Setting up the hardware for an effective video surveillance system does take a bit of technical expertise. However, another important part of making your security surveillance effective, is figuring out how to record video. By capturing the video from your security surveillance, you have the ability to re-play it at any time. Here are two effective methods for recording video surveillance.
1. DVR
DVR stands for Digital Video Recorder, which is the recording system that has replaced magnetic tape in recording video. DVR’s use digital technology to convert video into stored files. The amount of data that a DVR can store depends entirely on how much hard drive space it has (much like a computer). Some DVR’s also support copying daily archives of surveillance to a DVD or USB thumb drive. A DVR system may or may not come with compatible cameras, and may have the ability to only record when it senses motion. This can help prevent your system from recording unnecessary footage. There are usually two types of DVR systems:
- Stand-Alone DVR – This device does not require a computer in order to record.
- PC-Based Security DVR – This is basically a PC that has been optimized for DVR recording.
The price range on DVR systems ranges from around $200 for basic systems, to upwards of $3000 for more advanced systems. In general, PC-Based DVR systems tend to be more expensive, since they often are able to function as a working computer.
2. Video Capture Software
If you already have your security cameras streaming directly to your home computer, you can use video capture software to record the video seen by your cameras. Some of this software even supports motion-activated recording, though only with compatible motion-activated cameras. Video capture software is very popular, so you will have several choices when purchasing a product. Be sure that it includes any extra features (such as data compression, frame-rate adjustment, etc) that you need in order to capture useful security footage.
Some examples of software that has the ability to record streaming feeds:
It’s important to remember that some programs will capture streaming video directly from a device, while others will simply record on-screen activity. Unless you have a computer dedicated to keeping video surveillance on-screen, you may want to choose a program that captures video directly from a device. Video capturing software can range in cost from being Free (usually open-source) to over $200.
