Recording Servers: Device Item Parameters

This page describes the device item parameters and options to configure them.

Overview

To access the parameters, select the required device item in the Recording Servers item:

The same device item parameters are available in each device category of the Devices section.

Camera Parameters

The Camera device item parameters are organized into the following tabs:

  1. Info
  2. Settings
  3. Streams
  4. Record
  5. Motion
  6. Fisheye
  7. Privacy Masking
  8. Presets
  9. Preset Tour
  • The switching between tabs is available by clicking on their names.
  • The selected tab is always highlighted.

Camera: Info Tab

The Info tab allows to:

  • View the camera ID
  • View the camera UUID
  • View the camera name and edit it by clicking the Edit icon
  • View the camera description and edit it by clicking the Edit icon
  • View a video stream frame preview captured by the camera
To view the Edit icon, hover the mouse over the required field.

Camera: Settings Tab

The content and parameters of the Settings tab depend on the driver of the selected camera:

  • AXIS driver
  • ONVIF driver
  • Dahua driver
  • Hikvision driver
  • Bosch driver
The Settings tab is only available for cameras with the listed driver types.

Camera settings with the AXIS driver allow configuring the following parameters.

In the Appearance section:

  • Select a scene profile that suits your surveillance scenario:
    • Forensic: Suitable for surveillance purposes
    • Vivid: Useful for demonstration purposes
    • Traffic Overview: Suitable for vehicle traffic monitoring
  • Use the Saturation slider to adjust the color intensity
  • Use the Contrast slider to adjust the difference between light and dark
  • Use the Brightness slider to adjust the light intensity
  • Use the Sharpness slider to make objects in the image appear sharper by adjusting the edge contrast
  • A scene profile optimizes image settings, including color level, brightness, sharpness, contrast, and local contrast, for a specific environment or purpose.
  • Increasing the Brightness parameter can make objects easier to see. Brightness is applied after image capture and doesn’t affect the information in the image. To get more details from a dark area, it’s usually better to increase gain or exposure time.
  • Raising the Sharpness parameter may also lead to a higher bitrate and an increased amount of storage space required.

In the Wide Dynamic Range section:

  • Enable the WDR mode by selecting the On option from the drop-down list to make both bright and dark areas of the image visible.
  • Use the Local Contrast slider to adjust the contrast of the image.
  • Use the Tone Mapping slider to adjust the amount of tone mapping that is applied to the image.
  • To disable the WDR mode, set the option to Off from the drop-down list.
  • A higher Local Contrast value makes the contrast higher between dark and light areas.
  • If the Tone Mapping value is set to zero, only the standard gamma correction is applied, while a higher value increases the visibility of the darkest and brightest parts in the image.

In the White Balance section, select the desired lighting environment from the drop-down list:

  • Auto: Automatic identification and compensation for the light source color. This is the recommended setting which can be used in most situations.
  • Auto – Outdoors: Automatic identification and compensation for the light source color. This is the recommended setting which can be used in most outdoor situations.
  • Custom – Indoors: Fixed color adjustment for a room with some artificial light other than fluorescent lighting and good for a normal color temperature around 2800 K.
  • Custom – Outdoors: Fixed color adjustment for sunny weather conditions with a color temperature around 5500 K.
  • Fixed – Fluorescent 1: Fixed color adjustment for fluorescent lighting with a color temperature around 4000 K.
  • Fixed – Fluorescent 2: Fixed color adjustment for fluorescent lighting with a color temperature around 3000 K.
  • Fixed – Indoors: Fixed color adjustment for a room with some artificial light other than fluorescent lighting and good for a normal color temperature around 2800 K.
  • Fixed – Outdoors 1: Fixed color adjustment for sunny weather conditions with a color temperature around 5500 K.
  • Fixed – Outdoors 2: Fixed color adjustment for cloudy weather conditions with a color temperature around 6500 K.
  • Hold: Keep the current settings and do not compensate for light changes.
  • Manual: Fix the white balance with the help of a white object. Drag the circle to an object that you want the camera to interpret as white in the live view image. Use the Red balance and Blue balance sliders to adjust the white balance manually.
  • When the camera detects the color temperature of the incoming light, it can adjust the image to make the colors look more natural. If this is not sufficient, you can select a suitable light source from the list.
  • The automatic white balance setting reduces the risk of color flicker by adapting to changes gradually. If the lighting changes, or when the camera is first started, it can take up to 30 seconds to adapt to the new light source. If there is more than one type of light source in a scene, that is, they differ in color temperature, the dominating light source acts as a reference for the automatic white balance algorithm. This behavior can be overridden by choosing a fixed white balance setting that matches the light source you want to use as a reference.

In the Day Night Mode section:

  • Select the IR filter cut mode from the drop-down list:
    • Yes, to turn on the IR-cut filter. The image is in color, but with reduced light sensitivity.
    • No, to turn off the IR-cut filter. The image is in black and white for increased light sensitivity.
    • Auto, to automatically turn on and off the IR-cut filter. When the camera is in day mode, the IR-cut filter is turned on and blocks incoming infrared light, and when in night mode, the IR-cut filter is turned off, and the camera’s light sensitivity increases.
  • Use the Threshold slider to adjust the light threshold where the camera changes from day mode to night mode:
    • Move the slider towards Bright to decrease the threshold for the IR-cut filter. The camera changes to night mode earlier.
    • Move the slider towards Dark to increase the threshold for the IR-cut filter. The camera changes to night mode later.
The Threshold slider is enabled only for Auto mode.

In the Exposure section:

  •  Select the exposure mode from the drop-down list to reduce rapidly changing irregular effects in the image, for example, flicker produced by different types of light sources:
    • Auto: The camera adjusts the aperture, gain, and shutter automatically.
    • Hold: Locks the current exposure settings.
    • Flicker-free 50 Hz: The camera adjusts the aperture and gain automatically, and uses the shutter speed 1/50 s.
    • Flicker-free 60 Hz: The camera adjusts the aperture and gain automatically, and uses the shutter speed 1/60 s.
    • Flicker-reduced 50 Hz: This is the same as flicker-free, but the camera might use shutter speeds faster than 1/100 s for brighter scenes.
    • Flicker-reduced 60 Hz: This is the same as flicker-free, but the camera might use shutter speeds faster than 1/120 s for brighter scenes.
  • Select the exposure zone to optimize the exposure in a selected part of the scene:
    • Auto: Suitable for most situations.
    • Center: Uses a fixed area in the center of the image to calculate the exposure. The area has a fixed size and position in the live view.
    • Upper: Uses an area with a fixed size and position in the upper part of the image to calculate the exposure.
    • Lower: Uses an area with a fixed size and position in the lower part of the image to calculate the exposure.
    • Left: Uses an area with a fixed size and position in the left part of the image to calculate the exposure.
    • Right: Uses an area with a fixed size and position in the right part of the image to calculate the exposure.
    • Spot: Uses an area with a fixed size and position in the live view to calculate the exposure.
    • Custom: Uses an area in the live view to calculate the exposure. You can adjust the size and position of the area.
  • Select the max shutter speed in seconds from the drop-down list to provide the best image.
  • Select the suitable max gain in dB from the drop-down list to improve the image.
  • Use the Blur-Noise Trade-Off slider to adjust the priority between motion blur and noise:
    • Move the slider to the left (low noise) if you want to prioritize low bandwidth and have less noise at the expense of details in moving objects.
    • Move the slider to the left (low motion blur) if you want to prioritize the preservation of details in moving objects at the expense of noise and bandwidth.
  • Choose whether to lock the aperture by selecting the corresponding option from the drop-down list:
    • Yes, to keep the aperture size set by the Aperture slider.
    • No, to allow the camera to automatically adjust the aperture size (for example, for scenes with permanent light conditions).
  • Use the Aperture slider to adjust the aperture size, that is, how much light passes through the lens:
    • Move the slider towards Open to allow more light to enter the sensor and thereby produce a brighter image in low-light conditions. An open aperture also reduces the depth of field, which means that objects close to or far from the camera can appear unfocused.
    • Move the slider towards Closed to allow more of the image to be in focus.
  • Use the Exposure Level slider to adjust the image exposure.
  • Configure the Defog parameters:
    • Select Yes from the drop-down list to enable the detection and automatic removal of foggy weather effects for a clearer image.
    • Select No To disable the defog mode.
    • Move the Strength slider to the right (to increase) or to the left (to decrease) the defog strength in percentage, if the Yes option for the Defog parameter has been previously selected.
  • We recommend using the automatic exposure mode, or the same frequency as your power network.
  • Low shutter speeds (longer exposure) might cause motion blur when there is movement, and a too high shutter speed might affect the image quality. Max shutter works with max gain to improve the image.
  • Increasing the max ain improves the visible level of detail in dark images, but also increases the noise level. More noise can also result in increased use of bandwidth and storage. If you set the max gain to a high value, images can differ a lot if the light conditions are very different from day to night. Max gain works with max shutter to improve the image.
  • You can change the exposure either by adjusting the exposure time or by adjusting the gain. If you increase the exposure time, it results in more motion blur, and if you increase the gain, it results in more noise. If you adjust the Blur-Noise Trade-Off towards low noise, the automatic exposure will prioritize longer exposure times over increasing gain, and the opposite if you adjust the trade-off towards low motion blur. Both the gain and exposure time will eventually reach their maximum values in low-light conditions, regardless of the priority set.
  • We recommend not to enable the Defog mode in scenes with low contrast, large light level variations, or when the autofocus is slightly off. This can affect the image quality, for example, by increasing the contrast. Furthermore, too much light can negatively impact the image quality when defog is active.

In the Optics section, click the Calibrate Focus button to reset the optics, zoom, and focus settings to the factory default position. This step is necessary if the optics have lost calibration during transport, or if the device has been exposed to extreme vibrations.

Camera settings with the ONVIF driver allow configuring the following parameters.

The number of configurable parameters may vary depending on the capabilities supported by the specific device.

In the General Information section:

  • Move the corresponding sliders to adjust the image:
    • Brightness
    • Saturation
    • Contrast
    • Sharpness
  • Select the IR filter cut mode from the drop-down list:
    • On, enabling IR cut filter; typically Day mode
    • Off, disabling IR cut filter; typically Night mode
    • Auto, allowing the device to enable or disable the IR cut filter automatically
  • Select the Wide Dynamic Range mode state from the drop-down list:
    • On, to enable the WDR mode
    • Off, to disable the WDR mode
  • Enter the specific WDR level value if WDR mode is enabled (optional). The possible range is from 0 to 100:
    • 0: WDR is turned off.
    • 1: WDR is set to its minimum effect.
    • 100: WDR is set to its maximum effect, providing the greatest level of dynamic range correction.

In the Focus section:

  • Select the focus mode from the drop-down list:
    • Auto, allowing the device to adjust focus automatically
    • Manual, disabling automatic focus adjustment and enabling manual setting
  • Set near/far limits for focus lens (for Auto focus mode only): 
    • Near Limit: Parameter to set autofocus near limit (unit: meter).
    • Far Limit: Parameter to set autofocus far limit (unit: meter). If set to 0.0, infinity will be used. 
  • Set default speed value for focus move operation (for Manual focus mode only)

In the White Balance section:

  • Select the white balance adjustment mode from the drop-down list:
    • Auto, allowing the device to adjust the white balance automatically.
    • Manual, disabling automatic white balance adjustment and enabling manual setting.
  • Enter the required values in the CR Gain and CB Gain fields to manually adjust the white balance. The possible range is from 0 to 100.
  • If the device does not support white balance, the settings for White Balance will not be displayed.
  • If the White Balance Mode is Manual, the CB Gain and CR Gain additional parameters are available.
  • If the White Balance Mode is Auto, the CB Gain and CR Gain values do not have impact on the setup.

In the Exposure section, select the Exposure mode and set the required parameters:

  •  Auto mode enables the exposure algorithm on the device:
    • Select the exposure priority mode from the drop-down list:
      • Low Noise
      • Frame Rate
    • Enter the required values in seconds in the Exposure Min. Time and Exposure Max. Time fields to set time range allowed to be used by the algorithm.
    • Adjust the Exposure Min. Gain and Exposure Max. Gain parameters to set the sensor gain range that is allowed to be used by the algorithm. The possible range is from 0 to 100.
  • Manual mode disables the exposure algorithm on the device:
    • Enter the fixed exposure time used by the image sensor (μs).
    • Enter the fixed gain value used by the image sensor (dB).
    • Enter the value for fixed attenuation of input light affected by the iris (dB). 0dB maps to a fully opened iris. 

In the Backlight section:

  • Select the Backlight Compensation mode state from the drop-down list:
    • On, to enable the BLC mode
    • Off, to disable the BLC mode
  • Enter the specific BLC level value if BLC mode is enabled (optional). The possible range is from 0 to 100:
    • 0: BLC is turned off.
    • 1: BLC is set to its minimum effect.
    • 100: BLC is set to its maximum effect, providing the greatest level of backlight compensation.

Camera settings with the Dahua driver allow configuring the following parameters.

In the Picture section:

  • Select the profile preset mode from the drop-down list:
    • Day: Weaker hue and lower contrast than the actual image
    • Night: Default image style, displaying the actual color of the image
    • Normal: More vivid image than the actual one
  • Select the mirror mode from the drop-down list:
    • On, to enable the mirror mode and display the picture with left and right side reversed
    • Off, to disable the mirror mode
  • Use the Brightness slider to adjust the picture brightness
  • Use the Contrast slider to change the contrast of the picture
  • Use the Saturation slider to adjust the color intensity
  • Use the Sharpness slider to change the sharpness of the picture edges
  • Use the Gamma slider to adjust the picture brightness and improve the dynamic range in a non-linear way
  • Set the display direction of the picture by selecting the desired angle from the Flip drop-down list:
    • 0°: Normal display
    • 90°: The picture rotates 90° clockwise
    • 180°: The picture rotates 90° counterclockwise
    • 270°: The picture flips upside down
  • Higher brightness values result in a brighter picture, while lower values make it darker. Excessive brightness may cause the picture to appear hazy.
  • Higher contrast values increase the contrast between bright and dark areas. Lower values reduce the contrast. Excessive contrast may cause dark areas to be too dark and bright areas to be overexposed. Insufficient contrast may make the picture appear hazy.
  • Higher saturation values result in deeper colors, while lower values make the colors lighter. Saturation adjustments do not affect image brightness.
  • Higher sharpness values result in clearer edges. Excessive sharpness may introduce picture noise.
  • Higher gamma values result in a brighter picture, while lower values make it darker.

