Knowledge Base

Media Recorder - Troubleshooting and Advanced Settings

Color Improvements and White Balance

1. Click Color Improvements Control.
2. Point the camera at a piece of white paper, so that the camera image is entirely white. Click in the field next to Balance White Auto and select Once from the list.
3. Save the settings (see below).

To Save the Camera Settings

1. Click the Stop button.
2. In the Features panel, open the Configuration Sets item (User Set Control for USB 3 cameras).
3. From the Configuration Set Selector list (User Set Selector for USB 3 cameras), select User Set 1.
4. Next to User Set Save, click Execute. The camera settings set in the previous steps are now saved under User Set 1.
5. From the Default Startup Set list (User Set Default for USB 3 cameras), select User Set 1.
6. Close Pylon Viewer.

These settings will be used each time you start up MediaRecorder.

You can also save different settings for the same camera in User Set 2 and User Set 3. Under Default Startup Set (User Set Default), select which you want MediaRecorder to use.

Set Up the Epiphan Pearl Nano Screen Capture Device

To connect the Epiphan Pearl Nano screen capture device and make the necessary settings.

Prerequisites

• The network allows data transfer of at least 1 Gb per second.
• We recommend using a dedicated network for the cameras.
• The cables must be suitable for Gigabit Ethernet. The minimum cable quality is CAT5e.

Procedure

1. Install MediaRecorder with its prerequisites. See Installation.
2. Using a HDMI cable, connect the output of the video source to the HDMI IN port on the back panel of the Epiphan Pearl Nano device.
3. Using a HDMI cable, connect the control monitor to the HDMI PASS THROUGH port on the back panel of the Epiphan Pearl Nano device.
4. Use the control keys on the front panel to configure the system parameters.
5. Using the right arrow key, navigate to System Status.
6. Here, you can get the network IP address of your device and you can also check the firmware version. It is recommended to use the latest firmware version. If you need an update, register your device at Epiphan (https://www.epiphan.com/support/product-registration/).
7. Using the left arrow key, navigate to Menu. Within Menu, navigate to System > Network.
8. Disable DHCP. Set the IP address manually. Define an IP address range similar to that of the other cameras.
9. By default, do not change Network mask and Network gateway settings. If uncertain, consult your system administrator.
10. Open your internet browser. Use the IP address of your Epiphan Pearl Nano device to access the Pearl Admin panel. Include /admin in the address to access the Admin panel.
11. Using the Pearl Admin panel, configure video encoding. Go to Channel(s), select your channel and click Encoding. In Video settings, make sure Current signal resolution is used as frame size (have the checkbox checked).
12. Set Key frame interval to 1/2 sec. At Limit frame rate, it is not recommended to change the default value of 30. If you use a higher frame rate, it might jeopardize your recording operation. Do not change the default Bitrate value (auto).
13. Open MediaRecorder and choose File > Video settings or click Video settings.
14. In Video Settings, select the option RTSP IP Camera (Noldus RTSP Source Filter). Please note that the Epiphan Pearl Nano device is NOT an ONVIF device. For details, see Select devices that do not support ONVIF in MediaRecorder. The RTSP connection string for this device is /stream.sdp.
15. Please note that you cannot use the Epiphan Pearl Nano device to make audio recordings. Use another audio device for this purpose. For details, see Select an audio device.

Set Up USB 3 Cameras

Overview: Steps to Install USB 3 Cameras

• Install the USB 3 interface card
• Install the USB 3 camera driver
• Connect the USB 3 cameras to the PC
• Configure the Basler USB 3 camera

Prerequisite

You have USB 3 cameras that are supported by MediaRecorder. See Supported USB cameras in Recording devices.

Which Situation Applies to You?

You ordered the computer, cameras and MediaRecorder from Noldus IT. In case of Basler USB 3.0 cameras, your computer has a USB 3 card and its drivers are installed. The cameras are configured. MediaRecorder has also been set up to use these cameras. You can connect your cameras and start recording. See Connect the USB 3 cameras to the PC and Record video.

You bought the computer somewhere else. Carry out the entire procedure below.

Procedure

1. In case of Basler USB 3 cameras, install the supported USB 3 interface card, even if your computer already has USB 3 ports. See Install the USB 3 interface card.
2. Carry out the prerequisite steps before installing MediaRecorder. See The steps to install MediaRecorder in Installation.
3. Install MediaRecorder with the camera driver. Installing the camera driver is only needed for the Basler USB 3 camera. For the Logitech BRIO no driver installation is needed. See Install the USB 3 camera driver.
4. Connect the USB 3 cameras to the PC.
5. Configure the Basler USB 3 camera.

