Video finish
Compared to Photo Finish, the Video Finish function is mainly designed for use at longer distances where the participants arrive at longer intervals. Start the timer (see the Start Guide) and place the iPhone/iPad so the white line in the camera view is aligned with the finish line. Start the recording when the first participant approaches. Each time someone enters the red detection zone, 2-10 video frames are recorded. After stopping the recording you can browse through the video to see all participants as they pass the finish line and read their respective times. Use the arrows to move one frame (keep pressed to repeat). Use the slider to move quickly through video. The slider direction reflects the direction of the race.
You can add a marking at the frame where a person is closest to the finish line. These markings are used to generate a results list that can be saved, along with the video and still images. The names are also imprinted on the video frames of the respective competitors, along with the time. To make the results list even more informative, add a start list of the participants (see the Results Guide).
Motion and object detection
The default setup is to save images with motion detection. You can test it in the preview (the detection zone changes color when it detects motion). You can drag and pinch the zone to get the optimal detection. It is usually enough to drag the zone to the side of the view that the competitors enter first (the detection should occur before they reach the finish line). Motion detection usually works well, but there can be extra frames captured changes in light, background motion etc. You can reduce this by lowering the sensitivity in the Preview.
Alternatively, you can use Human detection, Video Finish will then only save frames when there is a person in the view. You can also turn off the detection and record a continuous video. This guarantees that you won't miss anything, but there will be a lot of frames to go through. Finally, you can set it to Manual to record one frame each time you tap the screen.
Finish View - Marking
See the Results Guide.
Finish View - Dual mode
If none of the video frames shows the competitor exactly at the finish line you can increase the accuracy by using the Dual mode. This mode enables you to measure the time down to 0.01 s, even at a relatively low frame rate. Scroll to the frame just before the competitor crosses the mid-line. Tap the Dual button and you will see two video frames superimposed and two finish lines. Drag the L-line to the left video frame and the R-line to the right image. The time is saved when you tap the Mark button. The line should be placed as if the competitor just is crossing the finish line, i.e. at the breast of a runner or the front wheel of a bike. You may have to change the direction in the finish view setup for this to work correctly.
Video demonstrating Dual Mode.
Finish View - Saving
Results: You can export the markings from the current race as a CSV, LIF or PDF file.
Save frames: Saves the marked frames with imprinted times and labels to the Photos app. They can be saved either as individual images or as a continuous video. The video can be open by SprintTimer, or viewed and transfered from the Photos app.
Save base video: The base video can be used to render a finish with full accuracy at a later stage, or on another device.
The file will be saved inside the app and can be opened from base videos in Results. In addition it can be uploaded to iCloud or AirDropped.
Background timing
SprintTimer normally uses a processor clock with high accuracy. This clock is running as long as the device is active (i.e. you can put SprintTimer in the background). If you put the device to sleep, however, that clock will stop. During very long races it can be useful to put SprintTimer to sleep to save energy. Video Finish, therefore, uses a combination of other clocks as a backup.
If you put SprintTimer to sleep when you have started the timer (but not the recording) it will automatically switch to the backup clock. The accuracy of the total time will be within a few hundredths of a second, and the difference between the racers will still have a 0.01 s accuracy. You should not leave Video Finish when you have started the video recording.
This page is also available at sprinttimer.app/support