vMax Video Management Software vMax™ vMax™ with Tracking User Guide *700-0036* Document Part Number 700-0036 R005
Who This Guide is For The vMax Video Management Software User Guide provides information for installing the software, connecting the Media Cartridge Reader or HD Reader to a computer, playing back, searching, archiving files, and troubleshooting the Media Cartridge Reader or HD Reader. Conventions Used CAUTION Cautions identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to the unit or other equipment.
Who This Guide is For Acronym Definition PAL Phase-alternating line system used in broadcast television systems PC Personal computer USB Universal Serial Bus Finding Information Online You can find more information about Seon Design Inc. as well as its products and services at www.seon.com.
Contents Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1. vMax Software Product Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–1 1.2. Media Cartridge Reader - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–2 1.3. HD Reader Video Player - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–2 Chapter 2 Installation and Setup 2.1.
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CHAPTER 1 Introduction This chapter introduces the features of the vMax Video Management Software. 1.1. vMax Software Product Features Two versions of vMax video management software are available: • • vMax software. vMax with Tracking software includes MapPoint® 2009 software to display the location of a GPS-enabled vehicle on a street map with date and time. (Activation is required.) 1.1.1.
Introduction 1.2. Media Cartridge Reader The Media Cartridge Reader is for removable hard drives for Seon DVR systems: • • • Explorer® MX4 Basic and Plus Trooper® TL2 Trooper TL4 The Media Cartridge Reader uses the USB cable to connect to the USB 2.0 port on the computer and allows playback and archiving of video footage. See Figure 1-1. PC MX4 DVR USB connector Media Cartridge Reader Media cartridge Figure 1-1 Explorer MX4, Trooper TL2, and TL4 use Media Cartridge Reader 1.3.
CHAPTER 2 Installation and Setup This chapter describes how to: • • • • • Install the vMax software or vMax with Tracking software. Activate the vMax with Tracking software. Connect the Media Cartridge Reader to a computer. Connect the HD Reader video player to a computer. Insert and remove a hard drive from the HD Reader. Install the software from the CD (s) before connecting the Media Cartridge Reader or HD Reader to the computer for video playback. 2.1.
Installation and Setup 2.1.2. Unpacking the HD Reader When you unpack the HD Reader from the shipping box, you should have the items shown in Figure 2-1. HD Reader vMax software CD (1 CD) or vMax with Tracking CD with MapPoint 2009 software CDs (3 CDs) Hard drive keys (2) USB 2.0 cable AC power adapter AC power cord Figure 2-1 HD Reader video player, software CD (s), and accessories Important: The HD Reader does not include a hard drive.
Installation and Setup 2.2. Installing the Software The vMax software requires that you have Administrator rights to the computer to install and uninstall the software although non-administrator users can run the software. Both versions of the software, vMax and vMax with Tracking software, let you playback and manage the video clips recorded on a DVR.
Installation and Setup 2.2.1.1. Installing MPEG-4 Codec 1. Click on Install MPEG-4 Codecs to install the MPEG-4 converters for optimal video clip storage. The Hardware Installation window appears. 2. Click Continue Anyway. The main menu appears. Another message may appear that some Windows Files have changed and it asks if you want to repair. Click Cancel and then click Yes. If you have any questions, contact Customer Service (see back cover).
Installation and Setup 2.2.1.2. Installing the vMax Software 1. Click on Install vMax Software to install the main software. Welcome to the Seon vMax Setup Wizard appears as shown. 2. Click Next. The License Agreement window appears. 3. Click on I accept the agreement to continue.
Installation and Setup 4. Click Next. The Setup Destination Location window appears. Seon recommends allowing installation in the default directory. 5. Click Next. The Select Additional Task window appears with the Create a desktop icon check box selected (recommended). 6. Click Next. The Ready to Install window appears.
