DeepLabCut · C-Achard · Jun 30, 2026 · Jul 1, 2026 · Jul 1, 2026 · Jul 1, 2026
diff --git a/dlclivegui/gui/main_window.py b/dlclivegui/gui/main_window.py
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ def _build_dlc_group(self) -> QGroupBox:
         # Processor selection
         processor_path_layout = QHBoxLayout()
         self.processor_folder_edit = QLineEdit()
-        self.processor_folder_edit.setText(default_processors_dir())
+        self.processor_folder_edit.setText(self._settings_store.get_processor_folder(default=default_processors_dir()))
         processor_path_layout.addWidget(self.processor_folder_edit)
 
         self.browse_processor_folder_button = QPushButton("Browse...")
@@ -481,13 +481,34 @@ def _build_dlc_group(self) -> QGroupBox:
         processing_sttgs = lyts.make_two_field_row(
             "Inference camera",
             self.dlc_camera_combo,
-            "Processor",
+            "Custom processor",
             self.processor_combo,
             key_width=None,
         )
         self.dlc_camera_combo.update_shrink_width()
         form.addRow(processing_sttgs)
 
+        self.processor_status_label = QLabel("Processor: No clients | Recording: No")
+        self.processor_status_label.setWordWrap(True)
+        # form.addRow("Processor Status", self.processor_status_label)
+        self.use_custom_proc_checkbox = QCheckBox("Use custom processor")
+        self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.setChecked(False)
+        self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.setToolTip(
+            "If enabled, the GUI will load and interact with the selected processor plugin.\n"
+        )
+        self.processor_toggle_row = lyts.make_two_field_row(
+            "Processor status",
+            self.processor_status_label,
+            None,
+            self.use_custom_proc_checkbox,
+            key_width=None,
+            left_stretch=0,
+            right_stretch=0,
+            style_values=False,
+        )
+        self.processor_toggle_row.setVisible(False)  # Hide until a processor is selected
+        form.addRow(self.processor_toggle_row)
+
         # Wrap inference buttons in a widget to prevent shifting
         inference_button_widget = QWidget()
         inference_buttons = QHBoxLayout(inference_button_widget)
@@ -508,17 +529,6 @@ def _build_dlc_group(self) -> QGroupBox:
         # self.show_predictions_checkbox.setChecked(True)
         # form.addRow(self.show_predictions_checkbox)
 
-        self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox = QCheckBox("Allow processor-based control")
-        self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox.setChecked(False)
-        self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox.setToolTip(
-            "If enabled, the GUI will load and interact with the selected processor plugin.\n"
-        )
-        form.addRow(self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox)
-
-        self.processor_status_label = QLabel("Processor: No clients | Recording: No")
-        self.processor_status_label.setWordWrap(True)
-        form.addRow("Processor Status", self.processor_status_label)
-
         return group
 
     def _build_recording_group(self) -> QGroupBox:
@@ -801,8 +811,8 @@ def _connect_signals(self) -> None:
         self._dlc.initialized.connect(self._on_dlc_initialised)
         self.dlc_camera_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(self._on_dlc_camera_changed)
         self.dlc_camera_combo.currentTextChanged.connect(self.dlc_camera_combo.update_shrink_width)
-        self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox.stateChanged.connect(lambda _s: self._update_dlc_controls_enabled())
-        self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox.stateChanged.connect(lambda _s: self._update_processor_status())
+        self.processor_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(self._on_processor_selection_changed)
+        self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.stateChanged.connect(lambda _s: self._update_processor_status())
 
         # Recording settings
         ## Session name persistence + preview updates
@@ -1085,10 +1095,11 @@ def _action_browse_directory(self) -> None:
 
     def _action_browse_processor_folder(self) -> None:
         """Browse for processor folder."""
-        current_path = self.processor_folder_edit.text() or default_processors_dir()
+        current_path = self.processor_folder_edit.text().strip() or default_processors_dir()
         directory = QFileDialog.getExistingDirectory(self, "Select processor folder", current_path)
         if directory:
             self.processor_folder_edit.setText(directory)
+            self._settings_store.set_processor_folder(directory)
             self._refresh_processors()
 
     def _action_open_recording_folder(self) -> None:
@@ -1132,20 +1143,29 @@ def _action_open_recording_folder(self) -> None:
             logger.error(f"Failed to open folder: {exc}")
             self.statusBar().showMessage("Could not open recording folder.", 5000)
 
