Milestone XProtect Camera vs. Server Motion Detect

Some of you have asked me how to setup camera side motion detection on Milestone XProtect as by default when you first add the camera, Milestone uses it's own motion detection, done inside the software. The downside is it uses more CPU, the upside is that it's easier to setup as you do nothing, it's automatic but you can tweak it. The instructions below show the 2013 version, but it's the same for the 2014 version.

This is a brief guide on how to setup camera side motion detection on Milestone XProtect. This is all done in the Milestone XProtect Management Application.

1. Under Advanced Configuration on the left, then Events & Output, right click on Hardware Input Event and select Add New Input Event. Select the camera you want to do this for and check Motion Started on Camera 1 Window 1 and give this event a more unique name, like Driveway Motion Start and click OK. Then do the same for Motion Stopped on Camera 1 Window 1, you'll need both. You can also pick other stuff like Face Detection, Audio, whatever your camera supports

2. Then go to Cameras, select the camera, click the OPEN button and click on Motion Detect and uncheck Enable. It will give you some warning.

3. Now select Recording Properties on the left, uncheck built-in motion detection and check Event, select the Start event you created, select the Stop event you created and click OK. While here you can enable pre and post recording, I usually make it 3 and 8 seconds respectively

As you go, you'll see it asking you to Save or Discard in a yellow banner on top, so click Save at anytime to save your work. If you try an exit without saving, it will prompt you again.

To make sure it's recording, start Smart Client and see if it says "Recording" when motion happens.