9 Recording
By default, the system is set to immediately record video from connected cameras continuously, 24 hours a day. You can customize
the recording settings according to your needs.
9.2 Configuring Recording Quality
The system uses two video recording streams: a Main Stream and a Sub Stream. The Main Stream records high quality video to your system’s hard disk drive. The Sub Stream records lower resolution video
for efficient streaming to devices over the Internet. You can customize the video quality settings for these streams according
to your needs.
To configure recording quality:
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From the Live View display, right-click to open the Quick Menu, then click Main Menu.
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Click CAMERA. Click the Recording tab from the side panel, then the Recording tab from the top panel.
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Select the camera you would like to configure.
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Select the Coding Strategy used to encode recordings for storage on your hard disk drive. The coding strategy (video encoding) will effect the overall
network bandwidth and storage space on your system. Enable one of the following:
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Continuous: By default, the system uses Continuous (standard video encoding).
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Smart Codec: Smart Codec uses scene-adaptive encoding strategy to reduce bandwidth and storage requirements while maintaining the video
quality of key areas. Smart Codec is more suitable for large scenes, especially for static scenes where it can achieve a larger
proportion of compression.
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AI Codec: AI coding strategy saves bandwidth and storage by focusing on key targets such as person and vehicle while reducing focus
on background areas without greatly effecting the image quality. When selecting AI Codec, the bit rate type automatically
switches to CBR.
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Under Type, select the recording type you want to configure the recording quality settings for.
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Configure the following settings. Except where noted, options for Main Stream and Sub Stream are the same:
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Compression: Select the video compression type that will be used. For H.265 compatible cameras, it is recommended to select H.265, as it will use the least amount of disk space.
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Resolution: Select the resolution that you want to use to record the selected channel. Higher resolutions create a more detailed image,
but take up more hard disk drive space to record and require more bandwidth to stream to connected computers or mobile devices.
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Note
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Available resolutions for the Main Stream and Sub Stream depend on the model of camera that is connected to the system.
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Frame Rate (FPS): Select the frame rate in Frames Per Second (FPS) that each stream will record at. A higher frame rate provides a smoother
picture, but requires more storage and bandwidth.
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Bit Rate Type: Select CBR (Constant Bit Rate) or VBR (Variable Bit Rate) to determine the bit rate type. If you select VBR, select the Quality from 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest).
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Bit Rate (Kbps): Select the bit rate for each recording stream. A higher bit rate results in a better image, but increases the amount of hard
disk drive space or bandwidth required.
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Note
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Click Apply to save changes.
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(OPTIONAL) Click Copy to apply the settings for the current channel to one or more other channels.
9.3 Setting the Recording Schedule
You can set a custom recording schedule according to your needs. For example, you can set the system to record continuously
during business hours and record on motion detection only outside of business hours.
A custom recording schedule helps reduce the amount of hard disk drive space required, increasing the time your system can
retain recordings.
9.4 Setting up Scheduled or Manual Recording
You can set the system to record based on a schedule or you can manually turn recording on and off. By default, the system
is set to always record on a schedule.
To set options for manual recording:
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From the Live View display, right-click to open the Quick Menu. Click Manual Control, then Record.
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Under Main Stream, select how the system will record the Main Stream for each channel:
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Auto: Main Stream recording will follow the recording schedule.
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Manual: The system will record the Main Stream continuously as long as this option is checked.
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Off: The system will not record the Main Stream for this channel. This option is not recommended.
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Under Sub Stream 1, select how the system will record the Sub Stream for each channel.
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Auto: Sub Stream recording will follow the recording schedule.
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Manual: The system will record the Sub Stream continuously as long as this option is checked.
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Off: The system will not record the Sub Stream for this channel. This option is not recommended.
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Under Display Stream, select how the system will record the Sub Stream for each channel.
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Auto: Sub Stream recording will follow the recording schedule.
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Manual: The system will record the Sub Stream continuously as long as this option is checked.
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Off: The system will not record the Sub Stream for this channel. This option is not recommended.
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Under Snapshot, select On to enable snapshot recording on each channel. Or, select Off to disable snapshot recording.
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Note
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Click Apply to save changes.
9.5 Configuring hard disk drive Overwrite
When the hard disk drive is full, the system will overwrite the oldest recordings by default. This is recommended, as it makes
sure that your system will continue to record without any input from you. You can also set the system to stop recording once
the hard disk drive is full.
To configure hard disk drive overwrite:
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From the Live View display, right-click to open the Quick Menu, then click Main Menu.
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Click STORAGE. Click the Basic tab from the side panel.
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Ensure HDD Full is set to Overwrite to overwrite the oldest recordings when the hard disk drive is full.
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Note
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Select Stop for the system to stop recording when the hard disk drive is full.
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Click Apply to save changes.