Install the USB 3 Interface Card

MediaRecorder was tested with the following USB 3 interface cards:

• U3-PCIE1XG205-1S - You can connect one USB 3 camera to this card.
• Fresco Logic U3X4-PCIE4XE111 rev 1.1 - You can connect up to four USB 3 cameras to this board.

To Install the USB 3 Interface Card

1. Turn off your computer and all connected peripherals, such as the monitor and printer. Make sure that the computer is unplugged.
2. Remove the PC's case according to the instructions provided in the PC's user manual.
3. Select a free PCIe expansion slot, and remove the corresponding extension cover. For details about PCIe slots, see PCIe slot properties in Set up analog cameras.
4. Unpack the USB 3 interface card, place it into the slot, and press it carefully into position. If the card does not fit into place easily, remove it and repeat the operation.
5. Fix the card to the chassis and re-fit the computer's cover. If you have a 4-port Fresco Logic U3X4-PCIE4XE111 rev 1.1 board, make sure the board receives power from the PC. Connect the power connector on the board (Molex/IDE male 4-pin DC) to one of the power supplies inside the PC. Connector types vary between computers. Many computers have a SATA 15-pin power connector. Use an adapter cable with a 4-pin female Molex connector at one end and a SATA 15-pin connector at the other end.

Install the USB 3 Camera Driver

To install the software that allows communication between your camera and the operating system of the computer with MediaRecorder.

Prerequisites

• You have the Basler USB 3 camera.
• You have installed the USB 3 interface card. See Install the USB 3 interface card.
• You carried out the prerequisite steps before installing MediaRecorder. See The steps to install MediaRecorder in Installation.

IMPORTANT: If you upgraded from a previous MediaRecorder version and had old drivers for the camera installed, you must uninstall them first.

To Uninstall Old Drivers

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Choose Programs and Features.
3. Select Pylon Camera Software Suite and choose Uninstall.

Install the Camera Drivers for the Basler USB 3 Camera

If You Have Not Yet Installed MediaRecorder

1. Download the installation files from my.noldus.com and extract the contents.
2. Browse to the file MediaRecorder 6 Setup.exe and double-click it.
3. In the Drivers and tools field, choose Basler USB Camera driver - pylon [version number].
4. Click Next, accept the License Agreement and click Install.

If You Have Already Installed MediaRecorder

Follow the instructions in the section above and choose Modify in the installation window.

Alternatively:

1. Download the necessary files from my.noldus.nl and extract the contents.
2. Browse to Drivers\Basler\7.1.0.25066.
3. Double-click the file Basler_pylon_7.1.0.25066.exe.
4. Agree to the terms in the License Agreement.
5. In the Profiles window, choose Camera user and click Next.
6. As camera type, choose USB and click Next.
7. Optionally, change the location where the camera drivers are stored and choose Next > Install.

To Uninstall Old Basler Camera Drivers

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Choose Programs and Features.
3. Select the Basler camera driver and choose Uninstall.

Connect the USB 3 Cameras to the PC

Connect the cameras to the USB 3 interface card of the MediaRecorder computer.

USB 3 connectors and ports can be recognized by their blue color coding, or by a double-S in front of the USB icon.

Important: Using multiple Basler USB 3 cameras with a laptop is not supported.

Configure the Basler USB 3 Camera

To adjust settings in the USB 3 camera, such as the video frame rate, resolution, and exposure.

Note: The camera settings are stored by the camera itself, not on the PC. When you work with multiple cameras, repeat the procedure for each camera.

Procedure

1. Make sure MediaRecorder (and EthoVision XT, when present on the computer) are not running.
2. Start the Basler Pylon Viewer software that comes with the USB 3 camera. The Basler Pylon Viewer software is installed automatically when you install the camera drivers.
3. In the Devices panel, under USB, double-click the Basler camera.
4. Under Features, open the item Basler acA1920-155um and choose the settings you would like to change. For details, see the corresponding settings in Configure the cameras in Set up GigE cameras.
5. Save the settings under User Set Control.

Audio Devices

Which Audio Device Should I Use?

