Axon Investigate Quick Start Guide

Axon Investigate is a dynamic video workflow engine for law enforcement. It automatically plays back hundreds of video file types and significantly expedites the review, analysis, and processing of multimedia evidence.

For a full reference guide, refer to the User Manual and Administrator Reference Guide.

Installation

  1. Download the Axon Investigate Installer.The file downloads automatically to your local downloads folder.
  2. After the download is finished, go to your local downloads folder and select the installer file. The installation begins automatically.

For department-wide distribution or offline use, contact [email protected] for access to other installation options.

Licensing and activation

After launching Axon Investigate for the first time, a welcome screen prompts you to log in and license the application.

For users with Axon Evidence accounts

  1. Enter your agency domain in the space provided and select Continue. You will be redirected to the Axon Evidence sign in page.
  2. Enter your username and password to sign in and return to Axon Investigate. The application is now ready to use.

For Axon Investigate dongle users

  1. Inserted the dongle into the PC.
  2. Launch Axon Investigate.
  3. On the welcome screen, select Use Local License. The application is now ready to use.

Find your way around

The following image shows the Axon Investigate interface layout after you sign in.

  1. Project action menu tabs: Access key project related tasks and workflows.
  2. Project files, case files, and playlists: Open and manage project files, Axon Evidence case files, and playlists (Presenter Mode).
  3. File management toolbar: Use search, add files, quick extract, convert or stitch, and collapse or expand the file list view for efficient file handling.
  4. Project title and settings: Displays the current project name (defaults to "Untitled"), and includes options for project settings.
  5. Project actions menu: Provides project-related actions, including exporting, project settings, and other administrative tasks.
  6. Help menu: Access the user manual, licensing details, and hotkey guide.
  7. Progress notifications: View system alerts and processing updates.
  8. Project files list area: Displays project files for easy access and management.
  9. Application settings: Open general settings to configure Axon Investigate preferences

Start a project

There are several ways to start a new project in Axon Investigate by adding evidence. Use one of the following methods to add evidence and start a project. Or, if you have an Axon Evidence account, you can also import files directly from an existing case.

Add evidence to start a new project

Use one of the following methods to add evidence:

  • Drag and drop files: Move video, audio, or image files into the Project Files List.
  • Manually add files: Select Add + on the file management toolbar to browse and select files.
  • Import a folder or project file: Drag and drop a folder, project file, or .zip file into the list area.
  • Extract a .zip file: If you add a .zip file, a notification prompts you to extract its contents and choose a location.

Import files from Axon Evidence (Axon Evidence users only)

If you have an Axon Evidence account, you can import files directly from an existing case:

  1. Select the Case Files tab to access stored files.
  2. Locate and select the case you want to import, and then choose Select.
  3. Select the files you want to import, and then select Import.
  4. Choose a local storage location for the imported files. The files load into the Project Files List.

Open a project

To open a previously saved project, do one of the following:

  • Drag and drop the project file into the Project Files List.
  • Select Add + on the file management toolbar to browse and select files.
  • Select the Project Actions dropdown, and then select Load.

Save a project

  1. Select Project Actions, and then choose Save or Save As.
  2. Choose a storage location for the .invproj project file.

The following image shows an example of a saved Axon Investigate project file (Case1234.invproj) stored in a case folder alongside categorized evidence folders. Saving the project file in an organized structure, like the one shown here, helps maintain a clear workflow and makes it easier to locate and reload the project when needed.

Interrogate tab

The Interrogate tab in Axon Investigate provides tools for analyzing media files.The following table describes the icons available in the Interrogate tab:

  1. Select a file in the Project Files List.
  2. Select Play (right-facing arrow) next to the file name. The file opens for review.

When a file is opened for review, it is highlighted in gray, with a blue outline and a blue play icon.

The following table describes the actions available in the Interrogate tab:

Button Description
Settings and metadata information
Project map and location information
Video transcript: Opens a transcript of the video, if it was created in Axon Evidence before import.
Undock file settings menu: Detaches the file settings panel, allowing you to move or resize it independently.
Analysis tools: Helpful third-party applications like Media Info, Graph Studio, and HEX Editor.

Playback controls and timeline navigation

The playback controls section provides tools for reviewing, scrubbing, and analyzing video files.

