Digital Video Recorder - DVR

A Digital Video Recorder, also known as a DVR, is a device that is capable of accepting multiple analog video feeds for conversion to digital video data with the primary purpose of monitoring and recording within a surveillance application. With the analog video feeds converted into digital video data the video data may be stored on a computer hard drive as opposed to how a traditional analog security system is setup which usually entails that the analog video stream be connect to a VCR for recording to an analog VCR cassette tape. DVR devices may be found to include standalone units or computer card units for installation within a computer tower. DVR computer card variations may come in the form of PCI or PCI-e cards. DVR devices also vary in the amount of analog video feeds that are allowed for connection with 4, 8 and 16 channel DVR product offerings being the most common. In almost all cases, DVR devices will include PC based software for camera management and monitoring.

DVR devices help to ease the transition from analog video surveillance to IP network video surveillance by allowing analog camera feeds to be converted into digital video feeds. Most DVR devices will then allow for these digital video feeds to be accessible within a local area network (LAN) or even remotely over the Internet through the included software and with additional network configuration. DVR technology should be considered for applications where analog cameras already exist but where a need for digital video data accessible from multiple locations is required.