In the Exposure section:

  • Select the anti-flicker mode from the drop-down list:
    • 50 Hz: When the electric supply is 50 Hz, the system adjusts the exposure according to ambient light automatically to ensure that no stripe appears.
    • 60 Hz: When the electric supply is 60 Hz, the system adjusts the exposure according to ambient light automatically to ensure that no stripe appears.
    • Outdoor: You can select any device exposure mode as needed.
  • Choose the device exposure mode from the Mode drop-down list:
    • Auto: Automatically adjusts the image brightness according to the actual conditions.
    • Gain Priority: When the exposure range is normal, the system prioritizes the configured gain range while auto-adjusting based on ambient lighting conditions. If the image brightness is insufficient and the gain has reached its upper or lower limit, the system automatically adjusts the shutter value to maintain ideal brightness. You can configure the gain range to adjust the gain level in the Gain Priority mode.
    • Shutter Priority: When the exposure range is normal, the system prioritizes the configured shutter range while auto-adjusting based on ambient lighting conditions. If the image brightness is insufficient and the shutter value has reached its upper or lower limit, the system automatically adjusts the gain value to maintain ideal brightness.
    • Manual: Manually configure both gain and shutter values to adjust image brightness.
  • Select the effective exposure time from the Shutter drop-down list: The smaller the value, the shorter the exposure time will be. If the Custom option is selected, set the minimum and maximum shutter in milliseconds.
  • Adjust the Gain sliders to set the desired gain range. Depending on the illumination conditions, the camera automatically balances the gain within the set range to produce clearer images.
  • Select the 3D NR mode state from the drop-down list:
    • Auto: Reduces noise by using the frame information between previous and subsequent frames. This works only with multi-frame (no fewer than 2 frames) images.
    • Off: Disables the 3D noise-reduction mode.
  • If the Auto mode state is selected, move the Grade slider to adjust the effectiveness of the 3D NR parameter. The higher the grade, the better the noise reduction result.
  • The Mode parameter with related settings is available only if the Outdoor option is selected in the Anti-flicker mode.
  • The Shutter parameter with related settings is available only if the Shutter Priority or Manual device exposure mode is selected.
  • The Min. Gain and Max. Gain parameters are available only if the Gain Priority or Manual device exposure mode is selected.

In the Backlight section, select the backlight mode from the drop-down list:

  • BLC: Enables backlight compensation, allowing the camera to capture clearer images of dark areas when shooting against the light. Additionally, select the BLC type:
    • Default: The system automatically adjusts exposure based on ambient lighting conditions to ensure the clarity of the darkest areas.
    • Customized: The system automatically adjusts exposure only in the specified area based on ambient lighting conditions to ensure the set area has ideal brightness.
  • HLC: Enables highlight compensation in environments with extremely strong light (such as toll stations or parking lots). The camera will dim strong light and reduce the size of the halo zone to lower the overall image brightness, allowing it to capture details of human faces or license plates clearly. The higher the value, the more pronounced the HLC effect will be.
  • WDR: Dims bright areas and compensates dark areas to ensure the clarity of the entire image. The higher the value, the brighter the dark areas will be, but more noise may be introduced.
  • SSA: Automatically adjusts the image brightness according to the environment to make the objects in the image clearer.
  • Off: Disables the backlight mode.
There might be a few seconds of video loss when the device switches to WDR mode from another mode.

In the White Balance section, select the white balance mode from the drop-down list:

  • Auto: The system automatically adjusts the white balance according to color temperature to ensure color accuracy.
  • Natural: The system automatically adjusts the WB for environments without artificial light to ensure color accuracy.
  • Street Lamp: The system adjusts the WB for outdoor night scenes to ensure color accuracy.
  • Outdoor: The system automatically adjusts the WB for most outdoor environments with natural or artificial light to ensure color accuracy.
  • Manual: Manually configure the red and blue gain; the system automatically adjusts the WB according to color temperature.
  • Custom Area: The system adjusts the WB only for the set area according to color temperature to ensure color accuracy.
The WB function ensures that image colors are displayed accurately. When in WB mode, white objects will always appear white in different environments.

In the Day/Night section:

  • Select the device display mode:
    • Color: The system displays color image.
    • Auto: The system switches between color and black-and-white display according to the actual condition.
    • B/W: The system displays black-and-white image.
  • Select the camera sensitivity level when switching between color and black-and-white mode:
    • Low
    • Middle
    • High

  • Select the delay value in seconds for the camera to switch between color and black-and-white mode. The lower the value, the faster the camera switches between color and black-and-white mode.

The Sensitivity and Delay parameters are available only if the Auto display mode is selected.

In the IR Light section, select the IR light mode:

  • Manual: Manually set the brightness of the IR light. The system adjusts light compensation based on the IR light intensity.
  • SmartIR: The system automatically adjusts the IR light brightness according to the actual scene.
  • Off: Disables the IR light mode.

Camera settings with the Hikvision driver allow configuring the following parameters.

In the Image Adjustment section, move the corresponding sliders to adjust the image:

  • Brightness
  • Saturation
  • Contrast
  • Sharpness 

In the Exposure Settings section:

  • Select the mode from the drop-down list:
    • Auto, to set the auto iris level from 0 to 100
    • If the camera is equipped with a fixed lens, only Manual is selectable, and the iris mode is not configurable
  • If the Manual mode is selected:
    • Select the exposure time in seconds from the drop-down list to adjust the electronic shutter time according to the actual luminance condition. The possible range is from 1/3 to 1/100,000s
    • Move the Gain slider to set the image gain value from 0 to 100. The bigger the value is, the brighter would the image be, and the noise would also be amplified to a larger extent.

In the Day/Night Switch section:

  • Select the Day/Night Switch mode according to different video security demands:
    • Day: The camera stays in day mode
    • Night: The camera stays in night mode
    • Auto: The camera switches between the day mode and the night mode according to the illumination automatically
    • Schedule: The camera switches between the day mode and the night mode according to the defined schedule
  • If the Day mode is selected, enable the Smart Supplement Light and choose the supplement mode from the drop-down list:
    • Auto, to change the supplement light according to the actual luminance (e.g., if the current scene is bright enough, then the supplement light adjusts itself to lower power; and if the scene is not bright enough, the light adjusts itself to higher power)
    • Manual, to adjust the supplement by adjusting the distance (e.g., if the object is near the camera, the device adjusts the supplement light to lower power, and the light is in a higher power if the object is far away)
  • If the Auto mode is selected, adjust the additional parameters:
    • Set the Sensitivity value from 0 to 7. The higher the value is, the easier the mode switches.
    • Set the Filtering Time value from 5 to 120 seconds. It refers to the interval time between the day/night switch.
  • If the Schedule mode is selected, set the start time and the end time to define the duration for day/night mode

In the Backlight Settings section:

  • Select the BLC area from the drop-down list:
    • Close
    • Up
    • Down
    • Left
    • Right
    • Center
  • If the BLC area is set to Close, the WDR parameter becomes available. Select the Open option from the WDR drop-down list to use WDR when there is a high contrast of the bright area and the dark area of the scene
  • If the WDR is enabled, set the WDR Contrast value from 0 to 100. The higher the value, the brighter the dark areas will be, but more noise may be introduced.

In the White Balance section, select the required white balance mode to adjust the color temperature according to the environment:

  • MWB
  • AWB1
  • AWB2
  • Locked WB
  • Incandescent Lamp
  • Warm Light Lamp
  • Natural Light
  • Fluorescent Lamp

In the Image Enhancement section:

  • Select the digital noise reduction mode from the drop-down list:
    • Off
    • Normal
    • Expert
  • If the Normal mode is selected, set the DNR time level from 0 to 100 by moving the slider
  • If the Expert mode is selected, set the DNR level for both space DNR [0-100] and DNR time [0-100]

Camera settings with the Bosch driver allow configuring the following parameters.