-    def _processor_control_enabled(self) -> bool:
+    def _custom_processor_enabled(self) -> bool:
         return bool(
-            getattr(self, "allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox", None) and self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox.isChecked()
+            getattr(self, "use_custom_proc_checkbox", None)
+            and self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.isChecked()
+            and self.processor_combo.currentData() is not None
         )
 
     def _refresh_processors(self) -> None:
         self.processor_combo.clear()
         self.processor_combo.addItem("No Processor", None)
 
         selected_folder = self.processor_folder_edit.text().strip()
-        if Path(selected_folder).exists():
-            self._scanned_processors = scan_processor_folder(selected_folder)
+        selected_path = Path(selected_folder).expanduser() if selected_folder else None
+
+        if selected_path is not None and selected_path.is_dir():
+            resolved_folder = str(selected_path.resolve())
+            self._settings_store.set_processor_folder(resolved_folder)
+            self._scanned_processors = scan_processor_folder(resolved_folder)
+            source_text = resolved_folder
         else:
             self._scanned_processors = scan_processor_package("dlclivegui.processors")
+            source_text = "package dlclivegui.processors"
+
         self._processor_keys = list(self._scanned_processors.keys())
 
         for key in self._processor_keys:
@@ -1154,9 +1174,7 @@ def _refresh_processors(self) -> None:
             self.processor_combo.addItem(display_name, key)
 
         self.processor_combo.update_shrink_width()
-        self.statusBar().showMessage(
-            f"Found {len(self._processor_keys)} processor(s) in package dlclivegui.processors", 3000
-        )
+        self.statusBar().showMessage(f"Found {len(self._processor_keys)} processor(s) in {source_text}", 3000)
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Recording path preview and session name persistence
@@ -1704,23 +1722,20 @@ def _configure_dlc(self) -> bool:
 
         # Instantiate processor if selected
         processor = None
-        if self._processor_control_enabled():
-            selected_key = self.processor_combo.currentData()
-            if selected_key is not None and self._scanned_processors:
-                try:
-                    # For now, instantiate with no parameters
-                    processor = instantiate_from_scan(self._scanned_processors, selected_key)
-                    processor_name = self._scanned_processors[selected_key]["name"]
-                    self.statusBar().showMessage(f"Loaded processor: {processor_name}", 3000)
-                except Exception as e:
-                    error_msg = f"Failed to instantiate processor: {e}"
-                    self._show_error(error_msg)
-                    logger.error(error_msg)
-                    return False
-        else:
-            selected_key = self.processor_combo.currentData()
-            if selected_key is not None:
-                self.statusBar().showMessage(f"Processor selection ignored (control disabled): {selected_key}", 3000)
+        selected_key = self.processor_combo.currentData()
+        if self._custom_processor_enabled():
+            try:
+                # For now, instantiate with no parameters
+                processor = instantiate_from_scan(self._scanned_processors, selected_key)
+                processor_name = self._scanned_processors[selected_key]["name"]
+                self.statusBar().showMessage(f"Loaded processor: {processor_name}", 3000)
+            except Exception as e:
+                error_msg = f"Failed to instantiate processor: {e}"
+                self._show_error(error_msg)
+                logger.error(error_msg)
+                return False
+        elif selected_key is not None:
+            self.statusBar().showMessage(f"Custom processor disabled: {selected_key}", 3000)
 
         self._dlc.configure(settings, processor=processor)
         self._model_path_store.save_if_valid(settings.model_path)
@@ -1734,24 +1749,28 @@ def _update_inference_buttons(self) -> None:
     def _update_dlc_controls_enabled(self) -> None:
         """Enable/disable DLC settings based on inference state."""
         allow_changes = not self._dlc_active
-        processor_controls = allow_changes and self._processor_control_enabled()
 
