Simulated Time won’t execute & Live View [Case Solved]

[NM Astro]

Hello again,

I had a couple script-related questions. I finished a script this weekend and attempted to run a simulation with my Canon 6D taking pictures. I first tried running the simulation using Simulated Time. I could see the script timer counting down to zero for particular items. However, when a particular timer reached zero, the camera would not take an exposure, and the timer would switch from 00:00:00 to 59:59:59 (or something close to that) and begin counting toward zero again. When I switched to Simulated First Contact, the script ran flawlessly and the 6D took all the shots I’d scripted. I tried this a couple times with the same result. The camera did not respond to Simulated Time, but worked great with Simulated First Contact. Since I’d like to test my entire script, including pre-C2, this concerns me. I’ve checked my script lines multiple times. They show up in Maestro when I load the script, but with the result I outlined above. I also tried setting Simulated Time to start around the same time as Simulated First Contact, but the camera was still unresponsive. (I tried to upload my script, but when I select “Choose File”, I get no response.) Do you know why Simulated Time isn’t working for me?

My other question has to do with Live View. I’ve set up the two script lines below to start and stop Live View. Although both appear on the screen when I load my script, my camera is not responding to these commands. I have to manually change to Live View if I want to use that function. Do you see a problem with either of these lines? For example, I’ve included a space between all the commas—is that correct? I appreciate any guidance you can offer on why this might not be working. I know some of the commands only work with Nikon cameras, but I didn’t see any restrictions stated for these commands.

LVSTART,C2,-,01:30.0,6D, , , , , , , ,Start LV

LVSTOP,C3,+,01:30.0,6D, , , , , , , ,Stop LV

Thanks again for your help!

[xjubier]

I had a couple script-related questions. I finished a script this weekend and attempted to run a simulation with my Canon 6D taking pictures. I first tried running the simulation using Simulated Time. I could see the script timer counting down to zero for particular items. However, when a particular timer reached zero, the camera would not take an exposure, and the timer would switch from 00:00:00 to 59:59:59 (or something close to that) and begin counting toward zero again. When I switched to Simulated First Contact, the script ran flawlessly and the 6D took all the shots I’d scripted. I tried this a couple times with the same result. The camera did not respond to Simulated Time, but worked great with Simulated First Contact. Since I’d like to test my entire script, including pre-C2, this concerns me. I’ve checked my script lines multiple times. They show up in Maestro when I load the script, but with the result I outlined above. I also tried setting Simulated Time to start around the same time as Simulated First Contact, but the camera was still unresponsive. (I tried to upload my script, but when I select “Choose File”, I get no response.) Do you know why Simulated Time isn’t working for me?

Did you also input the correct date with the time? This would explain what you're seeing.

My other question has to do with Live View. I’ve set up the two script lines below to start and stop Live View. Although both appear on the screen when I load my script, my camera is not responding to these commands. I have to manually change to Live View if I want to use that function. Do you see a problem with either of these lines? For example, I’ve included a space between all the commas—is that correct? I appreciate any guidance you can offer on why this might not be working. I know some of the commands only work with Nikon cameras, but I didn’t see any restrictions stated for these commands.

LVSTART,C2,-,01:30.0,6D, , , , , , , ,Start LV
LVSTOP,C3,+,01:30.0,6D, , , , , , , ,Stop LV

Syntax is correct. Have you looked into SEM's log ('Window' menu and then 'Solar Eclipse Maestro Log') to see if there is any error message?

Also this starts Lv and opens a window with the image stream on the computer. For Lv Photography use LVPSTART.

[NM Astro]

Thanks for the fast response. Regarding Simulated Time, when I went back to this option this evening, it showed the date as 8/21/17, which is what I input yesterday when I attempted to run the simulation. I’m still not sure what happened. I’ll try again in the next few days and doublecheck that the date is 8/21/17.

Regarding Live View, I checked the log and it appears that Live View was activated without an error. I was watching the screen on my 6D during the simulation, though, and the screen didn’t switch to Live View. I’ll try LVPSTART and maybe that will do the trick. I’ll send an update in the next week to let you know the status of these issues.

Thanks again!

[xjubier]

Thanks for the fast response. Regarding Simulated Time, when I went back to this option this evening, it showed the date as 8/21/17, which is what I input yesterday when I attempted to run the simulation. I’m still not sure what happened. I’ll try again in the next few days and doublecheck that the date is 8/21/17.

It is the only possible explanation and the result would indeed be exactly what you experienced.

Regarding Live View, I checked the log and it appears that Live View was activated without an error. I was watching the screen on my 6D during the simulation, though, and the screen didn’t switch to Live View. I’ll try LVPSTART and maybe that will do the trick. I’ll send an update in the next week to let you know the status of these issues.

The live view with LVSTART will not display on the camera screen but will in a separate window on the computer, it is tethered live view. That said for this to work when a script is running you have to make sure first that "Allow Live View when running a Script" is enabled in the General Preferences. LVPSTART is used to keep the mirror raised while taking pictures, hence the name 'live view photography'.

[NM Astro]

I’m still having problems getting the simulation to execute. It works fine when I start it at 2nd contact. When I start at 1st contact, the countdown just roles over to 59:59:59 for each step. The simulated time is set to a date of 8/21/17, and 10:15:00AM, about 30 minutes before totality for my area. I don’t change the simulated time when I select 1st or 2nd contact. The first part of my script is below. Perhaps you can spot a syntax problem? The intervalometer sequence after C3 runs fine as long as I start the simulation at 2nd contact. I think this explains the problem I’m having with Live View, also. I can’t get the simulation to start before the Live View start command, so I don’t think it ever turns on when I run the C2 simulation. I appreciate any advice you can offer!

FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),0,150.00,8
TAKEPIC,C2,-,01:00.0,6D,1/1250,8.0,200,1.000,RAW,None,Y,Partial C1-C2
ENDFOR
FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),1,150.00,20
TAKEPIC,C3,+,01:00.0,6D,1/1250,8.0,200,1.000,RAW,None,Y,Partial C3-C4
ENDFOR

PLAY,C2,-,00:10:00.1,10_Minutes.wav, , , , , , , ,'10 minutes' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:05:00.1,5_Minutes.wav, , , , , , , ,'5 minutes' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:02:00.1,2_Minutes.wav, , , , , , , ,'2 minutes' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:01:00.1,60_Seconds.wav, , , , , , , ,'1 minute' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:00:30.1,30_Seconds.wav, , , , , , , ,'30 seconds' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:00:20.1,Filters_Off.wav, , , , , , , ,'Filters off' voice prompt
PLAY,C2,-,00:00:10.1,10_Seconds.wav, , , , , , , ,'10 seconds' voice prompt
PLAY,MAX,-,00:00:00.1,Max_Eclipse.wav, , , , , , , ,'Maximum eclipse' voice prompt
PLAY,C3,+,00:00:19.9,Filters_On.wav, , , , , , , ,'Filters on' voice prompt

LVPSTART,C2,-,01:30.0,6D, , , , , , , ,Start photography in Lv

TAKEBST,C2,-,00:12.0,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,15,RAW,None,Y,Burst of 15 frames

TAKEBST,C3,+,00:00.0,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,15,RAW,None,Y,Burst of 15 frames

LVPSTOP,C3,+,01:30.0,6D, , , , , , , ,Stop photography in Lv

[xjubier]

The simulated time is set to a date of 8/21/17, and 10:15:00AM, about 30 minutes before totality for my area. I don’t change the simulated time when I select 1st or 2nd contact.

The simulated time has to be in UTC, your 10:15:00AM is likely local, so you should input 05:15:00PM.
And also even easier, in the Observer menu just select 'Simulated First Contact', or 'Simulated Second Contact', etc and SEM will do everything for you.

[NM Astro]

OK, I understand the UTC issue now—thanks. However, Simulated Second Contact runs fine for me, but Simulated First Contact causes the 59:59:59 rollover for each action item and no camera response, as I mentioned earlier. That’s why I was wondering if I had a syntax error in the early part of my script. If there’s not an obvious remedy, I can try running the script using something like 5:15pm for the simulated time and maybe that will work.

[xjubier]

That’s why I was wondering if I had a syntax error in the early part of my script. If there’s not an obvious remedy, I can try running the script using something like 5:15pm for the simulated time and maybe that will work.

I hadn't looked carefully at your script but yes it is because of the way your script is written.
This
FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),0,150.00,8
TAKEPIC,C2,-,01:00.0,6D,1/1250,8.0,200,1.000,RAW,None,Y,Partial C1-C2
ENDFOR
means that SEM will execute 8 exposures every 2.5 minutes ending 1 minute before 2nd contact, so the first exposure will be at 18.5 minutes before C2 which means just a little over 1 hour after 1st contact. And since the countdown doesn't show the hour it appears like a rollover when in fact it isn't one: it just goes from 01:00:00.0 to 00:59:59.9 but you don't see the first 01 hour switching to 00 hour.

So in your case it isn't that 'Simulated First Contact' doesn't work, it is just that you're over an hour away from the first exposure. As you don't want to wait this whole hour you just set the simulated time to say 1 minute before your first exposure and you're done.

Did you sort out your live view issue? If not what is your camera model?

[NM Astro]

Thank you so much!—it looks like you’ve solved the mystery. I still need to go back and run a new simulation with the additional information you’ve provided. Regarding Live View, I think the problem is that I was running C2 simulations that began after the LV start command appeared in my script. With that late start, I don’t think the command was ever executed. I will put these factors together and run a new simulation that ensures a start time before the LV start command. I’ll let you know how it turns out in the next couple days. By the way, in answer to your other question, I’m using a Canon 6D.

[NM Astro]

I ran a simulation and it worked great in most respects. Live View activated properly. However, when I looked at the log, for the closely spaced exposures during totality, about every 3 to 4 exposures were skipped because the camera was busy. I know that Live View locks up the mirror. Is it your experience that taking exposures in Live View slows down the exposure processing considerably? Previously, when Live View wasn’t activated during my simulation, the same exposure sequence was taken without any skips. Here’s an example of a sequence where I had multiple skipped exposures. I’m guessing I probably need at least one second between exposures, even for fast shutter speeds, and longer intervals for the longer exposures. Does that sound more or less correct? Again, I’m shooting with a Canon 6D. Also, is there any difference between MID and MAX? I’m assuming MAX occurs at the midpoint of totality. Would MID be a more accurate term to use for marking the halfway point of totality? Thank you!


TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:18.8,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:18.2,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:17.4,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:16.6,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:15.8,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:15.0,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:14.2,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:13.5,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:12.7,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:12.0,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:11.0,6D,1/1600,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:10.0,6D,1/1000,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:09.0,6D,1/640,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:08.0,6D,1/400,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:07.0,6D,1/250,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:06.0,6D,1/160,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:05.0,6D,1/100,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:04.0,6D,1/60,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:03.0,6D,1/40,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:02.0,6D,1/25,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:01.0,6D,1/15,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,01:00.0,6D,1/10,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:58.8,6D,1/6,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:57.6,6D,1/4,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:56.3,6D,1/2.5,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:54.8,6D,1/1.6,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:53.0,6D,1,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:51.0,6D,1.6,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:47.8,6D,2.5,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Totality
TAKEPIC,MAX,-,00:42.8,6D,4,8.0,200,0.000,RAW,None,Y,Earthshine
#End of 1st bracketed sequence during totality