In the Color section, move the corresponding sliders to adjust the image:

  • Brightness
  • Saturation
  • Contrast 

In the White Balance section:

  • Select the appropriate white balance mode from the drop-down list:
    • Standard Auto mode allows the camera to continually adjust for optimal color reproduction in an environment with natural light sources.
    • Indoor mode is recommended for use in most indoor situations with artificial lighting.
    • Sodium Lamp auto mode allows the camera to continually adjust for optimal color reproduction in an environment with sodium vapor light sources (street lighting).
    • ATW Hold mode places the ATW on hold and saves the color settings.
    • Extended ATW mode allows the camera to adjust constantly for optimal color reproduction.
    • Manual RGB mode allows the Red, Green, and Blue gain to be manually set to a desired position.
    • Outdoor mode is recommended for use in most outdoor situations with natural light sources.
    • Basic auto mode allows the camera to continually adjust for optimal color reproduction using an average reflectance method. This is useful for indoor light sources and for colored LED light illumination.
    • Dominant Color auto mode takes into account any dominant color in the image (for example, the green of a football pitch or of a gaming table) and uses this information to obtain a well-balanced color reproduction.
    • Color Temperature mode allows for manual adjustment of color temperature.
  • Turn the RGB-weighted white balance on to manually adjust:
    • R-Weight from -50 to +50, with 0 as the default. Reducing red introduces more cyan.
    • B-Weight from -50 to +50, with 0 as the default. Reducing blue introduces more yellow.
    • G-Weight from -50 to +50, with 0 as the default. Reducing green introduces more magenta.

In the Exposure section:

  • Select the mode for automatic light-level control (ALC):
    • Fluorescent 50 Hz
    • Fluorescent 60 Hz
    • Standard Auto
  • Adjust the ALC level. A positive value is more useful for low-light conditions; a negative value is more useful for very bright conditions.
  • Select the shutter mode from the drop-down list:
    • Fixed, to set a selectable shutter speed
    • Auto, to let the camera automatically set the optimum shutter speed. The camera tries to maintain the selected shutter speed as long as the light level of the scene permits.
  • Select the shutter speed from the drop-down list for fixed exposure 
  • Select the default shutter speed from the drop-down list to improve the motion performance in Auto exposure mode. The camera tries to hold this shutter value as long as sufficient ambient light is available in the scene.

In the Day/Night section:

  • Select the desired day/night mode from the drop-down list:
    • Monochrome: The IR cut-off filter is removed, giving full IR sensitivity. It forces the camera to stay in Nigh Mode and transmit monochrome images.
    • Color: The camera does not switch to Night Mode regardless of ambient light conditions and always produces a color signal regardless of light levels.
    • Auto: The camera switches the IR cut-off filter on and off depending on the scene illumination level. It switches out of Night Mode after the ambient light level reaches a pre-defined threshold.
  • If the Auto mode is selected, move the Night to Day Switchover slider to adjust the light level at which the camera automatically switches out of night mode (B/W) operation. Select a value between 10 and 55 (in increments of 5; default 40). The lower the value, the earlier the camera will switch to color mode.

In the Enhance section:

  • Select the backlight compensation (BLC) mode from the drop-down list:
    • Off to switch off the backlight compensation
    • On to capture details in high-contrast and extremely bright-dark conditions
    • Intelligent to capture object detail in scenes with people moving in front of a bright background
  • Enable the contrast enhancement to increase the contrast in low-contrast conditions
  • Enable intelligent defog feature which continuously adjusts image parameters to provide the best picture possible under foggy or misty conditions
  • Enable intelligent DNR which reduces noise based on motion and light levels
  • Adjust the sharpness level between -15 and +15. The zero position of the slider corresponds to the factory default level.
  • Adjusts the temporal noise filtering level between -15 and +15. The higher the value, the more noise filtering.
  • Adjust the spatial noise filtering level between -15 and +15. The higher the value, the more noise filtering.
  • BLC does not work in Fixed shutter mode.
  • The BLC function ignores small areas of high illumination directly into the camera. It increases the brightness of the overall screen to make sure that the subjects and the larger portion of the scene remain bright.
  • A low (negative) Sharpness Level value makes the picture less sharp. Increasing sharpness brings out more detail. Extra sharpness can enhance the details of license plates, facial features, and the edges of certain surfaces but can increase bandwidth requirements.

In the Scene Mode section, select the desired current mode from the drop-down list:

  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
  • Vibrant
  • A scene mode is a collection of image parameters that are set in the camera when that particular mode is selected (installer menu settings are excluded). Several pre-defined modes are available for typical scenarios. After a mode has been selected, additional changes can be made through the user interface.
  • When the camera is in an indoor room that often has smoke or has low contrast and the camera monitors an area facing the outdoors (such as large windows), Bosch recommends selecting the Outdoor mode.

Camera settings with the Hanwha driver allow configuring the following parameters.

In the Preset Mode section select the desired image preset mode from the drop-down list:

  • Number Plates
  • Outdoor Daytime
  • Vivid
  • User Preset 1
  • Indoor Backlight
  • Indoor Bright Scene
  • User Preset 2
  • Outdoor Night Time

In the SSDR section:

  • Enable the SSDR mode to increase the brightness of the dark area alone to regulate the overall brightness in a scene where the difference between bright and dark is severe
  • Select the amplitude area of the dynamic range from the drop-down list:
    • Narrow
    • Wide
  • Adjust the level of dynamic range by moving the slider

In the White Balance section:

  • Select the desired white balance mode;
    • Manual, to adjust the red and blue gains of the camera video manually.
    • ATW, to correct the colors of the camera video automatically.
    • Narrow ATW, to auto-correct camera video color in 2800 K ~ 9000 K environment.
    • Outdoor, to correct the video colors of the camera automatically to be optimized for the outdoor environment.
    • Indoor, to correct the video colors of the camera automatically to be optimized for the indoor environment.
    • AWC, to correct the colors of the camera video to be optimized to the current lighting condition and screen mode. To obtain the optimal condition for the current lighting, put the focus of the camera to a white paper. If the lighting environment is changed, you should readjust the settings accordingly.
    • Mercury, to calibrate the camera video colors automatically so that they are optimized for mercury lamp illumination. 
    • Sodium, to calibrate the camera video colors automatically so that they are optimized for lighting conditions such as sodium.
  • Move the Red Gain and Blue Gain sliders to adjust the red and blue gains of the camera video when the Manual mode is selected

The white balancing may not work properly in the following conditions:

  • If the surrounding condition of the object is out of the temperature correction range (e.g., clear sky, sunset)
  • If the surroundings of the object are dark
  • If the focus of the camera directly faces the fluorescent lighting or if the camera is installed in a place of variable illumination, the white balancing operation may be unstable.
If this is the case, switch to AWC mode.

In the Backlight section select the desired mode and set its parameters as required:

  • Select BLC mode to set the area to be displayed more clearly and change the BLC level to adjust the brightness of the monitoring area
  • Select HLC mode to cut off the desired area to prevent an over-saturation on the monitor, if a strong light like a streetlamp or vehicle headlight points toward the camera. In this mode set the additional parameters as required:
    • Change the HLC level to cut off the highlighted area
    • Select the Mask mode from the drop-down list:
      • Off: Does not block an area with a brightness that is a certain level or higher.
      • On: Always blocks an area with a brightness that is a certain level or higher.
      • Night Only: No blocked area is generated if the surrounding environment becomes dark to a certain level.
      • All Day: No blocked area is generated if the surrounding environment becomes dark or bright to a certain level.
    • Enable Dimming to detect an area on the screen with strong light, adjust the brightness, and reduce the saturated area
  • Select WDR mode to display a sharp image of the objects in a scene where both bright and dark areas exist. In this mode set the additional parameters as required:
    • Change the WDR level to adjust the intensity of backlight compensation
    • Choose the WDR control mode from the drop-down list:
      • Auto, to detect the surrounding environment and automatically use backlight compensation
      • Always On, to constantly use backlight compensation 
      • Turn Off in Low Light, to disable automatic backlight compensation when detecting a dark environment
      • Turn Off in Black/White, to disable automatic backlight compensation when switching to B/W mode
  • At night operation, HLC will be activated only if the incoming highlight exceeds a certain area in a low-contrast environment.
  • At night operation, HLC will not function in a too bright or too dark scene.
  • During daytime operation, HLC will not work in dark conditions.
  • WDR is recommended for use in the indoor environment.
  • Noise may exist between the dark area and the bright area in the WDR mode.
  • With WDR mode On or Off, the minimum, maximum, and user-preferred shutter values will be reset.
  • If you use the P aperture lens manually or a shaking preventive shutter, the WDR performance is partially limited.
  • In WDR mode, noise may occur in the motion area.

