synchronizing Kinects in multiple PC

Park Danny 5

hello, I know that we can synchronize multiple kinects using the cable between two kinects.

I am wondering if there is a stable way to synchronize kinects from different PCs.

Is this possible using the cable or is there a stable way to do this? Or do you not really recommend this kind of system.

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,

Danny

1 answer

LeelaRajeshSayana-MSFT 13,621 Reputation points

2023-07-11T23:55:45.3133333+00:00
Hi @Park Danny Greetings! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. Thank you for posting this question here.

Have you looked into the article Use Azure Kinect recorder with external synchronized devices The article provides steps on how to configure devices when connected to different host PCs. Please find more details through the link Record when each unit has a host PC

Please also note that there are few constraints you would want to consider with External Synchronization. Please find the following limitations

Master device can't have SYNC IN cable connected.

Master device must stream RGB camera to enable synchronization.

All units must use the same camera configuration (framerate and resolution).

All units must run the same device firmware (update firmware instructions).

All subordinate devices must be started before the master device.

The same exposure value should be set on all devices.

Each subordinate's Delay off master setting is relative to the master device.

Hope this helps. Please let us know if you need further assistance.
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Park Danny 5 Reputation points

2023-07-12T09:02:24.11+00:00

I am using 3 kinects per PC. Would this work too? So total 6 kinects to be synchronized.

LeelaRajeshSayana-MSFT 13,621 Reputation points

2023-07-12T14:06:30.4733333+00:00

Hi @Park Danny Thank you for sharing additional information on your use cases. This is an interesting scenario as it involves a combination of devices which are connected to a single host PC and different PCs.

The limitation here is that there could be only one master device which could take in all the recordings. If we were to follow the guidelines in the article, it implies that Azure Kinect DK devices connected to single host would have a master device of its own and other disconnected devices would have another master device. Obviously, this is not feasible, because if you declare/start a device as Master, it will not send out any data out to sync with other devices. I hope this makes sense.

Try running 5 of the devices with the command k4arecorder.exe --external-sync sub -e -8 -r 5 -l 10 sub1.mkv and see if they can be synced with a single master which you would start with k4arecorder.exe --external-sync master -e -8 -r 5 -l 10 master.mkv

I see that you have also created another thread inquiring about this possibility. I highly appreciate it. This will help us segregate the issue and keep a better of the solutions shared.

I will follow the other thread and see if our Community SME's has any other approaches on this.

Cheers!

If your original question is answered, please do click Accept Answer and Yes for the answer provided. Doing so would help other community members with similar issue identify the solution. I highly appreciate your contribution to the community.

LeelaRajeshSayana-MSFT 13,621 Reputation points

2023-07-31T17:06:49.2566667+00:00

Hi @Park Danny We still have not heard back from you. Just wanted to check if the answer provided below was helpful? If it answers your query, please do click Accept Answer and Yes for the answer, as it might be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. And, if you have any further query do let us know. Thank you
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