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VIDEO4 Video and data logging system

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the VIDEO4 be used as a standalone data logger?

No. the VIDEO4 is a video recorder when used by itself - however, it accepts data from our range of data loggers (inc DL1, DL2 etc) and stores this data alongside the video on the same CF card. 

Can the VIDEO4 be used to play the video back in the car?

Yes. The VIDEO4 has a standard composite video output port available.

What types of video camera is the VIDEO4 compatible with?

Any standard cameras with a composite output are compatible.

What resolution does the VIDEO4 record at?

The VIDEO4 records at D1 resolution; which is the same as that used on DVDs and broadcast video. For PAL this is 720x576 and 25 frames per second and for NTSC this is 720x480 and 29.97 frames per second.

Why doesn't the VIDEO4 use MPEG4 or H.264?

MPEG2 was primarily chosen in order to make the VIDEO4 compatible with the DVD standard. Contrary to some reports(!), "normal" MPEG4 does not offer any significant advantage over MPEG2 and hence is not widely used in professional applications. The newer H264 (sometimes also referred to as MPEG4 part 10)  does certainly offer significant benefits in terms of compression, but it is far slower to encode and decode.

What type/size of flash memory can the VIDEO4 use?

We use compact flash cards formatted as FAT32. This makes the files directly readable by windows. Compact flash format was chosen, as it is available in the largest sizes of all removable media and is also the fastest - this is important for video applications.

What format is the recorded data in?

The data is stored in the standard RUN file format, as it is will all our products. The details of this format can be found in the knowledge base on our website.

What format is the video recorded in?

The video and audio are stored as a standard MPG file.

How many video channels can the VIDEO4 record?

Currently one D1 video channel is recorded, which can contain a main video stream with up to 3 PIPs overlaid on it. Future firmware may support multiple video streams.

Is the VIDEO4 waterproof?

No. The enclosure is custom made and of the highest quality, but it is not waterproof. The unit should, therefore, be protected from all normal levels of moisture encountered during standard applications.

Is it upgradeable?

Yes. Firmware updates will be available in the future.

What specification of PC is required?

Video is demanding on the PCs resources. Our standalone player and analysis software are, however, optimised to minimise the requirements. A modern, entry level PC or laptop is more than adequate.

How do I transfer the video and data onto my PC?

Data and Video are read from the compact flash card using a reader. A good quality USB 2.0 reader is, of course, essential for high transfer speeds.