In the Exposure section adjust the exposure level of the camera:

  • Adjust the brightness of the screen. The higher the number, the brighter the screen.
  • Set the desired value for each Shutter parameter. The shutter can set the sensor exposure automatically according to the environment; the electronic shutter operates at a range between minimum shutter and maximum shutter:
    • Min. Shutter: Select the minimum value of the possible range for exposure time and set a long exposure time
    • Max. Shutter: Select the maximum value of the possible range for exposure time and set a short exposure time
    • Prefer Shutter: Select the proper exposure time that has a high priority in operation within the range of exposure time
  • Select the antiflicker mode from the drop-down list. It prevents screen flickering that occurs due to inconsistency in the lighting in the capturing environment. Available options are:
    • Off
    • 50 Hz
    • 60 Hz
  • Select the desired mode for SSNR:
    • On, to use the SSNR function and additionally adjust the SSNR level
    • Off, to disable SSNR
    • Wise NR, to adjust the noise reduction level automatically to improve object discrimination when a moving object is in the image
  • Select the required level of SSNR 2D and SSNR 3D parameters. These options are available only if On or Wise NR mode is selected for SSNR:
    • SSNR 2D Level: Reduces noise on the image using adjacent pixels in one frame. Noise will be reduced when you raise the level, but the picture may become less clear.
    • SSNR 3D Level: Reduces noise on the image using the pixels of various frames. The higher the level, the less the noise, but then the video might lag.
  • Select the iris mode from the drop-down list:
    • Auto, to automatically adjust the iris depending on the optical intensity of the surroundings
    • Manual, to manually adjust the iris’s F-number
  • Select AGC (Auto Gain Control) mode to adjust the brightness by controlling the sensitivity of image gain when capturing an object in dim light:
    • Off, to disable the AGC function that brightens dark images by amplifying gain from the video signal. When this option is selected, SSNR and Day/Night do not work.
    • Manual, to manually adjust the AGC level.
    • Max gain, to set the max gain level which can be auto-controlled depending on the brightness of the surroundings.
  • If the background is darker than the subject, the subject will be shown normally only when the exposure is decreased. Conversely, if the background is brighter than the subject, the subject will be shown normally only when the exposure is increased.
  • The screen exposure can be saturated depending on the max/min range of shutter settings.
  • Enabling the Antiflicker mode disables all Shutter parameters.
  • It may take a while until the effect is applied or canceled after setting the Wise NR mode (SSNR 2D and SSNR 3D).
  • The level of noise might go up despite the improved video detection ability after setting the Wise NR mode (SSNR 2D and SSNR 3D).
  • In a bright environment with less noise, the effect of Wise NR (SSNR 2D and SSNR 3D) can be little.
  • As the usage of AGC increases, the SSNR 3D value for SSNR also increases, which could lead to stuttering in the video.
  • AGC action increases screen noise.
  • If the AGC mode option is set to Off or Manual, or if the Max Gain value is set to below 30 dB, the Day/Night mode cannot be set to Auto in the respective section.

In the Day Night Mode section:

  • Select the Day/Night mode from the drop-down list to change the image to color or b/w according to the camera’s environment:
    • Auto: Switches to color mode during the daytime and b/w at night or in low light.
    • B/W: Outputs an image in b/w.
    • Color: Outputs an image in color.
    • Schedule: Activates the Day/Night switch according to the set schedule.
  • Select the Dwell Time value in seconds to change to color or b/w when the Auto mode is selected for Day/Night and the brightness condition is maintained for the set dwell time
  • Select the duration mode from the drop-down list to set the time interval when switching to color or b/w occurs. Selecting Customize allows you to manually set the duration by moving the sliders
  • If Schedule is selected in the Day/Night mode, set the schedule for operation in color mode
  • If AGC under Exposure is set to Off or Manual, or if Max gain is set below 30 dB, Day/Night cannot be set to Auto.
  • In Schedule, when the Everyday checkbox is selected and the time is set, color mode is activated at the relevant time every day, and b/w mode is activated at all other times. If you wish not to have the color mode set for the same time every day, deselect Everyday and set the activation time to Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat., or Sun., respectively.

In the Special section:

  • Enable the Digital Image Stabilization parameter to automatically correct the video and stabilize the screen when the camera is shaking due to external impacts, such as wind.
  • Enable the Sharpness parameter to adjust the overall sharpness of the image. Additionally, set the desired value in the Sharpness Level parameter by moving the slider. The higher the sharpness level, the stronger and clearer the video sharpness is.
  • Enable the Gama Control parameter to adjust the brightness level of the video.
  • Select the desired value in the Gamma parameter to adjust the contrast of the image. This means the gap between the brightest part and the darkest part in an image; a higher gamma value means a clearer display of the difference in brightness.
  • Move the Contrast slider to adjust the shade contrast of the image.
  • Move the Color Level slider to adjust the intensity of color in the image.
  • Enable the Local Contrast parameter to see the subtle difference in the video brightness more clearly.
  • Move the Local Contrast Level slider to adjust the intensity of the local contrast. The higher the level value, the higher the contrast of the video, which means a clearer image. However, this also increases the level of noise on the screen, and a warped form of the duplicated image might be more visible around the edges.
  • Select the Defog mode from the drop-down list to correct the image when it is foggy or cloudy:
    • Auto: The surrounding environment is detected and the image is corrected automatically.
    • Manual: The user can see the surrounding environment and set the correction level directly by adjusting the defog level. A higher defog level displays the image more clearly. If the fog level is low and a high defog level is
      set, the screen may look darker.
    • Off: Defog is disabled.
  • When DIS is enabled, the video screen may be reduced or enlarged.
  • If the Defog mode is set to Auto, as the amount of fog decreases, the level of the defog function is also lowered. To maintain the same effect of the function despite a decrease in the fog, then set the Defog mode to Manual.
  • If the fog level is low and a manual high defog level is high, the screen may look darker.

