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Video Recording and Image Capturing

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Introduction

In this documentation, we will go over how you can record video and capture images in Aximmetry.

Video Recording

While most of the time Aximmetry is used to render and stream content, recording it is just as important. You can then do post-processing on the recording or make different cuts for different purposes and platforms.
There are different ways to record in Aximmetry, let's go over them.

Real-time Recording 

Real-time recording is when the recording happens simultaneously with the rendering. This method will record each frame as they are rendered.
This is the only option that you can use if you are recording a live production and not from a playback or any pre-recorded video.

For real-time recording, you can either use the Video Recorder module or the Record_3-Audio compound.

For the sake of this tutorial, we are going to use the Video Recorder module as that is what the Record_3-Audio is built around. Later in the document, we will talk about Record_3-Audio as well.
For the sake of this tutorial, we are going to focus on recording the final output but the general method is the same for all recordings.
Add a Video Recorder module to your scene and connect it like so:

You can then use the Record and Stop triggers to start and stop recording.

With the default settings, Aximmetry will record the video:

  • in real-time
  • to the location \Documents\Aximmetry\Recordings
  • in format: H.264/mp4 with a bitrate of 10 Mbps
  • with the name of the compound

If you wish to change the recording parameters you can find the detailed settings here.

Offline Recording

In offline recording, the recording is set to a certain framerate, let's say 60p. In this case, the computer will take as much time as necessary to render each frame (even if it takes a long time) and then move to the next one.
This method leads to a smooth result even if your computer can not render the scene at the desired frame-rate in real-time.
This option is only possible with pre-recorded inputs.
To create an offline recording you can use the Video Recorder module.
NOTE: You can not use Record_3-Audio for offline recording without modifying the compound.
Add a Video Recorder module to your scene and connect it like so:

Select the Video Recorder module and find Frame Rate in the Pin Values window and set it to the desired fps:

You can then use the Record and Stop triggers to start and stop recording.

With the default settings, Aximmetry will record the video:

  • in the set frame rate, in the case of the above example 24p
  • to the location \Documents\Aximmetry\Recordings
  • in format: H.264/mp4 with a bitrate of 10 Mbps
  • with the name of the compound

If you wish to change the recording parameters you can find the detailed settings here.

Video Recording with Audio

If you also wish to record audio alongside the video you need to connect audio input(s) into the Video Recorder like so:

NOTE:  You can connect up to 4 different audio inputs. Each input can be recorded in a separate audio track.
Then find the Audio Tracks property in the Video Recorder's Pin Values window and set it to the number of the different inputs:

You can then use the Record and Stop triggers to start and stop recording.

With the default settings, Aximmetry will record the video:

  • in real-time or in the set frame rate, in the case of the above example 24p
  • to the location \Documents\Aximmetry\Recordings
  • in format: H.264/mp4 with a bitrate of 10 Mbps
  • with the name of the compound
  • with stereo AAC audio of 256Kbps

If you wish to change the recording parameters you can find the detailed settings here.

Image Capturing

With Aximmetry you can also capture still images.
For this, you will need a Video Recorder module connected the same way as before:

Then find the Video Format property in the Video Recorder's Pin Values windows and set it to an image format, for example PNG:

You can then use the Snapshot trigger to capture a single image.

With the default settings, Aximmetry will capture the image:

  • in the set image format, PNG in the above example
  • to the location \Documents\Aximmetry\Recordings
  • with the name of the compound

If you wish to change the recording parameters you can find the detailed settings here.

Image Sequence Capturing

You can also record image sequences containing multiple images.
Additionally to the single image capture, you will need to specify a framerate (real-time or a specific fps).

You can then use the Record and Stop triggers to start and stop recording.

With the default settings, Aximmetry will record the image sequence:

  • in real-time or in the set frame rate, in the case of the above example 24p
  • to the location \Documents\Aximmetry\Recordings\compoundname
  • an image sequence file that is named like this compoundname.ximgseq 
  • in the set format, in this example PNG
  • with the name of the compound and with a unique index

If you wish to change the recording parameters you can find the detailed settings here.

Detailed Video Recorder settings

Here we will give a detailed explanation of what each property of the Video Recorder module does.

The following properties can be accessed on the Pin Values window.

