Knowledge Base

Problem

Videos open in Observer XT but exhibit one or more of the following: pixelation or lag during playback, freezing followed by playback speed-up, or incorrect rotation (sideways or upside-down) compared to how they appear outside the software.

Details

Affects Observer XT across multiple versions. Pixelation and lag are typically hardware-related (insufficient CPU/GPU for high-resolution or multi-stream video). Freezing/speed-up after re-encoding has been reported with MP4 files. Rotation issues occur with MP4 files recorded by third-party apps or camera systems whose rotation metadata is not interpreted by the Observer codec package.

Solution

1. **Check hardware specs**: For multi-stream or high-resolution video, ensure the PC meets or exceeds the recommended specifications at https://noldus.com/download/document/the-observer-xt-technical-specifications. Workstation-class PCs (e.g., Dell Precision) are recommended for demanding setups.
2. **Re-encode the video using Handbrake** (https://handbrake.fr/) to resolve both rotation and codec compatibility issues:
- On the **Summary** tab, set Format to **MP4**.
- On the **Video** tab, set Codec to **H.264**, Frame Rate to **Same as Source**, and select **Constant Framerate**.
- If the video is rotated, apply the correct rotation correction in Handbrake before encoding.
- Rename the output file as needed and import the new file into Observer XT.
3. **If freezing persists after re-encoding**, reduce video resolution or upgrade the workstation to stronger specifications.