In the Focus section:

  • Select the focus mode from the drop-down list:
    • Auto: The focus will be adjusted automatically according to the zoom factor.
    • Manual: The focus will be adjusted manually according to the zoom factor.
    • One Shot AF: Auto Focus will be performed once after the zooming operation.
  • Select the zoom mode from the drop-down list to set how the focus is interconnected:
    • Auto: It will control (detect and correct) the zooming operation to keep fitting the focus.
    • Manual: The zooming operation will be guided by the focus track.
  • Select the applicable range when automatically adjusting the camera focus:
    • Narrow, to  automatically adjust the focus in consideration of only a partial range from the current location
    • Wide, to automatically adjust the focus in consideration of the whole supported range for the camera
  • Select the zoom mode to synchronize the camera focus when the zoom is operating:
    • Auto: Even if the zoom magnification is changed, the zoom operates while maintaining the focus by continuously appraising and modifying the condition in focus.
    • Manual: The zoom operates according to the set focus track. The image may be out of focus if the zoom magnification is changed.
  • Set the zoom speed from the drop-down list:
    • Fast
    • Medium
    • Slow
  • Select the lens reset option from the drop-down list:
    • Choose Manual, to reset the lens manually once by clicking the Reset button
    • Select a desired time between 1 and 7 days to reset the lens automatically at the set period from the set time
  • Since the automatic focusing function adjusts the focus based on a subject in the middle of the screen, subjects on the periphery of the screen may be out of focus.
  • The automatic focusing function may not operate normally under the following conditions:
    • If there is a bright light or flashing light, such as a neon sign
    • If the illumination in the monitoring area is low
    • If the illumination in the monitoring area is excessively high
    • If the camera operates with a slow shutter
    • If the subject is dark
    • If there is no intensity difference, such as between the sky and a wall
    • If the camera is aimed at a thin horizontal line
    • If there are objects both far and near within the monitoring area
  • When setting as the manual focus, the focus can be changed due to the change of the surrounding environments.


Camera: Streams Tab

The Streams tab allows to:

  • Manage camera's streams:
    • Enter the stream name or characters in the name in the Video Stream Name search field to filter streams
    • Click the Add Stream button to add a stream with the selected profile to the table
    • View the stream name in the Name column
    • Select the desired settings profile for the stream from the drop-down list in the Profile column
    • Select the checkbox in the Record column to enable stream recording
    • Select the required stream in the Default column to set it as a default stream from the camera
    • Click the Delete icon to delete the stream
  • Manage stream profiles:
    • Click the Create Profile button to create a custom stream profile. In the Create Profile pop-up window:
      1. Enter the name of a new profile
      2. Click the Confirm button
    • Select the required profile by clicking its name
    • Configure the selected stream profile parameters
    • Delete the required stream profile by right-clicking its name and selecting the Delete option in the context menu
  • Click the Save button at the upper-right corner of the Streams section to save the parameter changes
  • Select the Reset icon to cancel the changes
  • The switching between tabs is available by clicking on their names.
  • The selected profile's name is always highlighted.
  • The Create Profile button is only available for cameras with drivers that support the create/delete profile functionality.
Deleting a video stream will automatically remove it from all analytics in any plugins where it is used. Ensure that the stream is not required before proceeding with the deletion.

The parameters of stream profiles depend on the driver of the selected camera:

  • AXIS driver
  • Basic driver
  • RTSP driver
  • ONVIF driver
  • Dahua driver
  • Hikvision driver
  • Bosch driver
  • Hanwha driver
  • Uniview driver

Stream profile settings with the AXIS driver allow to:

 

  • Click the desired profile name to view stream details, including:
    • Stream URL
    • Profile name and token
    • Video source name and token
  • Configure the stream parameters in the selected profile:
    • Select the required codec type from the Encoding drop-down list:
    • Select the desired stream resolution from the Resolution drop-down list
    • Specify the time interval in seconds between video data encoding in the Encoding Interval field
    • Enter the required number of frames per second for the stream in the Frame Rate Limit field
    • Enter the desired value in kilobits per second in the Bitrate Limit field to limit the data transfer rate for the stream

Stream profile settings with the Basic driver allow to:

  • Click the desired profile name to view stream details, including:
    • Stream URL
    • Profile name and token
    • Video source name and token
    • Video encoder name and token
  • Configure the stream parameters in the profile:
    • Select the required codec type from the Encoding drop-down list:
    • Select the desired stream resolution from the Resolution drop-down list
    • Specify the time interval in seconds between video data encoding in the Encoding Interval field
    • Enter the required number of frames per second for the stream in the Frame Rate Limit field
    • Move the Quality slider to the left (to decrease) or to the right (to increase) the image quality
    • Enter the desired value in kilobits per second in the Bitrate Limit field to limit the data transfer rate for the stream

Stream profile settings with the RTSP driver allow viewing of the available stream profile information:

  • Stream URL
  • Profile name and token
  • The option to create a custom stream profile is unavailable for the camera with the RTSP driver.
  • The existing stream profile cannot be deleted.

Stream profile settings with the ONVIF driver allow to:

  • Click the desired profile name to view stream details, including:
    • Stream URL
    • Profile name and token
    • Video source name and token
    • Video encoder name and token
  • Configure the stream parameters in the profile:
    • Select the required codec type from the Encoding drop-down list:
    • Select the desired stream resolution from the Resolution drop-down list
    • Specify the time interval in seconds between video data encoding in the Encoding Interval field
    • Enter the required number of frames per second for the stream in the Frame Rate Limit field
    • Move the Quality slider to the left (to decrease) or to the right (to increase) the image quality
    • Enter the desired value in kilobits per second in the Bitrate Limit field to limit the data transfer rate for the stream

Stream profile settings with the Dahua driver allow to:

  • Click the desired profile name to view stream details, including:
    • Stream URL
    • Profile name and token
    • Video source name and token
  • Configure the stream parameters in the profile:
    • Select the required codec type from the Encoding drop-down list
    • Select the desired stream resolution from the drop-down list
    • Select the bitrate type from the drop-down list:
      • VBR (Variable Bitrate), which allows the bitrate to vary depending on the complexity of the video content
      • CBR (Constant Bitrate), which maintains a consistent bitrate regardless of the video content's complexity
    • If the VBR option is selected, adjust the video quality level by moving the Quality slider:
      • To a higher value, increasing the quality, but also increasing the average bitrate
      • To a lower value, decreasing the quality, but saving more bandwidth
    • Enter the required number of frames per second for the stream in the Frame Rate Limit field
    • Select the bitrate mode from the drop-down list:
      • 2048
      • 8192
      • Custom
    • If the Custom option is selected, enter the desired value in kilobits per second in the Bitrate Limit field to limit the data transfer rate for the stream
  • The option to create a custom stream profile is unavailable for the camera with the Dahua driver.
  • The existing stream profiles cannot be deleted.
  • The VBR type decreases the bitrate when the scene is simple, saving bandwidth. Conversely, when the scene is complex, the bitrate increases to maintain video quality. VBR is more efficient in terms of bandwidth usage and can provide better overall video quality.
  • The CBR type ensures a predictable and steady stream of data, which can be beneficial for network stability and storage planning. However, it may result in lower video quality during complex scenes or inefficient use of bandwidth during simple scenes.
  • The Quality setting helps balance the trade-off between video quality and bandwidth efficiency when using variable bitrate.
  • For the Record Always recording mode, set the bitrate type to VBR to optimize storage space. This reduces the bitrate during low activity periods, saving storage while maintaining video quality. Conversely, for the Motion Only recording mode, set the bitrate type to CBR with the highest possible bitrate to ensure the best picture quality during motion-triggered recording.