  • Engine - Which machine the recording will happen on in a multi-machine setup.
  • Output Folder - The location where the recorded file will be saved.
  • Output File - The name of the recorded file.
  • Auto Numbering - Aximmetry automatically adds postfix to the recorded files to avoid overwriting them. You can turn it off here.
  • Exact Path - You can specify an exact location and file name for the output file. This will override Output Folder and Output File properties and it also ignores Auto Numbering.
  • Output Suffix - The output file will have the set post-fix.
  • Start Index - The starting index of Auto Numbering.
  • Record Video Out - The Video Recorder module will record an indexed output instead of the input of the module.
  • Video Out Index - The output with the same index as set here will be recorded if the Record Video Out property is turned on.
  • Frame Size - The resolution of the recorded video/image. Only effective if Keep In Size is turned off.
  • Keep In Size - Sets if the recorder will record in the input resolution or in a resolution set in the Frame Size property.
  • Fit Mode - Sets how an input of different resolution/aspect ratio will be recorded to the set Frame Size. For example, setting it to fill will shrink/stretch the image to fill the entire resolution.
  • Frame Rate - Sets the framerate of the recording or sets it to the rendering framerate when set to Realtime
  • Video Format - Sets the file format of the recorded video/image.
  • Video Mbps - Sets the bitrate of the recorded video.
  • Keyframe Dist - You can set the distance between keyframes.
  • Use B Frames - When used the recording may be more CPU intensive but will result in smaller file sizes or better quality at the same filesize.
  • Alpha - Sets whether the recording will have an alpha channel or not. Only available with formats that support transparency.
  • EXR Compression - Sets the compression method for EXR formats.
  • DDS Format - Sets the format of the DDS image.
  • DDS Cube - Sets if the DDS image is a Cube or not.
  • DDS Cube Layout - Sets the layout of the DDS cube input.
  • DDS Mipmap - Sets if the DDS image will contain mipmaps or not.
  • DDS Mipmap Filter - Sets the filter type for the DDS mipmaps.
  • Keep Color Space - The recorded video/image will keep the input's color space.
  • Color Space - You can specify the color space of the output. The input will be converted during recording.
  • Gamma Curve - You can specify the gamma curve. The input will be converted during recording.
  • Audio Tracks - The number of different audio tracks to be recorded. You can use this to record multiple audio tracks alongside the video simultaneously.
  • Audio Format - Format of the Audio channels.
  • Audio Channels - You can set up the audio surround here. For example Mono or 5.1 and more.
  • Audio Kbps - Bitrate of the recorded audio.
  • Use Master TC - The recording will have the same timecode as the master timecode in Aximmetry.
  • Recording - Can be used to start/stop the recording with a single switch.
  • Record - Start the recording.
  • Stop - Stops the recording.
  • Snapshot - Creates a single image snapshot.
  • Start Delay - The recording will start after the delay set here has passed. The delay is measured in seconds.
  • Force - The system will forcefully allocate performance as if the recording was in progress.

Supported File Formats

You can find the supported file formats here.

Record_3-Audio

Record_3-Audio is a pre-made compound that allows easier setup for recording.
With this compound, you can record Video, Audio, Camera tracking, and Image Sequences.
You can connect it like so:

You will get a new control board called RECORD:

Recording Video

Recording video can be started and stopped using the little red button:

With the default settings, Aximmetry will record the video:

  • in real-time
  • to the location \Documents\Aximmetry\Recordings
  • in format: H.264/mp4 with a bitrate of 50 Mbps
  • with the name 'Rec' then postfixed with Auto Numbering
  • with no audio

Recording Audio

If you also wish to record audio you need to turn on the little speaker button:

By default only 1 audio input will be recorded if you wish to have more you need to turn them on:

Additional audio recording properties:

Audio Levels box:
  • Lightbulb button - Turn on the visualization of audio on the preview output.
  • Level 1-3 - Can be used to adjust the level of each Audio input.
  • Record Separately - Each audio input will be recorded into a separate audio track.
  • Monitor Device - The audio will be output to this device.
Audio 1-3 boxes:
  • Camera Icon - The audio will be loaded from the camera input. Cam Audio 1-3 inputs of the compound.
  • Input Device - When Camera Icon is turned off this device will be used as audio input.
  • Delay - Audio delay value - The delay is measured in seconds.
Recording Tracking

If you also wish to record camera tracking data into FBX you need to turn on tracking:

Additional properties:

  • Focus Scale - Multiplier to the camera focus value.
  • ASCII - When turned on the tracking will be recorded into ASCII FBX.
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