FSX 2020 Swing Cameras no Playback

[SoCalPlaya]

Bump... This is exactly the experience I am seeing with the Imaging Source Cameras recommended by Foresight. I have installed and reinstalled all the specified drivers, have plenty of horsepower and memory, and connected to separate USB 3.0 buses but still have this intermittent situation where the cameras(sometimes only one, sometimes both) will go black or white and stop showing video. Any recent updates or guidance to help resolve?

[Drza3]

I have this same issue using Kayeton cameras. I haven't found a permanent fix but what I do is go into the FSX 2020 swing cam settings and toggle to another camera and toggle back to my camera that dropped. This fixes it for me temporarily but over time the cameras go black again. Sometimes it's 10 shots, sometimes it's 100.

[jasonreg]

Can you explain this part more clearly, because I want to review the video on FSX software. If I do not select the video driver when installing FSX, can I watch it again and how do not select the video driver on FSX during the process installer?

I will try once again but it seems you may need to contact Foresight. In any case, selecting the driver installation is something you do on the FSX2020 installation. But all you are really doing is ensuring you have the correct drivers for the cameras you have. Foresight does not include the correct drivers so you do not select this option on the FSX2020 installation. You do need to install the drivers from the Imaging Source website (which it seems you have, I am just saying perhaps you need to re-install them).

1. On IC Capture software, I saved the configuration for each camera and used it well.

Good. No issues.

2. So I cannot use the camera configuration on IC Capture for FSX 2020 software but must configure it directly on FSX 2020?

That is correct. If you insist on using the FSX2020 software for playback you need to adjust the camera settings in FSX2020. If you already own Swing Catalyst I cannot imagine why you would want to use FFSX2020 but I do understand SC is an annual subscription.

3. On FSX software, how do you configure the camera parameters to work well?

FSX2020 is a bit flakey as I have mentioned but here are a few more tips. You really do though just need to play around with your system and see what works and what does not.

1. Start with a lower frame rate. You should be able to get 120 FPS (some have seen more but I never did) but start at 60 and go from there.
2. Make sure no other camera program is open when you are configuring and using FSX2020 swing capture. You cannot use Swing catalyst and FSX2020 (or even the camera configuration software from SC) at the same time. Otherwise you will only ever get a single camera to show.
3. Configure each camera separately. Make sure you change the dropdown to "Camera 2" before adding and configuring the second camera

[vutung]

So a couple of questions:[LIST=1]
One more thing you can do (especially if you have re-installed FSX2020 recently) is uninstall 2020, re-install ensuring you do not select install video drivers. Then uninstall and re-install the IC camera drivers. FSX2020 likes to use its own drivers and sometimes it gets mixed up. You only want the IC drivers in play.

Can you explain this part more clearly, because I want to review the video on FSX software. If I do not select the video driver when installing FSX, can I watch it again and how do not select the video driver on FSX during the process installer?
1. On IC Capture software, I saved the configuration for each camera and used it well.
2. So I cannot use the camera configuration on IC Capture for FSX 2020 software but must configure it directly on FSX 2020?
3. On FSX software, how do you configure the camera parameters to work well?
Thank you!

[jasonreg]

So a couple of questions:

1. On IC Capture Software - did you configure both cameras? Settings are captured individually per camera.
2. On IC Capture software - did you save the configuration?
3. The software in your last 3 pics is FSX2020. It needs to be configured separately
4. In your last picture it is showing both cameras in color - am I missing your issue?
5. The quick buffering is a Swing Catalyst thing. Sorry - I thought this was what you were using.

IMO, using Swing Catalyst for video recording and playback is so much easier and powerful. I do not recommend using FSX2020.

One more thing you can do (especially if you have re-installed FSX2020 recently) is uninstall 2020, re-install ensuring you do not select install video drivers. Then uninstall and re-install the IC camera drivers. FSX2020 likes to use its own drivers and sometimes it gets mixed up. You only want the IC drivers in play.

[vutung]

So you really need to play around and see what works for your system but there are a few general principles:

