EthoVision XT trial duration does not correspond with system time (Id 12015)

This error message, "Trial duration does not correspond with system time (Id 12015)", indicates that EthoVision sees that the video has been streaming in at a slower rate than expected. The most common cause is that the camera is not delivering frames at the expected rate. This can also result in the trial stopping prematurely if too many consecutive video frames are missing. Otherwise, it may indicate the computer is inadequate or has impaired performance.

Frames being skipped

To check whether frames are being skipped, check any of the following:

• In the Detection Settings, check the Missed Samples or Interpolated Samples count near the bottom of the screen. Both of these should be very close to 0% (and always < 1%). This value will display in red if it is very high. (Note that Interpolated Samples will be displayed only if Dropped Frames Correction is enabled in the Detection Settings, but Missed Samples is always present.) The count of Subject Not Found is not relevant to this issue (although if the subject is not found when your animal is in the arena, it may indicate the detection settings need improvement).
• In the Acquisition, the Missed Samples and Interpolated Samples will be displayed the same way.

• In the Trial List, check the Missed Samples column. If it is not displayed, click Show/Hide in the upper right corner, pick Variables, and then check the checkbox for Missed Samples (and Interpolated Samples if available). The Trial List permits you to check these values for trials that have already been acquired.

If frames are being skipped, the most likely cause is the camera. 

Camera skipping frames

If the camera is a USB webcam, make sure the camera is plugged into a USB 3 port (which will either be blue or marked SS for SuperSpeed) if possible. Use a port on the computer itself rather than a hub. It may be necessary to reduce the frame rate or resolution (in the experiment settings). If the camera is not plugged into a USB 3 port, avoid using any other high-bandwidth USB devices at the same time; for example, don’t use an external hard drive. In general, USB cameras are not recommended.

If the camera is an IP camera (e.g., Axis cameras), for best results the camera should connect directly to the computer, rather than connecting many cameras to a network switch or your local network.

If the camera is a Basler GigE camera, it may be necessary to adjust the Exposure setting. Exposure is the amount of time spent acquiring one video frame, so if it is too high, there is not enough time to acquire the next frame, and it will be skipped. For details about changing this setting, see changing the exposure for a Basler camera.

A defective ethernet cable can also result in dropped frames for IP and GigE cameras. Replacing the cable is a quick and easy test.

For any other type of camera, ensure the camera is set to a fixed frame rate, not a variable frame rate. If exposure can be adjusted, ensure it is not too high.

Basler camera using wrong drivers

In order to maximize the performance of Basler cameras, the Basler software installs a Basler driver for the network card to replace the Intel driver normally used. But in some cases Windows will switch back and this can cause subpar performance. For more details about correcting this issue, please click here.

Computer performance

We recommend the use of a workstation-class computer, such as the Dell Precision. The computer should include a dedicated video adapter (GPU) with its own memory, rather than relying on onboard Intel Graphics. Check the Help for your version of EthoVision, or contact Noldus support, if you need assistance.

If the experiment is being saved to an external or network drive, check whether the problem is resolved by moving the experiment to the local drive. (Copy the entire experiment folder named for the project to the local drive, not just the .evxt file, or save a copy to the local drive by going on the menu to File/Save Experiment As).

Performance may also be improved by adjusting the computer's power settings. For more details, see Windows 10 power-saving settings.

Hardware failure

This problem can also be caused by a faulty video display card or a failing hard drive. Dell computers provided by Noldus include built-in diagnostics to test the CPU, memory, motherboard, disks, fans, and other components. To access these diagnostics, shut down the computer. Restart the computer and press the F12 key as soon as the Dell logo appears (before Windows opens). You should see a selective start menu with a diagnostics option. Once in the diagnostics, please carefully note any errors.