Stream profile settings with the Hikvision driver allow to:

  • Click the desired profile name to view stream details, including:
    • Stream URL
    • Profile name and token
    • Video source name and token
  • Configure the stream parameters in the profile:
    • Select the required codec type from the Encoding drop-down list
    • Select the desired stream resolution from the Resolution drop-down list
    • Enter the required number of frames per second for the stream in the Frame Rate Limit field
    • Enter the desired value in kilobits per second in the Bitrate Limit field to limit the data transfer rate for the stream
    • Move the Quality slider to the left (to decrease) or to the right (to increase) the image quality 

Stream profile settings with the Bosch driver allow to:

  • Click the desired profile name to view stream details, including:
    • Stream URL
    • Profile name and token
    • Video source name and token
  • Configure the stream parameters in the profile:
    • Select the required codec type from the Encoding drop-down list
    • Select the desired video mode from the drop-down list
    • Select the required bitrate optimization support setting from the drop-down list:
      • Off: Bitrate optimization support is disabled
      • Maximum Quality
      • High Quality
      • Medium
      • Low Bitrate
      • Minimum Bitrate
    • Select the desired frame rate for the video stream from the drop-down list
    • Select the required structure for the group of pictures from the GOP Mode drop-down list, depending on whether you place greater priority on having the lowest possible delay (IP frames only) or using as little bandwidth as possible:
      • IP
      • IBP
      • IBBP
    • Enter the maximum bitrate value in kilobits per second. The value in this field must be at least 10% higher than the value entered in the Target Bitrate field. If the maximum bitrate value is too low, it will be adjusted automatically.
    • Enter the target bitrate value in kilobits per second. For complex images or frequent changes of image content due to frequent movements, this limit can temporarily be exceeded up to the value entered in the Maximum Bitrate field.
    • Select the appropriate averaging period as a means of stabilizing the long-term bitrate
    • Move the I/P-Frame Delta QP slider to set the ratio of the I-frame quantization (QP) to the P-frame quantization (QP). For example, you can set a lower value for I-frames by moving the slider to a negative value. Thus, the quality of the I-frames relative to the P-frames is improved. The total data load will increase, but only by the portion of I-frames
    • Move the I-Frame Distance slider to set the intervals in which the I-frames will be coded
    • Move the Min. P-Frame QP slider to adjust the image quality of the P-frame and to define the lower limit for the quantization of the P-frames, and thus the maximum achievable quality of the P-frames

To obtain the highest quality at the lowest bandwidth, even in the case of increased movement in the picture, configure the quality settings as follows:

  1. Observe the coverage area during normal movement in the preview images.
  2. Set the value for Min. P-Frame QP to the highest value at which the image quality still meets your needs.
  3. Set the value for I/P-Frame Delta QP to the lowest possible value.

This is how to save bandwidth and memory in normal scenes. The image quality is retained even in the case of increased movement since the bandwidth is then filled up to the value that is entered under Maximum Bitrate.

  • The encoder maintains the maximum bitrate over a number of GOPs (group-of-pictures), limiting image quality when necessary. To ensure the long-term stability of the maximum bitrate, use the Averaging period parameter.
  • The target bitrate should be set according to the desired picture quality for typical scenes with no excessive motion. It is intended to limit the data rate for the device, optimizing the use of the bandwidth in the network.
  • The I-Frame Distance values range from 3 to 255. An entry of 3 indicates that I-frames are continuously generated. An entry of 4 indicates that only every fourth image is an I-frame, and so on; the frames in between are coded as P-frames. The supported values depend on the GOP Mode setting. For example, only even values are supported with IBP; if you have selected IBBP, only 3 or multiples of 3 are supported.
  • In the H.264 protocol, the Quantization Parameter (QP) specifies the degree of compression and thus the image quality for every frame. The lower the quantization of the P-frame (QP value), the higher the encoding quality (and thus the best image quality) and the lower the frame refresh rate depending on the settings for the maximum data rate under network settings. A higher quantization value results in low image quality and lower network load. Typical Min. P-Frame QP values are between 18 and 30.

Stream profile settings with the Hanwha driver allow to:

  • Click the desired profile name to view stream details, including:
    • Stream URL
    • Profile name and token
    • Video source name and token
  • Configure the stream parameters in the profile:
    • Select the required codec type from the Encoding drop-down list:
      • MJPEG
      • H.264
      • H.265
    • Select the desired stream resolution from the Resolution drop-down list
    • Enter the required number of frames per second for the stream in the Frame Rate Limit field
    • Enter the desired value in kilobits per second in the Bitrate Limit field to limit the data transfer rate for the stream
    • Select the bitrate control type from the drop-down list:
      • CBR (Constant Bitrate), which maintains a consistent bitrate regardless of the video content's complexity
      • VBR (Variable Bitrate), which allows the bitrate to vary depending on the complexity of the video content
    • Choose the desired encoding priority from the drop-down list:
      • Frame rate
      • Compression
    • Select the H.264 profiling method from the Profile drop-down list:
      • High
      • Main
      • Baseline
    • Select the Entropy Coding mode in H.264 with the High or Main profile method to reduce the possible compression loss due to encoding:
      • CABAC
      • CAVLC
    • Move the Video Compression slider to the left (to decrease) or to the right (to increase) video compression
    • Select the Smart Codec mode from the drop-down list when the bitrate control value is CBR
    • Move the GOV Length slider to set the distance (in terms of the number of frames) between two consecutive I-Frames in a video sequence when H.264/H.265 codec is selected
    • Enable the Dynamic GOV Mode to make the GOV length automatically change to the set value of the maximum dynamic GOV when the bitrate control is VBR in H.264/H.265 codec
    • Move the Dynamic GOV slider to set the value of the maximum dynamic GOV when Dynamic GOV is enabled
    • Enable the Dynamic FPS Mode to automatically change the setting of the FPS value to the minimum dynamic value when the bitrate control is VBR in H.264/H.265 codec
    • Move the Minimum FPS slider to set the minimum dynamic value when Dynamic FPS is enabled


Camera: Record Tab

The Record tab allows to:

  • Select/deselect the Recording checkbox to enable/disable the camera recording
  • Select the required recording hours for each day:
    • Click the single cell to select it
    • Hold and drag the mouse to select multiple cells in the required area
    • Click the required hour to select the corresponding cell column
    • Click the required day of the week to select the corresponding cell row
    • Click the All button to select all cells in the table chart
  • Switch the selection mode:
    • Record Always mode to enable recording under any conditions
    • Motion Only mode to enable recording only under motion detection
    • Not Record mode to skip recording
  • Click the Copy Schedule To icon to copy the schedule to multiple other cameras. In the Copy Schedule To pop-up window:
    • Check the boxes next to the required cameras and folders
    • Click the Confirm button 
  • Set the parameters for keeping records in the archive:
    • Enter the maximum keeping duration value
    • Select the Auto checkbox to set the archive retention period to 7 days by default
    • Select the maximum keeping duration value type from the drop-down lists:
      • Minutes
      • Hours
      • Days
  • Set pre- and post-recording time in seconds for motion and object recording
  • Click the Save button to apply changes
  • The Copy Schedule To pop-up window contains all connected cameras except for the one from which the schedule is being copied.
  • Deleting the archive will also permanently delete all bookmarks within a selected time period on a specific camera.

Camera: Motion Tab

The Motion tab allows to:

  • Select/deselect the Motion Detection checkbox to enable/disable the motion detection
  • Set the required level of the motion detection sensitivity from 0 to 9
  • Select the motion detection area with the selected sensitivity level on the camera frame preview:
    • Click and drag the cursor over the frame to specify the area borders
    • Click the Reset icon to reset all selected motion detection areas
  • Click the Save button to apply changes
  • The default motion detection area with a sensitivity level of 5 cannot be reset.
  • The number in the upper-left corner of each motion detection area indicates the sensitivity level for that area.
  • Various motion detection areas with different sensitivity levels are interchangeable.

Camera: Fisheye Tab

The Fisheye tab allows to:

(in the development process)

Camera: Privacy Masking Tab

The Privacy Masking tab allows to:

  • Select/deselect the Privacy Masking checkbox to enable/disable the privacy masking
  • Check the Show Overlay for the Administrator Access Level box to enable privacy masking displaying for administrators
  • Select the privacy masking area with the desired mask type on the camera frame preview:
    • Click and drag the cursor over the frame to specify the area borders
    • Click the Reset icon to reset all selected privacy masking areas
  • Click the Save button to apply changes
  • Use the Liftable mask type to visually overlay the desired area in the interface, masking it from the user's view.
  • Use the Permanent mask type to visually overlay the desired area in the interface, masking it from the user's view and preventing the system from detecting anything within the selected area on the frame.
  • Use the No mask type to clear the desired area from the privacy mask.
  • Neither mask type is applied to the exported video.

