Knowledge Base

Automatic Linking of Digital Media Files

Aim

To automatically import videos into the observation and synchronize them with the Event Log.

Prerequisite

You have an external video recording device that can be controlled with command lines, for example MediaRecorder 3 or lower. Current versions of Noldus software support data transfer and video linking with N-Linx, which is the recommended method. See, for example, Observe Live and Record Video with MediaRecorder or Observe Live and Analyze with FaceReader.

Procedure

1. First, follow the procedure Add a Custom External Device to start and stop the video recording software with commands from The Observer XT.
2. Then select Automatic Linking of Video Files in the Devices window. The Automatic Linking of Video Files window opens. If not, click Edit Settings.
3. Video Linking Folder – Browse to the folder with the video files.

   Important: If the video files are stored in a shared folder, for example in a two-computer setup, select the shared folder, not the original folder. The original folder is a local folder on the computer with the video files and cannot be accessed by The Observer XT. Also make sure the application stores videos in the shared folder and not in the original folder.

   Example: You shared the default folder C:\Users\Public Documents\Noldus\MediaRecorder\Videos as MediaRecorder 3 Videos. Then select MediaRecorder 3 Videos as the default location where MediaRecorder stores its video files, and also browse to MediaRecorder 3 Videos in the Video Linking Folder field.

4. Link Video Extensions – Make sure the video file format is present in this list. To specify multiple extensions, enter a semicolon (;).
5. Link Video Based On – Choose one of the following:
   • Observation Name Found in Media File Name – To let The Observer XT look for video files that contain the name of or have the same name as the current observation.
   • Video Start Time (Later Than Observation Start Time) – To let The Observer XT search for video files that are saved after the observation start time.
6. Search For – Specify the number of videos per observation The Observer XT should look for.
7. Stop Searching After – Specify the time The Observer XT should look for video files. Maximum time is 600 seconds.
8. Visualize Audio of Video Files – To view the audio stream of the video files as waveforms.
9. Make sure the Automatic Linking of Video Files option and the External Command option are selected in the Devices window.
10. Carry out an observation. After you have stopped the observation, the videos are imported into the observation.

Troubleshooting

No Media Files Are Detected

This can be because:

• You have set the wrong folder in the Video Linking Folder box.
• You have set the time in Stop Searching After too short to detect any media files.
• You have selected Observation Name Found in Media File Name but the current observation name and media file name do not match.
• The video file extension is not present in the Link Video Extensions box.
• In a two-computer setup, you shared the video file folder but selected the original folder name as the linking folder instead of the shared folder. The original folder is a local folder on the computer with the video files and cannot be accessed by The Observer XT.

  Example: You shared the default folder C:\Users\[your username]\Documents\Noldus\FaceReader 9\Projects\[project name]\Recorded Videos as FaceReader Videos. Then browse to FaceReader Videos and not to the original folder.

• In a two-computer setup, you shared the video file folder but the application saves its videos to the original folder. Choose the shared folder as the location where the application stores its video files.

Not All Media Files Are Detected

This can be because:

• You have set the time in Stop Searching After too short to detect all media files.
• The number of video files set next to Search For is smaller than the number of video files actually created in one observation.

All Media Files Have Been Detected but Monitoring Continues

This can be because the number of media files set next to Search For is larger than the number of video files actually created. Click Stop Search.

Source: The Observer XT 17 Help - Set Up Your Project, Noldus Information Technology