Installation and Setup 7. Verify the settings and click Install. vMax installs on your computer. 8. Click Finish to exit Setup. 2.2.2. Installing the vMax with Tracking Software 1. Close all programs and temporarily disable any virus protection software running on your computer. Software activation is required after installing the vMax with Tracking and MapPoint software. 2. Insert the vMax software CD into your CD-ROM drive. The autorun.exe program should launch automatically on your computer.
Installation and Setup 2.2.2.1. Installing MPEG-4 Codec 1. Click on Install MPEG-4 Codecs to install the MPEG-4 converters for optimal video clip storage. The Hardware Installation window appears. 2. Click Continue Anyway. The main menu appears. Another message may appear that some Windows Files have changed and it asks if you want to repair. Click Cancel and then click Yes. If you have any questions, contact Customer Service.
Installation and Setup 2.2.2.2. Installing the vMax with Tracking Software 1. Click on Install vMax Software to install the main software. Welcome to the Seon vMax Setup Wizard appears as shown. 2. Click Next. The License Agreement window appears. 3. Click on I accept the agreement to continue.
Installation and Setup 4. Click Next. The Setup Destination Location window appears. 5. Click Next. The Select Additional Task window appears with the Create a desktop icon check box selected (recommended). 6. Click Next. The Ready to Install window appears. 7. Verify the settings and click Install.
Installation and Setup 2.2.2.3. Installing the MapPoint 2009 Software If you are installing vMax with Tracking software, follow the on-screen directions to install MapPoint 2009. vMax requires Microsoft MapPoint 2009 to be installed to run the Tracking portion of the software. vMax with Tracking software obtains GPS data from the video clips and shares it with the MapPoint software to display the position of the vehicle during video playback.
Installation and Setup 2.2.3. Viewing the User Guide Click on the View User Guide link to view the vMax Video Management Software User Guide, which is available as a PDF document. In order to view or print the User Guide, you’ll need to have Adobe Reader software installed on your computer. Adobe Reader is available for download from www.adobe.com. If you are finished, click Exit. This completes the installation of the vMax software. 2.3.
Installation and Setup 1. Click Yes to begin the activation process. Clicking No or Cancel will not run the tracking software. The software can be activated later by right clicking on the title bar of the vMax window and selecting Activate vMax software. The Authorization Request Code dialog box appears. 2. Contact Customer Service for a 16-character Activation Code. • • Toll free telephone: 1-877-630-7366 Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 4:00 pm Pacific Standard Time Email: Service@seon.com 3. Click Next.
Installation and Setup 2.3.1. Deactivating the vMax with Tracking Software In order to install the single license of the vMax with Tracking software on a different computer, the software must first be deactivated. To deactivate the vMax with Tracking software: 1. Right-click on the title bar in the vMax with Tracking window. 2. Select Deactivate vMax with Tracking. The following message appears. 3. Click OK to continue. 2.3.2.
Installation and Setup To display the software version: 1. If the program is open, right click on the title bar or right click on the taskbar button. 2. Click on About Seon vMax. 2.4.1. Upgrading the vMax Software To upgrade the vMax software, go to www.seon.com and click on Online Support to download the latest software. To upgrade the vMax with Tracking software or to upgrade to vMax with Tracking software, contact your Seon Design sales representative or dealer. 2.5.
Installation and Setup 2.6. Connecting the HD Reader to a Computer Important: Install the vMax software before connecting the HD Reader to your computer. CAUTION: Equipment damage Before connecting the HD Reader to your computer, make sure the HD Reader is not plugged into an electrical outlet and the power switch on the back of the HD Reader is OFF. To connect the HD Reader to your computer: 1. Use the USB cable to connect the HD Reader to a USB 2.0 port on your computer. 2.
Installation and Setup 2.6.1. Inserting a Hard Drive into the HD Reader CAUTION: Equipment damage Make sure the hard drive is compatible with the HD Reader. Inserting an incompatible hard drive into the HD Reader can seriously damage both devices. Important: Make sure the power switch on the back of the HD Reader is OFF before inserting a hard drive into the HD Reader. To insert a hard drive into the HD Reader: 1. Follow the instructions for your DVR to remove the hard drive from the DVR. 2.
