Network Video Recorder (NVR) is simply a software program that enables you to monitor and manipulate network cameras simultaneously. Now let’s just say you are now currently using a NVR to record video data, besides considering the amount of channels that the NVR supports, the storage capacity is the most crucial. As storage space is limited, you are looking forward to record as less useful video data as possible, in that case, wouldn’t it be good to extend the recording time so that you can collect more video data. Typically, in order to achieve this, there are several ways to extend the duration of the video footage by using NVR. Here are some of the factors that cause the effect.
You can start from the hard drive, which depends the total storage space of your NVR. A hard drive is basically a memory box of the NVR, so it does not only contains the video data of the camera but also contains the quality of different features of the footages. This in most cases affect the storage capacity of the hard drive, and makes the storage overflow. There is a way to avoid this affect, which is to look into some general information about the storage retention, that is to get a NVR that have the ability to contain multiple hard drives in which case comes with a bigger storage capacity, so you will get longer recording time. Certainly, this method only works if your budget allows.
Another factor that is affecting it is the number of the cameras connecting to one NVR. Now as it was mention above, more cameras used means more storage capacity will be used because of the different features they contain, that will slowly take up the storage space and will affect the recording duration. So making an another separate additional of a NVR to reduce amount of video cameras in one NVR is another way to avoid the storage overflow. Therefore you are able to store video for more days under the same storage space.
While no matter you equip with the maximum storage space for your NVR, it is limit, even when you choose to reduce the channels being used in one NVR also fails to make sense. Thus you are supposed to use some other ways to get longer recording time. In general, the amount of video storage on your NVR depends on many factors such as the changes to the frame rate, bit rate and the amount of motion in the area being recorded will affect the number of day of recorded video. In the following you may get information how they help in practice.
The cameras resolution and frame rate is a main factors in affecting the recording duration. Now a higher resolution will shortly take up the space, so by reducing the resolution of the camera may help you, changing the resolution means reducing the physical pixel size of the video, such as reducing from 2590px*1520px(4MP) to 1920pc*1080px(2MP) in which case it will lower the cameras resolution. By doing this will significantly increase the recording time of the NVR. But reducing the resolution will have an effect on the clarity and range of the footage, but just let this sink in your head, why would you pay extra expenses for a 4PM instead all you need is a 2PM. And this also have a good side to it because it will increase the maximum frame rates per second of a camera for better motion performance. Changing the frame rate of the video plays an important role in the recording duration. Reducing the frames rate per second in a video will significantly increase the number of footages in a video steam at the expenses of the video motion smoothness. That being said, different situation has different settings, so lowering the frame rates per second is not critical. Evidence is one on the things that most video recorder are structure for, in that case a high quality of the cameras features should be highly required. In that case, a cameras settings could be adjust individually, so you can set it towards your high value assets or any critical areas.
Motion is also one of the affects, because the more motion frame of the video, the more storage it will take, but it’s not that complicated if you want to change it in order for a longer recording time.
Now in some cases there is one or two camera views that includes a source of motion that is not a need for recording. Such circumstances includes something like trees or plastic objects that is been blown by wind. It’s actually a simple method. All you have to do is to make adjustments, that includes adjusting the cameras field of view by physically titling or even rotating the cameras lens, by excluding these motions sources can often increase the recording duration. And make adjustments to the camera where there are motion sources you don’t need.
Additionally, if change the field of view seems impossible, you can try to use privacy mask to stop to monitor those location where will cause frequent false alarms trigger by trees or other objects. Or you can try to lower the sensitivity of the motion sensor to extend recording days.
Moreover, some applications don’t requires round-the-clock surveillance, you can choose to activate motion detection alarm function, or configure to recording only with a certain period of time that will have few requirement to be monitored. This is helpful to get less false alarm or unnecessary video data.
I hope this information could can help know the affects that is causing the record duration problem and different methods in extending it.
