, or click Video Settings in the main window.

Procedure

1. In the Video Settings window, select the microphones under Audio device. Choose between your computer microphone, a separate microphone, or the audio stream of your camera. Choose No audio if you do not wish to record audio.
2. Optionally record the same audio stream in all videos. To do so, select this checkbox. It means that the device defined as Audio device 1 will supply the audio stream for all your videos.
3. Check that the green bar is maximal when speech level is normal.

Please note that in Picture-in-Picture mode, you may select which audio source to use for all the videos. This may be important if the first video is the screen capture device, which does not record audio directly.

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Source: Media Recorder 6.5 Reference Manual