How To: Get a Data Input File

To add a data input to a RaceRender project, you will generally need to first use the data system's software to export your data into a compatible CSV, tab-delimited Text, GPX, TCX, FIT, or NMEA file, if it isn't already.

These are basic instructions for how to get certain data systems to export data for use with RaceRender, based on information available at the time of this writing. This depends on functionality provided by these other products; compatibility and the accuracy of this information may change at any time and without notice. Please note that the specific instructions here only cover a limited selection of the huge variety of data products and data sources that may work with RaceRender.

If you have a GPS-enabled camera that embeds NMEA data into its video file, RaceRender may be able to automatically detect and extract that for you when you add the video file to your project. Otherwise, you'd need to use the manufacturer's software or a third party tool to export the data into a compatible format. Some users have reported success using Registrator Viewer / Datakam Player to extract GPS data from their video files.

Additional Technical Information


Instructions for Specific Products


TrackAddict for iPhone®, iPad®, and Android
TrackAddict is a RaceRender LLC product that is designed for maximum compatibility with RaceRender.
  • WiFi Transfer:
    • Connect your TrackAddict device to the WiFi network that your RaceRender computer is on.
    • In RaceRender, go to File -> Receive Files Over Network / WiFi.
      • If you have a firewall or are prompted, be sure to allow RaceRender to access the local network.
    • In TrackAddict, go to the "Sessions" view, select the session to transfer, press the "Share" button, then select "WiFi Transfer".
    • After the quick network scan is complete, your computer that's running RaceRender should be listed on TrackAddict's screen.
    • Select if you want to include the video or not (if applicable), then tap on your RaceRender computer to begin the transfer.
    • When complete, RaceRender will automatically create a new project with the transferred session, and prompt you to select a datalogger overlay template from a menu.

  • Apple iTunes File Sharing (via USB cable):
    • Connect the iPhone or iPad to your computer using its USB data cable, and open iTunes®
    • Click on the device's section within iTunes, then click the "Apps" tab at the top
    • Scroll down to the "File Sharing" section, then click on TrackAddict
    • Select the "Log-" files you want, and drag&drop them into a folder them to your computer
    • The .CSV (data) and .MOV (video) files are already synchronized, so they can be used easily in RaceRender

  • Android File Transfer (via USB cable):
    • Connect the Android device to your computer using its USB data cable
    • Put the Android device into USB "MTP" file transfer mode
      • Unlock the Android device and swipe down on its status bar
      • Tap on the item that refers to the USB connection mode
        (this may also refer to being connected for charging, as a media device, or as a camera)
      • Select the option that refers to use for file transfers, "MTP" mode, or as a media device
    • Open the Android device's file system on your computer
      • Windows Users: Use Windows Explorer; it should appear as one or more removable drives on your system
      • Mac Users: Use the "Android File Transfer" program
    • Select the drive or storage device that relates to where your session files are stored
      (devices with an SD card may have two storage areas available here, both with very similar appearances)
    • Navigate to the "Android/data/com.hptuners.trackaddict/files" folder
    • Select the "Log-" files you want, and drag&drop them into a folder to your computer
    • The .CSV (data) and .MP4 (video) files are already synchronized, so they can be used easily in RaceRender

HP Tuners VCM Scanner
  • Open your session data in the HP Tuners VCM Scanner program
  • Go to the "Log File" menu and select "Export Log File"
  • Set the "Output Format" option to "Comma Separated Text (.csv)"
  • Set the "Data Range" option to "Entire Log"
  • Click the "Export" button to select a file name and location
  • Once complete, the CSV file you created should be ready to use in RaceRender


360fly (4K model)
  • RaceRender can detect and extract the telemetry data within a supported 360fly video file when you add the video file to a project
  • This requires the video to have been recorded with a 360fly 4K camera that has software version 1.8.6 or newer
  • For best results, be sure to enable the camera's GPS option before recording
  • Available data channels can include GPS (when enabled), accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and yaw/pitch/roll

