5 Things To Pay Attention To When Purchasing A Video Recorder
The amount of video recorders for security cameras presented on the market is just huge! And that’s normal because there are a lot of types and functions, made for different purposes. Although, a wide selection is good – this way we can accurately select the one that we actually need. So, which one you actually and accurately need? How do I select one for myself? What do those characteristics mean? Criterias & Specs! My name’s Daniel, Pipl Systems Store.
The Brand
Well first of all, the brand – it’s better and it’s easier to just stick to your cameras’ manufacturer. It’s likely (like 100% likely) that they also produce video recorders – that’s OK.
Standards & Video Recorder Difference
Item #1 to pay attention to: the standards and a video recorders difference. First things first – the standard. By standard, is it the IP network type, or analog cameras, cause it all starts from your’ cameras selection. We can divide all video recorders into:
- Network Video Recorders, NVRs;
- Digital Video Recorders, DVRs;
- Hybrid Video Recorders, XVRs;
The NVR. Network Video Recorder is a storing device for videos taken on IP security cameras. Video recordings from camera are transmitted over a network to the NVR, that writes that video data onto a hard drive installed in it. From that point you can access, view and manage those videos from nearly any other network device like phone, computer and etc.
Digital Video Recorder. DVR, even though it’s a part of analog system, it is a network device too. The principle is different from an IP – analog signal from analog cameras is transmitted over coaxial cable straight to DVR, that does, 2 things – decodes an analog signal into the digital signal and that’s how we get a digital video file. Then it writes it onto an installed in it hard drive. Now from there, identically to network system, we can access those videos from all other network devices – your phone and computer, and manage vids from there.
Hybrid Video Recorder, XVR – what’s that? As simple, as it sounds – the recorder that supports working with both IP Network Cameras and Analog cameras. Let’s say it’s an 8-channel XVR, where 4 channels are dedicated for analog cameras and other 4 made for network cameras. A rough example, but it’s here only to display a working principle. Similar to NVR and DVR, it writes all the incoming video data onto a hard drive installed in it. And It’s also a network device too, that allows you to access, view and manage those videos from other network devices.
Supported Cams’ Resolution & FPS
Item #2 – supported resolution and video frame rate. I suppose, the most important item, directly affecting the performance of the entire video surveillance system. To obtain a high-quality stable signal – the supported resolution in Video Recorder should be either large, or equal to the resolution that your cameras have. Optimal for home video surveillance models mostly reach up from 4 to 6 megapixels. The frame rate of the video affects the smoothness and file size on the other hand. For network video recorders this indicator is designated as a bandwidth, a frame rate in other words, and it’s better to be high that will allow you to get a high-quality frame rate with high resolution video.
The Number of Channels
Item #3 – the number of channels on a video recorder. Minor, but a highly important on. It’s about the number of cameras that can be connected to a video recorder at once. On a market in most cases this number varies from 4 to 8 to 16 to 32 and 64 channels video recorders – a binary increasement. So what’s the point here – when you are selecting a Video Recorder, you should think about how many cameras will be connected to it, and ask yourself a question – do you plan to ever increase the number of cameras and apply higher resolution cameras? I mean just try to guess this. My main point here – it is always better to select a Video Recorder with a larger number of channels then you plan right now. You’re planning 4 cameras for now – take 8-channel video recorder,considering that price will change quite a bit.
Video Storing
#4 on our list is a video storing matter. Recording of the video archive and its saving, writing onto a designed for video surveillance hard drive, that is installed inside a Video Recorder. First of all, that has to be the drives, intended specifically for video surveillance for continuous and non-stop recording, offering some really nice features for video surveillance systems. A hard drive is installed inside of Video Recorder, and all of the captured videos are saved in there, the volume and selection of a hard drive depends on an individual occasion. Depends on number of cameras, their resolution, bitrate volume, and number of recorded days you want to store, typically it’s thirty days, a month. Also, that’s a type of recording: constant, motion-triggered, by a certain events, by a schedule?
Features & Specs
A finishing paragraph #5 is the possibility of connecting an additional devices, other characteristics. The possibility to support network features is a major aspect. This allows you to monitor your devices in a live mode remotely using a tablet, phone or a computer. When selecting a Video Recorder – make sure you can connect alarm sensors, other additional security devices, examine the presence of a required ports, depending on your task. The cost of a Video Recorder is affected by the number of parameters: a supported number of channels, supported recording resolution, number of hard drives, alarm interfaces, and many other parameters, where the top one – smart, AI intelligent features.
When selecting a Video Recorder, NVR, DVR or an XVR – there are many factors and fitfalls, that only professionals could have seen before, but now the fire went to people. We often get calls that sound like: “I just want this recorder and that’s it.” And then it turns out person needs a completely different one for his occasion. And we get a refund. And you get a pain in the ass and wasted time. Now you know what things to look at when selecting a video recorder for your system. Or you can let professionals do it, but please don’t refuse a consultation. In the Pipl Systems Store we can help you select your Video Recorder and cameras for it, any other video surveillance appliance.