Camera: Presets Tab 

The Presets tab is unavailable for devices with RTSP or Basic drivers, as they do not support PTZ functionality.

The Presets tab allows to:

  • Manage presets:
    • In the Presets table:
      • Click the Set on the Camera icon to see the required preset position on the camera frame preview
      • Click the Delete icon to delete the required preset
    • In the camera frame preview, view the selected preset position
  • Manage PTZ session:
    • Set the timeout for the reserved PTZ session:
      • Enter the time value
      • Select the time units:
        • Seconds
        • Minutes
        • Hours
    • View the user who initiated the PTZ session, and the timeout before the session ends
    • Click the Start Session button to start the manual PTZ session for the reserved time
    • Click the Stop Session button to stop the manual PTZ session before the reserved session time ends
  • The Set on the Camera icon is clickable only during the PTZ session. If there is no PTZ session, the icon remains locked.
  • Changes to the values of the Timeout for Reserved PTZ Session parameter will be applied to the next session after the modifications are made. The changes cannot be applied to the current session.
  • The Enlargement icon in the upper-right corner of the frame allows opening the frame in full-size view. Clicking the icon again will return the frame to its previous view.

The manual PTZ session allows to:

  1. Use PTZ controllers to select the desired preset position:
    • Zoom controllers ("+" and "-"), to zoom the frame in and out
    • Direction controllers, to move across the zoomed-in frame in the desired direction
  2. Click the Save Position button to add a new preset based on the manually selected position. In the Add Preset pop-up window:
    • Enter a new preset name
    • Click the Confirm button
  3. Click the preset shortcuts to move between added presets and see their positions in the frame
The preset shortcuts are similar to the preset IDs specified in the Presets table.

Camera: Preset Tour Tab

The Preset Tour tab is unavailable for devices with RTSP or Basic drivers, as they do not support PTZ functionality.

The Preset Tour tab's functional menu allows to:

  • Enter the tour or preset name or characters in the name in the Tour/Preset Name search field to filter tours and presets
  • Right-click the required tour and in the drop-down menu:
    • Select the Add Preset option to add the required presets to the selected tour
    • Rename the selected tour
    • Collapse the selected tour if its content is expanded
    • Delete the selected tour
  • Select, hold, and drag the required preset to rearrange its position within the tour
  • Switch the Loop toggle to enable/disable the preset tour cyclic playback
  • Click the Play/Stop icon to start or stop the desired preset tour playback
  • Edit the required preset settings within the required tour
  • Delete the required tour or preset
The preset tour or presets within it can not be edited or deleted during the selected preset tour playback.

To create a new preset tour, click the Create Tour button. In the Create Tour pop-up window:

  1. Configure the tour parameters:
    • Enter the preset tour name
    • Select the Loop Preset Tour checkbox to enable the preset tour cyclic playback
  2. Click the Confirm button

To add a preset to the tour, select the Add Preset button. In the Add Preset pop-up window:

  1. Set the required parameters:
    • Select the desired tour from the drop-down list to contain the presets
    • Select the desired preset name from the drop-down list
    • Enter the required preset stay time and select the desired time value from the drop-down list:
      • Seconds
      • Minutes
      • Hours
    • Choose the transition speed from the drop-down menu:
      • Lowest
      • Low
      • Normal
      • High
      • Highest
    • Click the Add Preset button to add one more preset to the tour
    • Click the Delete icon to delete the required preset from the tour
  2. Click the Confirm button
  • The Stay Time parameter determines the time for which the selected preset is displayed during the preset tour playback.
  • The Speed parameter is responsible for the rate at which the selected preset replaces the previous one during preset tour playback.
  • The delete icon becomes available in each preset row only if the tour contains 2 or more presets.
  • The number of presets within one tour is not limited.
  • The same preset can be positioned within different tours without any limits.
  • The same preset can be duplicated on different positions within one tour.

To edit the required preset, select the Edit icon on the toolbox. In the Edit Preset pop-up window:

  1. Change the required parameters:
    • Enter the required preset stay time and select the desired time value from the drop-down list:
      • Seconds
      • Minutes
      • Hours
    • Choose the transition speed from the drop-down menu:
      • Lowest
      • Low
      • Normal
      • High
      • Highest
  2. Click the Confirm button to apply changes
  • The Preset Name and Tour Name fields are not available for editing.
  • The Stay Time parameter is responsible for determining the duration for which the selected preset is displayed during the preset tour playback.
  • The Speed parameter is responsible for the rate at which the selected preset replaces the previous one during preset tour playback.

To delete the required tour or preset:

  1. Select the Delete icon on the toolbox
  2. Confirm the intention in the pop-up window
Deleting a preset removes it solely from the current tour, preserving its presence within the camera's Presets.

Camera: Plugins

The Plugins tab is available only if at least one analytics plugin is installed and enabled.

The Plugins tab allows viewing and managing all analytics related to the selected camera. Tab's functional menu allows to:

  • Select the desired analytics status from the Status drop-down list to filter analytics
  • Click the Create Group button to create a new analytics group:
    1. Select the desired plugin in the pop-up window
    2. Enter a new analytics group name within the Root group of the chosen plugin
    3. Press Enter to confirm the intention
  • Right-click the desired analytics group and in the context menu:
    • Select the Create Analytics option to create a new analytics for a desired plugin within the selected group
    • Select the Create Group button to create a new analytics group within the selected one
    • Choose the Start/Stop Analytics options to enable or disable all analytics within the selected group simultaneously
    • Rename the selected analytics group
    • Collapse the selected group's content if it's expanded
    • Delete all analytics within the selected group simultaneously
  • Right-click the desired analytics and in the context menu:
    • Start/Stop the selected analytics
    • Move the selected analytics to another group within the plugin
    • Delete the selected analytics
The plugin's root group cannot be renamed or deleted.

To create a new analytics:

  1. Click the green Create Analytics button
  2. Select the desired plugin from the list
  3. Click the Confirm button
  • Once the desired plugin is selected, proceed to set up the parameters of new analytics according to the specific plugin requirements.
  • The camera currently being viewed is automatically selected when creating analytics. This selection, including the stream, can be changed at any time if other options are available.

To edit the required analytics, select the Edit icon and proceed to edit the parameters of the selected analytics according to the specific plugin requirements:

To enable or disable the analytics and view the change in the analytics status:

  1. Select the Start button to enable the analytics
  2. Click the Stop button to disable the analytics process
  3. Confirm the intention

To enable or disable multiple analytics at once, click the Select Analytics button:

The Select Analytics functional menu allows to:

  1. Check the boxes next to the required groups or separate analytics to select them
  2. Click the Start Analytics button and confirm the intention in the pop-up window to enable all selected analytics
  3. Click the Stop Analytics button and confirm the intention in the pop-up window to disable all selected analytics
  4. Click the Cancel button to quit the analytics selection

To view the required analytics live, click the View icon:

Upon clicking the View icon, a new tab with live analytics will be opened in the Client Panel.

To delete the analytics:

  1. Select the Delete icon on the toolbox
  2. Confirm the intention

Microphone Parameters

(in the development process)

Speaker Parameters

(in the development process)

Metadata Parameters

(in the development process)

Input Parameters

(in the development process)

Output Parameters

(in the development process)