Affectiva Q Sensor
  • Use CSV format

AIM
  • Open your session data in AIM's "Race Studio Analysis" program
  • Go to the "File" menu and select "Data Export in Excel"
  • Select the channels to export. "Select All" is recommended. Otherwise, you'll want at least:
    • GPS_Longitude
    • GPS_Latitude
    • GPS_Speed
    • GPS_Heading
    • GPS_Elevation
    • GPS_LonAcc
    • GPS_LatAcc
    • Speed
    • LatAcc
    • RPM
    • Any others that you want to display
  • Select the laps to export (recommended that you select all laps for the desired Run)
  • Set the "Compatibility" option to "CSV"
  • Set the "Decimal Digit Separator" option to "Dot"
  • Click the "Browse" button at the top to select the output file name and location
  • Click the "Save and Exit" button at the bottom
  • RaceRender should now be able to use the CSV file that was created   (Note that GPS data must be included to show track map, vehicle location, and lap info)

aLapRecorder HD
  • Use CSV format

Alfano
  • Select your session data file in Alfano's "VisualData" program
  • Below the "Export Files" button, set the selection to "*.csv"
  • Click the "Export Files" button and select and output location
  • RaceRender should now be able to use the CSV file that was created

  • Important: Alfano data may include more than one session. By default, RaceRender will use the first one. To select others, simply open the Input File Configuration screen, and change the Track number.

BJR Technology L-Sys2
  • Use CSV format

Contour GPS Camera
  • RaceRender may be able to detect and extract the embedded NMEA data when you add its video file to a project
  • Otherwise, use the Contour software to export the data into CSV or NMEA format

Garmin GPS Products

Garmin VIRB Elite
  • Use .GPX file located on memory card (see /Garmin/GPX folder)

GTech-Pro RR Fanatic .GTR file
  • The GTech Fanatic PASS software may not have a CSV file export feature.
  • RaceRender includes experimental support to read the RR Fanatic's .GTR files directly.
  • This functionality may not work correctly if the file format differs from what was observed during RaceRender's development.

  • For other GTech products, you should use its PASS software's export function to create a CSV file for use with RaceRender.

Haltech
  • Use CSV format

Harry's LapTimer
  • Export your session in CSV format
  • You may need to unzip / decompress it before using in RaceRender

Holley EFI
  • Use File -> Export (CSV format)

Hondata KManager
  • Use Datalog -> Export (CSV format)

Linszter Datalog v2
  • Use CSV format

MaxQData
  • Open your session data in MaxQData's "Chart" program
  • Go to the "File" menu and select "Export..."
  • Select the session file to export from the list
  • Set the "Export type..." option to ".CSV"
  • Click the "Export" button
  • RaceRender should now be able to use the CSV file that was created   (look in the same folder that your .MQD session file is in)

MegaSquirt
  • Use .MSL log file

Microtex FIRELOG
  • Use CSV format

Mini 0801 GPS Dash Cam
  • Use .LOG file located in GPS folder

MoTeC
  • Use CSV format

My Tracks
  • Use GPX export

Off Camber Data
  • Use "File" -> "Export Run Data" -> "for RaceRender..."
If multiple runs are open, right-click the run you want to export, then use "Export Run" -> "for RaceRender..."


Polar GPS Products

Porsche Track Precision app
  • Use CSV format
Note: The .VBO file format may also work with RaceRender.


PZRacing
  • Use .PRR file

Qstarz
  • Use CSV format

Race Capture Pro
  • Use CSV format

Race Technology (DL1, DL2, AX22, etc.)
  • See information on this topic from Race Technology

  • Open your session data in Race Technology's analysis software
  • Go to the "File" menu and select "Export As Data..."
  • Set "Export to file type" to "Spreadsheet .csv file"
  • Make sure the delimiter is a comma
  • Click the "OK" button
  • Enter the desired file name in the box that appears and click "Save"
  • The CSV file that you created should now be ready to use in RaceRender

RaceChrono
  • Use CSV format

Racelogic (PerformanceBox, DriftBox, etc.)
  • Open your session data in Racelogic's "Performance Tools" or "DriftBox" program
  • Click on the "Tools" button, select "Export Data", and then "To TrackVision"
  • Enter a file name and click "Save"
  • RaceRender should now be able to use the CSV file that was created
Note: The .VBO file format may also work with RaceRender.


RacePak (G2X, IQ3, etc.)
  • Open your session data in RacePak's "DataLink" program
  • Click the "Video Management" button on the Run Log Menu
  • Alternate Method:
    • From the "Runlog" menu, select "Set Log Category"
    • Select "Video" and click "OK"
    • Click on the newly created "Video" tab (usually at the bottom)
  • Click the "Create Track Vision video" button
  • Select the channels to export:
    • Time
    • GPS_Data:Map_SF
    • GPS_Data:Run_PosX
    • GPS_Data:Run_PosY
    • Engine RPM
    • GPS_MPH
    • Lateral G
    • Accel G
    • Gear Indicator
    • Any others that you want to display
  • Click "OK"
  • A message box will appear to inform you of the exported CSV file name and path. This is the file you will want to use with RaceRender.

