External TTL to synchronize 2 cameras and miniscope

[earthw...@gmail.com]

Hello,

I am going to record the neural activity of mice while recording the mice behavior with two cameras. Two cameras that I am using is 1) General camera that can be record with miniscope recording 2) Basler camera with infrared lamp that have to use "Basler_Video_Recording_Software to record the video. I am about to use Labview and a simple I/O box that allows the start of miniscope recording triggers a TTL for the Basler camera to initiate recording. 

Based on my understanding regards the previous discussion pages, miniscope DAQ can send an external output. I'd like to know how much time delay being made from the miniscope DAQ to send the external output from the initiation of miniscope recording. 

P.S Is there anyone who tried using Ethovision mini I/O box for TTL triggering? 

Thanks for any reply,

Gaeun Park

[Daniel Aharoni]

Hi,

The Miniscope DAQ toggles one of its SMA output ports on every acquisition of a Miniscope frame once the DAQ has been told by software that it is now recording data to disk. In other words, the DAQ will output a square wave that toggles on each frame acquisition in the recording. The toggling of this signal is within microseconds of the end of the frame being received by the DAQ and should be the most precise timestamp available for Miniscope frames. The timestamp that gets recorded through our software is less accurate and is also affected by variable USB latency which usually adds up to a couple millisecond variability.

As for the delay between manually starting Miniscope recording and the output toggle signal starting, this is usually within 1 frame but there are cases where it could be multiple frames due to your computer being busy handling other requests. 

[Isabel]

Hello,

I'm also planning to use the Ethovision I/O box to trigger a TTL to initiate the camera recording. DId you have any luck? Thank you!

Isabel

[Pascal Malkemper]

Hi,

does the DAQ also toggle the SMA output port for every aquired frame if only a Minicam is used?

Best
Pascal