Simcenter Testing Solutions Importing Video in Simcenter Testlab Neo

Direct YouTube link: https://youtu.be/dFOZ7XKJnFU



A new feature of Simcenter Testlab Neo Revision 2019.1 and higher is the ability to import a video and synchronize playback.  Video can be synced with vibration, sound, strain, or any other acquired data.

After syncing the data, playback can include sound, data, and video!

This is explained in the following sections:

1. Getting Started and Importing Data
2. Manually Syncing
3. Interactive Syncing
4. Playing Back

1. Getting Started and Importing Data

Open a project file with Simcenter Testlab Neo Desktop.  This project should already contain some acquired time data (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Project opened in Simcenter Testlab Neo Desktop containing time history.

Under File -> Add-ins, turn on “Video Replay” (12 tokens).  If synced replay with sound is desired, also turn on the audio replay add-ins.

Figure 2: Under File -> Add-ins, turn on Video replay.

The Video Replay add-in is needed to do interactive syncing (described later in this article) of the video file to the existing time throughput file. It is not required for importing the video file.

With the add-ins turned on, return to the Desktop.  Right click on the Run Name in the project tree.  Select “Import” (Figure 3). 

Figure 3: Right click on the Run Name and choose “Import” to select a video file.

Select a *.mp4 file (this is the only supported format) and press Open (Figure 4) button. Videos could come from different sources including GoPro Cameras, Simcenter Testlab Scope App, or Simcenter Sound Camera.
 

Figure 4: Select a mp4 video file and press the “Open” button.

 The video is imported into the project and selected run.  Press the “OK” button to continue (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Press the OK button to complete import into the project.

The project file (*.lms) will not grow in size after importing a video.  Large files like time data and videos are instead stored in a directory of the same name as the project.  Using windows explorer, the directory is the same folder as the *.lms file.  

While it appears as a single file in Simcenter Testlab Neo, in windows there is a separate folder for each data run which can contain a time file (*.ldsf) and video file (*.mp4).  This keeps the project file (*.lms) size smaller.

2.  Manually Syncing

To manually sync, right click on the video as shown in Figure 6. Choose “Video Time…”.  This works with absolute time (year, day, month, minute, second, etc) if it is available.

Figure 6: Right click and choose “Video Time…”

Enter a new absolute time in the “Corrected Time Data” field. If the corrected absolute time (down to the nanosecond) is unknown to you, then use the interactive sync feature described in the next section.

3.  Interactive Syncing

To interactively sync the video and time data, hold down the control key and select both of the video and time data (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Holding control to select both time and video will make them display side-by-side.

The time and video data will display side-by-side.  Right click on the video and choose “Add Video Sync” (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Right click on the video and choose “Add Video Sync”

Cursors will appear in the displays (Figure 9):
•    Red Cursor – The red cursor is positioned in the time data.
•    Black Cursor – The black cursor is tied to the video.
 

Figure 9: Right click on the video and choose “Add Video Sync”

Move the red and black cursors until the video and time data are at corresponding moments.

Note that arrow keys can be used to move the cursors one frame at a time.  It is also possible to zoom to a shorter time by clicking and dragging around the event of interest.

When finished, right click on the video and choose “Sync Video” (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Right click on the video and choose “Sync Video”

Now play the synchronized video!

4.  Playback

Click on the play button in the lower left corner of Simcenter Testlab Neo (Figure 11).
 

Figure 11: Press the play button in the lower left.

With the audio replay add-ins turned off, the speed of replay can be increased and decreased (Figure 12).

Figure 12 Press the play button in the lower left.

A control for the replay speed appears next to the replay button.

It is also possible to sync multiple videos (Figure 13).

Figure 13: Multiple videos showing sound sources on electric vehicle.

Enjoy!

Questions?  Email steff.nelson@siemens.com, post a reply, or contact Siemens Support Center.

Related Links:

• Index of Testing Knowledge Articles
• Simcenter Testlab Neo Introduction
• Simcenter Testlab Neo Displays
• Simcenter Testlab Neo: Pivot Table
• Simcenter Testlab Neo Process Designer
• Simcenter Testlab Neo Data Queries
• Simcenter Testlab Neo Reporting
• Simcenter Testlab Audio Replay
• Importing Video in Simcenter Testlab Neo
• My Simcenter Testlab Scope App Favorites!
• Simcenter SCADAS Mobile and Recorder Hardware
• Single-ended versus differential inputs
• How to use SCADAS T8 Thermocouple card?
• ICP versus IEPE versus Charge Accelerometers
• AC vs DC coupling
• Gain, range and quantization
• Hands-free (almost) data acquisition
• No more tach! OBDII for engine speed
• Cool channel setup tricks for triaxial accelerometers
• GPS triggered data acquisition
• Viewing data in Google Earth
• Simcenter Testlab Neo YouTube Playlist