NVR - Wrapping - MP4 or AVI

Hi

I desperately need the best NVR that will download the video in MP4 or AVC. The problem i Have at the moment is that it downloads in AVC(type of AVI) but I'm then having to convert. I need an NVR that will circumvent this problem.

Hi

bit confusing the way you post.

Which CCTV cameras are you using which send AVC ? It sounds more you want to convert in real time an AVC stream from e.g. a DSRL camera.

How many channels do you want to convert at the same time ?

Which features do you need in the NVR ?

THX

hi

the problem is the NVR. I need an NVR or NAS that doesn't used codecs. what i mean is i need something AVI not AVC which is quite often the case. I have been informed this is called wrapping.

Hi

CCTV HD IPcams usually send the stream in H.264 format. AVI is just a container which could wrap that h264. You need a NVR which will not re-encode the video stream so that you can export the footage as it is ?

Is that what you are looking for ?

THX

Hi

Yes. Not essentially I dont want it encrypted.

Please advice.

HI

I know one SW (Linux based) which would record the video as it is (no re-encoding) but it supports some brands as HIKVision, Sony, AXIS and all the ones sending standard h264 via RTSP.

Which cam brand do you use and how many cams do u need to connect ?

THX

Blue Iris lets you record to AVI format as an alternative to its native BVR. I've never used it, and I don't think the demo supports this feature, but you can find people who have used it over at the community support forum at cam-it.org.

I can't see any good replies being made while the question is so vague.

Baz, first some definitions.

In an NVR, the video is traditionally first encoded (fancy word for compressed). This allows the video to use less data for transmission and storage. The most common encoding method at the moment is h.264 (which is the short name for MPEG-4 part 10 AVC). If you do not want your video encoded, then you will be using many hundreds of megabytes every minute which is generally unworkable unless you are recording without compression for later editting. This would require a setup that is outside the specifications for (probably all) most marketed NVRs.

After the video is encoded, when the NVR is then directed to record, the stream is written into a file. The type of file is generally called a container (think of it as a specialised folder) which can contain one or more video and audio streams. The type of container will also specify which encoding is valid to be held in that container. The most common container types are AVI (Microsoft) and MP4.

So, now the information is out of the way, you should rewrite your question so that the forum can provide you with an informed recommendation.

AVI is just a file container for audio/video. Inside an AVI file you can insert video which has been encoded with any kind of codec (like h264, MJPEG, MPG-4 etc.).

I know that many SW manufacturers use other extension but in the reality they just pack the video with its original codec. Keep in mind it is VERY CPU consuming to change/convert from one video codec o an other.

When talking about IPcam the video is encoded in the cam itself and the NVR is simply storing the audio/video streams and doing re-encoding mostly while exporting the video e.g. on a DVD/USB device.