Installation and Setup 2.6.2. Removing a Hard Drive from the HD Reader Important: Make sure the power switch on the back of the HD Reader is OFF before removing a hard drive from the HD Reader. To remove a hard drive from the HD Reader: 1. Close the vMax software and turn the power switch the HD Reader to OFF. 2. Insert the hard drive key, turn counter clockwise by ¼ turn until the drive lock is in the unlocked position. 3. Lift the hard drive handle and pull the hard drive out of the HD Reader.
CHAPTER 3 Managing Video Files This chapter describes how to use the vMax or vMax with Tracking software to view, archive, and save files. 3.1. Starting the vMax Software • • Double click the vMax icon on your computer’s desktop or Click the Start button on your computer’s taskbar to display the Start Menu. Click All Programs, click the Seon folder, click the Seon vMax folder, and click on the SEON vMax icon. The vMax window appears.
Managing Video Files The Map Viewer window has the following features which lets you customize the view of the vehicle location on the map. Feature Description Auto Center/Scroll • • Direction arrow • Show Route • • Clear button Select the Auto Center check box to keep the vehicle position centered on the map. Clear the Auto Center check box to scroll to a different location on the map. Click near the edge of the window to display a white direction arrow.
Managing Video Files The vMax with Tracking window has the following features which lets you customize the view of the vehicle location on the map. Feature Description Video Display Area Right click on the video display area when a file is open to show the various menus. (See “Using the Video Display Area Menus” on page 3–6.
Managing Video Files 3.3. Viewing Video Files The vMax software lets you view • • .eds file formats from the Trooper TR1 or TR4 hard drive or .edr file formats from the Explorer EX4, EX8 Plus, or Premier hard drive. The files are stored on a DVR hard drive or archived on your computer’s local disk. 3.3.1. Opening a Video File from the HD Reader Disk To open a video file from the HD Reader disk: 1.
Managing Video Files The selected vMax with Tracking video file opens and plays back video footage with the location of the vehicle visible in the Map Viewer window. 4. Click the arrow button in the DVR Model box to select the DVR model which recorded the video file. Tip: Double click on a video channel to switch from single camera view to multi camera view and back again. Set up display mode for 4 camera or 9 camera view. See Display Mode on page 3–7.
Managing Video Files 3.3.2. Opening a Local File A local file is any previously archived clip in the computer. To open a Local File: 1. Select Local File, which is your computer’s local disk. 2. Click the Open Folder icon to browse through your computer’s local disk to open an EDR disk image (*.edr), EDSR disk image (*.eds) or Archive files (*.arv or .avr). 3. Click on the Look in arrow to navigate through the folders on your computer’s hard drive, or type the File name. 4. Click Open. 5.
Managing Video Files 700-0036 R005 Menu Description Set Channel Depending on your DVR, select from 1 to 9 to set the video channel. Display Mode • • • • Select 1 to show one video channel. Select 4 to show four video channels. For TR1, select 1 or 4. Select 9 to show nine video channels. If no camera was attached to the video channel, the screen appears blue. Audio • • • to turn the audio off. to turn the audio on.
Managing Video Files 3.4. Playing Back a Video File vMax provides video search controls and playback controls as shown in Figure 3-1. The playback speed setting applies to both the continuous play and the step controls. To play a video file: 1. Click the Play/Pause button to start the video clip. 2. Change the playback speed by clicking on Increase playback speed button or the Decrease playback speed button. To pause a video file: • Press the Play/Pause button.
Managing Video Files Feature Description Video Search controls (Applies only to the currently selected video segment. Use the Segment tab to move to another segment of video.) Playback Speed and Direction controls Go to end Click this button to take you to the end of the video segment and to the start of the next segment. Step forward Click this button to step forward one frame at a time when the video is paused. Play/Pause Click this button to play or pause the video clip.