         widgets = [
             self.model_path_edit,
             self.browse_model_button,
             self.dlc_camera_combo,
-            # self.additional_options_edit,
         ]
+
         processor_widgets = [
             self.processor_folder_edit,
             self.browse_processor_folder_button,
             self.refresh_processors_button,
             self.processor_combo,
         ]
+
         for widget in widgets:
             widget.setEnabled(allow_changes)
+
         for widget in processor_widgets:
-            widget.setEnabled(processor_controls)
+            widget.setEnabled(allow_changes)
+
+        if hasattr(self, "use_custom_proc_checkbox"):
+            self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.setEnabled(allow_changes)
 
     def _update_camera_controls_enabled(self) -> None:
         multi_cam_recording = self._rec_manager.is_active
@@ -1841,7 +1860,7 @@ def _update_metrics(self) -> None:
                 self.dlc_stats_label.setText("DLC processor idle")
 
         # Update processor status (connection and recording state)
-        if hasattr(self, "processor_status_label") and self._processor_control_enabled():
+        if hasattr(self, "processor_status_label") and self._custom_processor_enabled():
             self._update_processor_status()
 
         # --- Recorder stats ---
@@ -1853,26 +1872,40 @@ def _update_metrics(self) -> None:
             else:
                 self.recording_stats_label.setText(self._last_recorder_summary)
 
+    def _on_processor_selection_changed(
+        self,
+        _index: int,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Enable custom processing when a processor is selected."""
+        has_selection = self.processor_combo.currentData() is not None
+        self.processor_toggle_row.setVisible(has_selection)
+
+        self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.blockSignals(True)
+        self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.setChecked(has_selection)
+        self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.blockSignals(False)
+
+        self._update_processor_status()
+
     def _update_processor_status(self) -> None:
         """Update processor connection and recording status, handle auto-recording."""
-        if not self._processor_control_enabled():
-            self.processor_status_label.setText("Processor control disabled")
+        if not self._custom_processor_enabled():
+            self.processor_status_label.setText("Disabled")
             return
 
         if not self._dlc_active or not self._dlc_initialized:
-            self.processor_status_label.setText("Processor: Not active")
+            self.processor_status_label.setText("Not active")
             return
 
         # Get processor instance from _dlc
         processor = self._dlc._processor
 
         if processor is None:
-            self.processor_status_label.setText("Processor: None loaded")
+            self.processor_status_label.setText("None loaded")
             return
 
         # Check if processor has the required attributes (socket-based processors)
         if not hasattr(processor, "conns") or not hasattr(processor, "_recording"):
-            self.processor_status_label.setText("Processor: No status info")
+            self.processor_status_label.setText("No status info")
             return
 
         # Get connection count and recording state
@@ -1885,7 +1918,7 @@ def _update_processor_status(self) -> None:
         self.processor_status_label.setText(f"Clients: {client_str} | Recording: {recording_str}")
 
         # Handle auto-recording based on processor's video recording flag
-        if hasattr(processor, "_vid_recording") and self.allow_processor_ctrl_checkbox.isChecked():
+        if hasattr(processor, "_vid_recording") and self.use_custom_proc_checkbox.isChecked():
             current_vid_recording = processor.video_recording
 
             # Check if video recording state changed
@@ -2162,6 +2195,9 @@ def closeEvent(self, event: QCloseEvent) -> None:  # pragma: no cover - GUI beha
 
         # Remember model path on exit
         self._model_path_store.save_if_valid(self.model_path_edit.text().strip())
+        # Remember processor folder on exit
+        if hasattr(self, "processor_folder_edit"):
+            self._settings_store.set_processor_folder(self.processor_folder_edit.text().strip())
 
         # Close the window
         super().closeEvent(event)
diff --git a/dlclivegui/gui/recording_manager.py b/dlclivegui/gui/recording_manager.py
@@ -205,7 +205,14 @@ def write_frame(
                 timestamp_metadata=timestamp_metadata,
             )
         except Exception as exc:
-            log.warning("Failed to write frame for %s: %s", cam_id, exc)
+            log.warning(
+                "Failed to write frame for %s: %s: %s frame_shape=%s dtype=%s",
+                cam_id,
+                type(exc).__name__,
+                str(exc) or repr(exc),
+                getattr(frame, "shape", None),
+                getattr(frame, "dtype", None),
+            )
             try:
                 rec.stop()
             except Exception: