Configure the cameras

Aim 

 To adjust settings in a Basler GigE camera or USB 3.0 camera, like the video frame rate, video frame resolution, and exposure time, within the camera software. 

 NOTE   Settings are stored in the camera software, not on the PC. When you work with multiple cameras, repeat the procedure for each camera. 

 Procedure (general) 

 

 Make sure MediaRecorder (and EthoVision XT, when present on the computer) is not running. 

 Start the  Basler Pylon Viewer   software that comes with the GigE cameras.

 

 NOTE   The Basler Pylon Viewer software is installed automatically when you install the camera drivers. 

 In the  Devices   panel, under  GigE , double-click the Basler camera .

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 To preview the camera image, click the  Continuous   Shot   button on the toolbar.

 

 NOTE   To be able to adjust the settings, click the  Stop   button first.

 

 

 Follow the instructions below that apply. 

 

 To center the camera view 

 With this procedure you make sure the camera view is centered. 

 IMPORTANT   If you center the camera view in MediaRecorder, the settings may not be stored in the camera drivers. Here in Pylon viewer you make sure that the settings are stored in the drivers, also for future recordings. 

 

 In the  Features   panel, open the  Basler camera  item and then the  AOI Controls   item ( Image Format Control  for USB 3 cameras). 

 Select both options  Center X   and  Center Y . 

 

 

 Save the settings. See To save the camera settings 

 

 To set the pixel format 

 NOTE   This option applies to black and white digital cameras. 

 

 In the  Features   panel, open the  Basler camera  item and then double-click  Image Format Controls . 

 Set the Pixel Format   to  Mono 8 . 

 Save the settings. 

 

 See  To save the camera settings 

 IMPORTANT   This corresponds to the option Y800 in MediaRecorder. In Pylon viewer you make sure that the settings are stored in the drivers, also for future recordings. 

 To adjust the camera exposure time 

 The exposure time (or shutter time) is the time the camera shutter is kept open to let light in. The exposure time limits the maximum achievable frame rate. If the sum of the exposure time and the time needed for reading the chip (readout time) is greater than the time between consecutive video frames, the next frame may be dropped, resulting in a lower frame rate, and missed samples during tracking. 

 To adjust camera exposure that matches a frame rate: 

 

 In the  Features   panel, open the  Basler camera  item and then double-click  Acquisition Control s . 

 Make sure that  Exposure   mode   is  Timed , and  Exposure   Auto   is  Off . 

 Next to  Exposure Time (Abs)   [us] , enter the exposure time you require, in microseconds. For Zebrafish larvae, enter 4000 or 2000, depending on the video resolution chosen. In all other cases, you may choose a higher value. For rodents a value below 20000 is fine. Faster animals require shorter exposure times. Press  Tab   or click another field to confirm. 

 To check that the exposure time is compatible with your frame rate, click the  Continuous Shot  button on the toolbar.

 

At the bottom of the live video window, locate the frame rate resulting with the new exposure time. This should be the same as the one next to Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz] . 

 If the resulting frame rate is lower than  Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz] , then either lower the exposure time (this will make the video image darker; open the lens diaphragm to compensate for this), or lower the video resolution. Do this until you see the expected frame rate. 

 

 Save the settings. 

 

 See  To save the camera settings 

 To adjust the camera gain 

 This applies to both color and black/white Basler cameras. 

 IMPORTANT   Increasing gain also increase image noise. Do this only if no other option is left to improve the image brightness. For example, make sure that the lens aperture is maximal, and increase lighting. 

 

 In the  Features   panel, click  Analog Controls . 

 From the  Gain Auto   list, select  Off . 

 Next to  Gain (Raw)  ( Gain [dB]  for USB 3.0 cameras) , select the value you require. A higher Gain results in a brighter image, but also more noise and a grainy image. 

 

 

 

 Save the settings. 

 

 

 

 See  To save the camera settings 

 To adjust white balance 

 If you have a color camera, you also need to adjust its white balance. 

 

 Click  Color Improvements Control . 

 

 

 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.

 

 

 Save the settings (see below). 

 

 To save the camera settings 

 

 Click the  Stop  button.

 

 

 In the  Features   panel, open the  Configuration   Sets   item ( User Set Control   for USB 3 cameras). 

 From the  Configuration   Set   Selector   list ( User Set Selector   for USB 3 cameras), select  User Set 1 . 

 Next to  User Set Save , click  Execute . The camera settings set in the previous steps are now saved under User Set 1. 

 From the  Default   Startup Set   list ( User Set Default   for USB 3 cameras), select  User Set 1 . 

 For GigE cameras: 

 

 For USB 3 cameras: 

 

 

 Close Pylon Viewer. 

 

 

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

 TIP   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.