Registrator Viewer / Datakam Player
  • This tool may help with extracting GPS data that's embedded in a video file
  • In the software, right-click on the clip -> Export Track -> CSV (GPS)

RLC Racing (Track Commander and others)
  • Open your session data in RLC Racing's "Race Analyzer" program
  • Go to the "File" menu and select "Export..."
  • Use the "For ChaseCam DashWare" option
  • Choose the file name and location
  • Click the "Save" button
  • RaceRender should now be able to use the text file that was created

RoadHawk HD Camera
  • RaceRender should detect and extract the embedded NMEA data when you add its video file to a project

Sony Action Cam with GPS (HDR-AS30V, etc.)
  • .LOG File Method:
    • The Action Cam HDR-AS30V saves its GPS data into .LOG files, which use common NMEA format
    • You can find these files on your camera's memory card in the PRIVATE -> SONY -> GPS folder
      • The PlayMemories software might also copy them into your My Documents -> Sony PMB -> TrackLog folder
    • Their file names are based on the date recorded, followed by a 2-digit count that starts at zero.
      For example, the first one recorded on Jan 21, 2014 would be 14012100.LOG (Year 14, Month 01, Day 21, Count 00)
    • These .LOG files should work directly in RaceRender. You will need to determine which one corresponds to your video file.

  • .MOFF File Method:
    • In some cases, you might have .MOFF files, which contain Sony data followed by the GPS data in common NMEA format.
    • The PlayMemories software may create these after importing the video onto your computer, but it might make them hidden files.
    • These .MOFF files should work directly in RaceRender. Their file names should match that of the associated video.

SpeedAngle GMOS
  • Use .SA file

Starlane Athon GPS
  • Use CSV format

Torque
  • Use CSV format

Torque w/ Shift Lights Pro
  • Use CSV format

Trackmaster
  • Use CSV format
  • May need to choose "RaceChrono" format

Traqmate
  • Open your session data in Traqmate's "Traqview" program
  • Go to the "File" menu and select "Export Data"
  • Set the "Export Type" option to "Traqmate Standard Export Format (CSV Format)"   (do not use the "Raw Data" format)
  • Click the "Browse" button to select a file name and location
  • Click the "Export" button and wait for the progress bar to get to the end
  • Click "Done", and now the CSV file should be ready to use in RaceRender


Other Data Systems
  • RaceRender attempts to be compatible with CSV and similar files created by many data products. However, common data fields may not always be provided, or may not be in a consistent format, so compatibility with RaceRender can be limited and/or unreliable when that's the case. In some cases, you may be able to improve compatibility by manually assigning the data fields on the Input File Configuration screen.

  • Developers: click here for info and samples

  • If you wish to edit a CSV file to be compatible with RaceRender, the following column format is recommended:
    (use standard ASCII or UTF-8 text encoding)

    Column HeadingColumn Description
    TimeSample time in seconds. The first sample does not have to be zero. This may need to be the first column in the file.
      GPS TimeAlternate: Sample time in milliseconds. The first sample does not have to be zero.
    LongitudeVehicle position longitude (X). Can be feet, meters, or coordinates, as long as it's in decimal notation.
    LatitudeVehicle position latitude (Y). Can be feet, meters, or coordinates, as long as it's in decimal notation.
    AltitudeVehicle position altitude (Z)
    XAcceleration / Deceleration (X) G-force
    YLateral (Y) G-force
    MPHVehicle speed in Miles Per Hour (MPH)
      KPHAlternate: Vehicle speed in Kilometers Per Hour (km/hr)
      Speed (m/s)Alternate: Vehicle speed in Meters Per Second (m/s)
    HeadingVehicle heading (degrees; 0 = North)
    LapCurrent lap number. This only needs to be set once per lap.
    If not available, RaceRender will attempt to automatically detect GPS coordinates at certain recognized tracks, or you can also manually set the Start / Finish point.
    RPMEngine speed in Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)
    GearCurrent transmission gear number (0 for Neutral, -1 for Reverse, -99 for Park)
    ThrottleThrottle position (0 to 100)
    AccuracyGPS position accuracy (meters); used for loggers with low or inconsistent accuracy (such as smartphones)

    The Time column is required, and the data rows must be in chronological order. Other columns can be omitted, at the cost of the related overlay features not being available. Differences from this list can usually be resolved by using the Input File Configuration screen, if they aren't understood automatically. Additional data columns may also be added, for use with custom gauges, graphs, etc.