The appropriate audio device depends on your setup. Take the following rules of thumb into account:

• For room settings, use one omnidirectional ceiling microphone.
• For meetings around a table, use one boundary layer table microphone.
• For usability research behind the computer, use a microphone close to the test participant, for example a wireless microphone or boundary layer table microphone.
• For very good audio quality for more than one test participant, use a wireless microphone for each person.
• Audio quality strongly depends on the room settings. An expensive audio device does not by itself guarantee good audio. If the devices are not placed correctly, or if the acoustics in the room are bad, audio quality will suffer.
• Do not place the microphone cables in the vicinity of 230 V electricity cables. If you route microphone cables in electrical conduits, the electricity can interfere with the audio.
• Use sound absorbing material, like curtains, to avoid echoes on audio recordings.

Important Concepts in Audio

Preamplifiers

The signal from a microphone is of low voltage. This signal needs to be amplified prior to further processing, such as mixing or recording. This is done with a preamplifier. The strength of the signal that is amplified this way is called line-level. When you subsequently connect the preamplifier to the sound card of your computer, select Line in when a message pops up that a new device is detected.

The unamplified signal is very sensitive to noise. Therefore the preamplifier should be positioned as close to the microphone as possible.

When you use a digital video device and connect the audio directly to the sound card of the computer, the sound card of the computer functions as a preamplifier. For recordings with digital devices, you can connect the microphone directly to the computer. When a message pops up that a new device is detected, select Mic-in as input source.

Balanced Cables

In professional audio, a balanced line or balanced signal pair is a transmission line consisting of two conductors of the same type. Both lines have equal impedances along their lengths and equal impedances to ground and to other circuits. Both lines are twisted together and then wrapped with a third conductor (foil or braid) that acts as a shield. Common balanced cables are cables with XLR connectors. Balanced cables are the opposite of unbalanced cables. A coaxial cable is an example of an unbalanced cable.

The main advantage of the use of balanced lines is good rejection of external noise. Because the signal between the microphones and preamplifier is most sensitive to noise, it is most important to use balanced lines there.

Phantom Power

Phantom power, often indicated with P48, is a method to supply condenser microphones with power through microphone cables. Condenser microphones give better audio quality than other types of microphones, but they are more sensitive to noise. Preamplifiers and mixers can often supply microphones with phantom power.

Gain

The gain of a preamplifier is the degree to which the amplifier magnifies the low-level input signal compared to its output signal. It is the ratio of the output voltage divided by the input voltage and is expressed in decibels (dB). The formula to calculate gain is 20 x Log (Voltage output / Voltage input). A gain of 6 dB doubles the voltage 2 times and a gain of 20 dB gives a 10-fold increase in the signal.

Gain Trim

For some amplifiers the gain can be selected in ranges. For example, a LOW gain gives a range from 18 to 38 dB. With the switch Gain trim, you can select the actual gain.

High Pass Filter

A high-pass filter (HPF) is a device in a preamplifier that passes high frequencies. Therefore it reduces the amplitude of frequencies lower than its cutoff frequency. It is sometimes called a low-cut filter or bass-cut filter.

Supported Microphones

Ceiling Microphone

Ceiling microphones are omnidirectional and are suitable for both speech and other sounds. MediaRecorder supports the following ceiling microphone:

• Sennheiser MKE2-60-Gold-C (can also be used as a table microphone). This microphone requires 12-48V phantom power.

Table Microphone

Table microphones are acoustically optimized for picking up speech. They are designed for use on conference tables, altars and lecterns. MediaRecorder supports the following table microphones:

• Sennheiser ME35
• Sennheiser ME36
• Sennheiser MKE2-60-Gold-C (can also be used as a ceiling microphone)
• Sennheiser e 912 S BK
• Nikon ME-W1

The Sennheiser microphones listed above require 12-48V phantom power.

Wireless Microphone

MediaRecorder supports the Sennheiser EW 312 G3 B series wireless microphone set. Use this wireless microphone set when there is more than one test participant, and/or the participants are moving. The microphone set comes with a clip-on microphone and a receiver.

The wireless microphone receiver continuously switches between antennas, checks which antenna picks up the strongest signal and selects that one. This means that the antennas can be mounted at different places. If reception is poor when the wireless microphone is in the experiment room, you could install one antenna in that room. If the quality of the received signal is bad, for example if the signal has to go through a wall, you can use the special coax cable for extending the antennas (50 ohm). In general, both antennas should use the same cable length. It is recommended to position the two antennas at an angle of 90 degrees.

No phantom power is needed for the wireless microphone. The signal that comes from the receiver is preamplified.

MediaRecorder also supports the Nikon ME-W1 microphone. This microphone has been tested in a portable lab setup with a Dell 3551 notebook and Axis P1375 cameras. For more information, see Recording devices.

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Source: Media Recorder 6.5 Reference Manual