  1. Frame number and packet position: Displays the frame number and packet position of the selected video file.
  2. Time: Shows the timestamp of the current frame in the playback timeline.
  3. Scrubbing control: Drag the scrubbing bar to move through the video at different speeds.
  4. Playback controls: Use playback buttons to play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, step forward, or step backward frame by frame.
  5. Seek intervals, markers, and additional options: Provides tools to adjust seek intervals, mark images and clips, and access more actions.

Mark images and subclips

The Marking Images and Subclips tools allow you to create bookmarks and subclips for efficient evidence review. Use the shortcut keys or the corresponding buttons in the player controls to perform these actions.

Button Description Shortcut key
Bookmark: Select the bookmark button to add a marker at the current frame, enter a name for the marked frame, and then select a folder and color. M
Set "in" point (Start subclip): Seek to the frame where you want to start your subclip, and then select the start subclip button to mark the start of a subclip at the selected frame. I
Set "out" point (End subclip): Seek to the frame where you want to end your subclip, and then select the end subclip button to mark the end of a subclip at the selected frame. O
Generate subclip: Select the generate subclip button to creates a subclip based on the selected in and out points. S

After marking a frame or creating a subclip, a dialog box appears (unless auto-name markers are enabled in the settings). At a minimum, you must enter a title before saving. Additional metadata can be added if needed.

Manage subclips and marked frames

  • Subclips and marked frames appear in the Project Files List under the parent file or within the designated folder selected in the marker or subclip dialog box.
  • Markers and subclips can be color-coded for easy categorization.
  • Overlapping marked frames create a new row in the timeline, allowing for multiple annotations at the same timestamp.

The following image shows a video timeline with multiple color-coded markers and subclips, providing a visual representation of key events within the footage. By color-coding markers and subclips, users can quickly identify and differentiate events in the footage, improving efficiency in reviewing and analyzing video evidence.

Note Overlapping marked frames will add a new row to the timeline.

In this example:

  • Markers (small colored bookmarks) indicate specific frames of interest along the timeline: 
  • Subclips (brown and orange colored bars) highlight segments of video extracted for further review:
    • Orange segment ("incident in question: A labeled subclip spanning a portion of the footage.
  • Scrubbing playhead (blue line with triangle): Indicates the current position in the video, aligning with the corresponding timecode.

Extract and convert files

  1. In the Project Files List, highlight the file(s) you want to extract or convert.
  2. Select the Extract/Convert button in the file management toolbar.
  3. Choose a storage location for the file and enter a file name.

Use the workflow tab

The Workflow tab allows users to process media in various ways, including:

  • Resizing and cropping
  • Converting formats
  • Merging streams
  • Playing media side-by-side
  • Syncing multiple inputs

Execute workflows

The Workflow tab allows users to process media in a variety of ways. Simple tasks include resizing, cropping, and format conversion, while advanced tasks include concatenating, merging streams, side-by-side playback, and syncing multiple inputs on a canvas.

A History audit report is available in the Workflow tab, providing a log of all executed workflows and generated reports.

Workflow history actions

  • View workflow history: Select the History icon to access a list of completed workflows.
  • Export workflow history: Select one or more workflows, then select the export button to generate a PDF report.
  • Delete workflow history: Select the delete button to remove selected workflow entries.
Note Deleting workflow history is controlled by the organization Axon Evidence administrator within Roles and Permissions. Removing a workflow history entry does not delete the processed files—it only removes the log from the history tab.

Processing media with workflow nodes

When executing workflows in Axon Investigate, files are processed through nodes that define how the media is handled.

  • Standard Output node: The Standard Output node is selected by default as Workflow Preset 1. Connect the selected files to the output node by holding the left mouse button and dragging from the blue dot (next to the selected file(s)) to the blue dot on a filter or advanced process.
  • Advanced workflows: More complicated Workflows will include one or many Filter and Advanced Processes Nodes chained together. Processing Nodes can be added by selecting the Workflow tab, and then selecting the Filters tab.
Note Each processing node has unique settings, accessible through the node’s settings button.

The following image shows an example workflow in Axon Investigate, where multiple processing nodes, such as Resize, Drop, and Extract Frames, are used before stitching the outputs together into a final format.

For detailed information on filters, advanced processes, and other tools, refer to the Complete User Guide.

(missing or bad snippet)