HSPARC

Recorder Mode

Recorder Mode captures participants in real time, synchronizing webcam video and microphone audio with continuous gamepad input.

When to Use Recorder Mode

Use Recorder Mode when you want to:

  • Capture live counseling sessions, interviews, or conversations
  • Record participants' real-time emotional responses during interactions
  • Collect continuous self-report data during an experience
  • Pair observable behavior with subjective experience

Before You Begin

Ensure your environment is ready:

  • Lighting — Participants should be clearly visible on camera
  • Audio — Minimize background noise; close windows and doors
  • Seating — Position participants comfortably within camera view
  • Controllers — Have controllers ready and tested

Starting a Recording Session

1. Select Recorder Mode

From the main menu, select Recorder Mode.

2. Configure Session Settings

Setting Description
Session ID Unique identifier (e.g., P001_Session1, Dyad12_Pre)
Participants Number of participants (1 or 2)
Input Mapping What each controller axis measures

3. Configure Input Mapping

For each participant, specify what the controller measures:

Joystick Y-Axis (Up/Down):

  • Emotional valence (positive ↔ negative)
  • Comfort level (comfortable ↔ uncomfortable)
  • Agreement (agree ↔ disagree)
  • Custom measure

Joystick X-Axis (Left/Right): (Optional)

  • Arousal (calm ↔ excited)
  • Certainty (uncertain ↔ certain)
  • Secondary custom measure

Buttons:

  • Mark significant events
  • Flag moments for later review

4. Calibrate Controllers

Before recording:

  1. Click Calibrate
  2. Have each participant move their joystick through full range
  3. Verify the input visualization responds correctly
  4. Click Confirm when calibration looks good

5. Brief Your Participants

Explain the controller to participants clearly:

"Hold the controller comfortably in your hand. Use the joystick to indicate how you're feeling moment to moment. Push up for more positive feelings, down for more negative. You can adjust this continuously throughout our session. There are no right or wrong answers—just indicate your genuine experience."

Adjust this script based on your specific measure.

6. Start Recording

  1. Click Start Recording (or press the designated hotkey)
  2. A countdown will appear: 3... 2... 1...
  3. Recording begins — the red indicator confirms capture is active

During the Recording

On-Screen Display

While recording, you'll see:

  • Live video preview — What the webcam is capturing
  • Input traces — Real-time visualization of controller input
  • Timer — Elapsed recording time
  • Audio meters — Visual confirmation of audio capture

Marking Events

Press controller buttons to mark significant moments:

Button Default Function
A / Button 1 Event Marker A
B / Button 2 Event Marker B
C / Button 3 Event Marker C
Z / Trigger Custom marker

Events are timestamped and saved with your data for easy reference during analysis.

Monitoring Quality

Throughout the session, periodically check:

  • Video preview shows participants clearly
  • Audio meters respond to speech
  • Input traces show controller movement
  • No error indicators are displayed

Ending the Recording

Normal End

  1. Click Stop Recording (or press the stop hotkey)
  2. Recording will finalize (may take a few seconds for longer sessions)
  3. The session summary screen appears

Session Summary

After stopping, you'll see:

  • Total duration
  • File sizes (video, audio, input data)
  • Any detected issues or warnings
  • Option to add session notes

Adding Notes

Use the notes field to record:

  • Session context or conditions
  • Technical issues encountered
  • Observations about participant behavior
  • Anything relevant for later analysis

Click Save & Close to finish.

Data Output

Each recording session creates:

SessionID/
├── video.mp4           # H.264 compressed video with audio
├── input_p1.csv        # Participant 1 controller data
├── input_p2.csv        # Participant 2 data (if applicable)
├── events.csv          # Timestamped event markers
├── metadata.json       # Session configuration and notes
└── thumbnail.jpg       # Preview image

Input Data Format

The input CSV files contain:

Column Description
timestamp_ms Milliseconds since recording start
frame Corresponding video frame number
y_axis Joystick Y value (-1.0 to 1.0)
x_axis Joystick X value (-1.0 to 1.0)
buttons Button state bitmask

Data is sampled at 60Hz (every ~16.67ms) for smooth capture.

Best Practices

Before Sessions

  • Test everything — Run a brief test recording before each session
  • Check storage — Verify Study Key has sufficient space
  • Charge controllers — Ensure wireless controllers are charged (if applicable)
  • Prepare environment — Minimize interruptions and background noise

During Sessions

  • Don't adjust mid-session — Avoid moving camera or microphone during recording
  • Monitor for issues — Watch for hardware warnings or disconnections
  • Mark key moments — Use event markers to flag important points

After Sessions

  • Add notes immediately — Record observations while fresh
  • Verify data — Spot-check recordings in Researcher Mode
  • Back up regularly — Export data to your secure research storage

Troubleshooting

"Controller not detected"

  • Check USB connection
  • Try a different USB port
  • Verify controller works in Hardware Test

"Low disk space warning"

  • Export completed sessions to free space
  • Use a larger capacity Study Key
  • Reduce video quality in settings

"Audio not recording"

  • Check microphone connection
  • Verify correct input device in Settings
  • Test in Hardware Test before session

Video is dark or blurry

  • Improve room lighting
  • Clean webcam lens
  • Adjust camera position

For more solutions, see Troubleshooting.

Next Steps