1. Make sure you are using the correct device drivers (Device Driver for USB 33U, 37U, 38U Cameras and DFG/HDMI Converter 5.1.0.1719 (theimagingsource.com))
2. You need to be using USB 3.0 and you need to have each camera on a separate USB Bus. Add a PCI add-in card if required but I use front and rear connectors and this works well for me. Just make sure that you are using USB3.X.
3. Use the proper cables. Some will say that data is data and it either works or not. They may not be wrong but I like to put everything in my favor. I use USB3.0 cable, standard A plug to standard Micro-B plug (with lock screws), length approx. 3.0m direct from Imaging Source
4. I use the Imaging Source Capture program to set the camera settings (IC Capture - Image Acquisition). You can do this directly in FSX2020 but I find this easier for some reason.
5. Remember settings are camera specific. Settings for one camera are not (NOT) automatically used for a second or other cameras. You need to set up each camera separately. But you can save the settings and re-import to a good config if you are tinkering.
6. Resolution of the DFK 33UX273 cameras is 1440 x 1080. Don't try to use resolutions above this and if anything err on the lower (1280 x 1080) side
7. Make sure you are pointing your cameras (and Swing Catalyst) to your GPU. Use Settings -> Video Capture
8. Make sure you are using RGB 32 (or 16) under color space/compression. RGB24 uses 3 x more data and others use different data rates. Use Settings -> Cameras -> Advanced -> Configure -> Video Source Pin (this is also where you set resolution)
9. Enable quick buffering
10. I am able to get 238 FPS but if you are having issues start lower and see where you can top out with your system. Start at 120 FPS (or lower) and go from there.

Good Luck

I'm so sad, I followed your instructions but it still didn't work.
1. I used pic usb to use for different cameras.
2. I installed IC Capture - Image software v2.5 and configured the camera like this:


But when entering the FSX 2020 software, the parameters do not change according to the configuration on the IC Capture software:



I also adjusted the same as on IC Capture software but the camera is still black or white on FSX 2020 software.




3. I can't find where to enable quick buffering on IC Capture software, please help me.

[jasonreg]

A little off topic.......Play and SC running at the same time ???? If you can, I'd be interested to know how you set this up. I just got everything onto my new PC last night and this is a project I haven't started yet but it's why I purchased SC.

Nothing complicated - they run independently though they both pull data from my Quad. I have a multiple monitor setup, run FSX Play on my main screen through projector and SC on the TV mounted on the wall facing my hitting position. I run any other utilities, second FSX Play screen or whatever on the desktop monitor. I use extended desktop as most of us do so I can really drag things anywhere I like. Generally I set up FSX Play and the start SC but I am not sure it matters.

Do not confuse the integration of swing cameras in FSX2020 where you can run the cameras directly in FSX2020.

[StanMI]

Certainly not an expert but it has something to do with how buffering works - i.e. buffering helps make streaming run more smoothly because videos can start playing before the entire video is loaded. I think this setting tries to reserve portions of RAM for the buffering process, one of the reasons you need more RAM if using swing cameras. That may not be 100% accurate but that is the gist as I understand it.

Interestingly I had 32GB (2 x 16) of RAM previously and we seeing approx. 72% usage when using both FSX Play and Swing catalyst at the same time. I upgraded to 64GB (2 x 32) and I am now using 64% RAM in the same situation, so I am using more RAM with more avail. Not sure if this is a correlation or just a result of changes in the software over the summer.

Bottom line though, it seems to help. Would be great if others can jump in if I have misinterpreted things - again, this is my experience.

A little off topic.......Play and SC running at the same time ???? If you can, I'd be interested to know how you set this up. I just got everything onto my new PC last night and this is a project I haven't started yet but it's why I purchased SC.

[jasonreg]

Fast Buffering........SC has this setting also. I did not enable it. Am I missing something, what does it do?

Certainly not an expert but it has something to do with how buffering works - i.e. buffering helps make streaming run more smoothly because videos can start playing before the entire video is loaded. I think this setting tries to reserve portions of RAM for the buffering process, one of the reasons you need more RAM if using swing cameras. That may not be 100% accurate but that is the gist as I understand it.

Interestingly I had 32GB (2 x 16) of RAM previously and we seeing approx. 72% usage when using both FSX Play and Swing catalyst at the same time. I upgraded to 64GB (2 x 32) and I am now using 64% RAM in the same situation, so I am using more RAM with more avail. Not sure if this is a correlation or just a result of changes in the software over the summer.

Bottom line though, it seems to help. Would be great if others can jump in if I have misinterpreted things - again, this is my experience.

[StanMI]

Fast Buffering........SC has this setting aslo. I did not enable it. Am I missing something,what does it do?

[jasonreg]

That's what I do yes. I went down the rabbit hole of trying to tweak things and really messed up the image not really knowing why . Fortunately I had already saved a configuration and rolled everything back to default.

[vutung]

All Good.

4. Those instructions were for the Imaging Source App. They are similar to FSX2020 but FSX has much less adjustability IMO.
5. Settings -> Video & Capture

Let me ask, after editing on IC Capture - Image software.
FSX software, the camera swing attribute => properties leave it as default without changing anything, right?

[vutung]

Yes - correct.

Thank you very much, have a good day!

[jasonreg]

Yes - correct.

[vutung]

All Good.

4. Those instructions were for the Imaging Source App. They are similar to FSX2020 but FSX has much less adjustability IMO.
5. Settings -> Video & Capture

Thank you, Settings -> Video & Capture on IC IC Capture - Image software, right?