Video Capture


Logger Pro can capture video directly from a video input such as a digital video camera or web camera.

Recommended Cameras:
  1. A consumer-grade AV camcorder with a firewire or USB 2 connection.
  2. Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000
  3. Proscope
Video capture may work with other USB or firewire cameras, however Logger Pro has not been tested with them.

Note: Digital still cameras that can collect videos cannot capture video under the control of Logger Pro. Instead, the video must be collected using the camera's controls and transferred from the camera as a file.


Quick Start Instructions to Capture a Video
  1. Camera Drivers - Before you attempt to capture video, you need to install any drivers or software that comes with your camera. Verify that you can see video using the manufacturer's software. Do not continue until this software functions, but exit that software before continuing.
  2. Connect the camera to the computer, if not already connected.
  3. Launch Logger Pro. Choose Video Capture from the insert menu. If a camera is detected, the Video Capture dialog box will appear, and it will display an active video feed from the camera. If you do not see the live video feed, click the set up camera button and configure your camera.
  4. You are now ready to capture video in one of two modes. One mode is to collect the video by itself. The other mode is to capture a video while simultaneously collecting data with sensors. Each method is described below.

Video Capture Only

Logger Pro will capture video with or without sensor data. Follow these instructions for video without data.
  1. Complete the Quick Start Instructions above.
  2. The Video Capture dialog box will show live video. Click the Options button (see below) in the Video Capture dialog box to choose the Video Capture Only mode. Set your desired capture duration. Note: Long captures that are not time-lapse will create very large files.
         
  1. To capture video, click the Start Capture button. You can let the capture run for the allotted time or click the Stop Capture button.
  2. At the end of the capture, a movie object for the capture will appear on the Logger Pro main window. If you capture additional videos, they will also appear on the Logger Pro main window.
  3. To save the movie or movies, choose Save from the File menu. Choose the appropriate folder and give your Logger Pro file a name. The movie(s) will be saved with your Logger Pro file and in the same directory as the Logger Pro file. If you have not changed any Advanced Settings (see below), the video files will be named sequentially, MovieCapture1, MovieCapture2, etc.

Video Capture While Simultaneously Collecting Data
  1. Complete the Quick Start Instructions shown above.
  2. The Video Capture dialog box will show live video. Click the Options button to open the Video Capture Options dialog.
  3. Choose the Video Capture Synchronized with Sensor Data Collection option.
  4. If data collection will run more than 10~15 seconds, you may want to capture a time-lapse movie to avoid creating a very large video file. To enable this mode, click the Time Lapse Mode option, and choose how often an image should be collected.
  5. Click OK.
  6. When you click the Start Capture or Start Time Lapse button, video capture and data collection will start.
  7. At the end of the capture, a movie object for the capture will appear on the Logger Pro main window. 
  8. To save the movie or movies, choose Save from the File menu. Choose the appropriate folder and give your Logger Pro file a name. The movie(s) will be saved with your Logger Pro file and in the same directory as the Logger Pro file. If you have not changed any Advanced Settings (see below), the video files will be named sequentially, MovieCapture1, MovieCapture2, etc.

Take Photo

You can take a snapshot, henceforth treated as a picture in JPEG format, from your movie by clicking the Take Photo button.

Note: The picture will be placed in the same location as the saved Logger Pro experiment file.


See Also:

Video Capture Options

Video Capture Troubleshooting