Speeding up the saving process

[oadu]

Hello,

for a project, I need to set up the camera to start recording according to a repetitive TTL triggersignal. I'm doing this with a code that accesses the web interface and configures all settings there. Unfortunally the saving process takes for a 1s video (1770frames, H.264 formate) more ore less a minute and but the trigger signal to start the next recording is a lot faster.

Is there a way to speed things up?
Would it be faster/simpler to use the REST API?

[hummingbirdography]

If you're only recording 1 second, I recommend switching your camera to the segmented recording mode. At least that way you could capture multiple 1 second duration segments without interruption, and then save all of those segments as a batch before your buffer is completely filled. Sure, the downtime for saving would be longer, but at least you could acquire more shots before taking a break to save.

I'm curious how you're automating the web interface! Mind sharing some more info on that?

However yes, you might want to look into the REST API, especially if you try my segmented mode suggestion. The API won't make the camera operate any faster, but it can help automate a workflow such as yours to be much faster.

I've been working on a script which tries to automate saving each segment as a separate MP4 file, because currently none of the camera software versions support this.

https://support.krontech.ca/en/articles/9903772-chronos-0-7-0-api-documentation

I'm very familiar with the API, so would be happy to help

[oadu]

Thanks for the quick reply and the tip with the API and the segmented mode. I will definitely try this!

The automation of the web interface is done via Selenium, so that a web driver is generated and the program simply clicks through the interface like a user. It's also possible to do this in the background

Are you already finished with your program for splitting the videos? It looks like I'm heading for the same problem if I try your tip.

[hummingbirdography]

Ah, selenium, neat! I'll have to give that a try sometime.

I'm still working on the automation aspect, however I do at least have something for automatically marking the start/end positions for individual segments. So, with that, you can tell the camera to loop playback within an individual segment, or proceed to saving that individual segment.

The challenge I ran into with automating saves, is related to the delay between video state transitions. You can observe this both- when a save starts, and when it finishes. There's usually a few extra seconds of delay while the camera switches pipelines between a black video state, and displaying your recording. With that said, technically, the fastest way to automate multiple saves, would be to save all of the segments at once, and then split the recordings in post. DNG or TIFF formats can make that a bit easier as well, since you can separate the frames for each segment via filesystem operations, rather than having to use video software for splitting a MP4 into multiple files. You could even do that via SSH operations without interrupting recording.

Unfortunately the camera software doesn't provide any visual feedback while recording in segmented mode. You could check the box for Text Overlays (underneath the Settings menu during playback), and track previously captured segments with the "sg=" portion of the overlaid text.

Another trick, since you're using the web interface, is you could switch to over to the "Documentation" tab, and monitor the array of 'videoSegments' live from there. At least that way you could keep an eye on what's going on without turning on the Text Overlay, or switching to playback mode.

An important note with Segmented recording mode, is that all of the record buttons- the pyhsical red button, the button displayed on the LCD, and the button in the web interface, will NOT trigger recording another segment. If you press one of those buttons after recording a segment, it will flush the previous segment(s), so be careful with that!! Segments are triggered via I/O, and it might take a bit of practice to get the hang of using it.

[B.H.V]

I had no idea we had to use the external i/o trigger cable for segmented mode. I was wondering why I could not get it to work when using the regular record button. I'll try this tomorrow!