Managing Video Files 3.6. Archiving Video and Data Files vMax software provides the following options for archiving audio/video and signal/ speed/GPS data to your computer’s disk. • • Archive individual audio/video channels to AVI files. Archive all audio/video channels and signal/speed/GPS data to .eds or .edr files (Seon’s proprietary DVR file formats). Archive signal/speed/GPS data to text (.txt) files and as text overlays in video files. Print or save individual video images to .bmp or .jpg files.
Managing Video Files 5. Click Archive End Time. 6. Right-click on the video display channel you want to archive and select Archive. 7. Choose a directory where you want to save the archive file. 8. Name the archive file. 9. Select the Video Archive file format (AVI) from the Save As Type menu. 10. Select the options related to the archive file format. 11. For optimum performance, clear the Select Archiving Encoder and Full size check boxes. The default encoder is used.
Managing Video Files 13. Repeat the archiving steps for other cameras or other time periods. The archived files can be viewed in any standard media player. Important: If the progress indicator stops for more than 30 seconds, the computer’s disk may be full or the video conversion may have failed. Click Cancel to stop archiving. 3.7. Saving a Still Image To save individual video images to .bmp or .jpg files: 1. Right-click on the video channel in the video display area. 2. Select Save Image...
CHAPTER 4 Troubleshooting This chapter provides information and procedures for troubleshooting the Media Cartridge Reader, the HD Reader video player, and the vMax or vMax with Tracking software. 4.1. Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Solution The vMax or vMax with Tracking software program will not start. MPEG-4 Codecs and the vMax software may not be installed. Check that you also have a valid sound driver.
Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Solution Not all of the cameras are being displayed in the HD Reader program. The incorrect DVR type is selected in the DVR model box or single channel is selected. Check if the other cameras display when you press the PLAY button on the DVR front panel. Right click on the Video Display area and select Display Mode. Click on the correct option (1, 4, or 9) for your DVR model. See “Using the Video Display Area Menus” on page 3–6. Cannot set the archive times.
Appendix A Specifications This appendix provides the product specifications for the vMax Video Management Software. Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice. A.1. vMax™ and vMax™ with Tracking Software Playback Features vMax with Tracking Channels View 1, 4, or 9 video channels simultaneously. • • Playback speed Change the playback speed from 0.10 × to 16× normal speed. • • Forward or backward • Play video segments forward or backward.
Specifications Mapping Features vMax with Tracking Vehicle position Displays position of vehicle on street map. • Synchronicity Vehicle position displayed in a separate Map Viewer window, synchronized with the video playback • Maps Complete maps of the US and Canada are provided. • Zoom User adjustable zoom level • Auto Center/Scroll Configurable auto center/scroll (white arrow) • Views Configurable to show only the vehicle’s current position or path.
Legal Notice Seon Design® Inc. Seon Design Inc. is a specialist in the design and manufacture of video surveillance systems for mobile applications. Seon has been the preferred solutions provider for the pupil transportation industry since 1999. Today, we are proud that our success in this area has made us the leading manufacturer of mobile video surveillance systems in North America. Contact Information Seon Design Inc., Unit 111, 3B Burbidge Street, Coquitlam, BC Canada V3K 7B2 Telephone Fax Email 604.
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SEON DESIGN® INC. PRODUCT WARRANTY Seon Design Inc.
SEON DESIGN® INC. PRODUCT WARRANTY AND STRICT LIABILITY) OR ARISING UNDER OTHER THEORIES OF LAW WITH RESPECT TO GOODS SOLD OR SERVICES RENDERED BY SEON, OR ANY UNDERTAKINGS, ACTS OR OMISSIONS RELATING THERETO, AND (C) ALL CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL AND CONTINGENT DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, EVEN IF SEON HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Seon Design Inc. Unit 111, 3B Burbidge Street Coquitlam, BC Canada V3K 7B2 Telephone Toll Free Telephone Fax Toll Free Fax Email Web site 700-0036 R005 604.941.0880 1.877.630.7366 604.941.0870 1.866.664.3677 sales@seon.com www.seon.
