Videoswitch VDM - Manual (Page 9)

Videoswitch
VDM Digital Recorder
Vdm601t.doc
1
1 Overview
1.1 The VDM Digital Recorder
The VDM Digital Recorder provides a one-box solution for multiplexing, digital recording of video images
from up to 16 cameras, CD backup and remote dial-up viewing of live or recorded images.
• All you need for a digital recording system is the VDM recorder, up to 16 cameras and a display
monitor. This set-up will permit the video images from all the cameras to be recorded onto hard disc
for a period of typically 31 days. Beyond that time, the oldest images will be over-recorded by new
images.
• Any images available on the hard disc can be played back without interrupting the recording
process. An instant search facility allows images to be found by time and date. Events can be
tagged by the built-in activity detection and by external alarms (e.g. PIR detectors), and tagged
events may be instantly recalled and stepped through.
• The SWEEP mode allows the contents of the hard drives to be rapidly scanned for the easy location
of particular areas of interest even when the date and time is not known.
• For permanently archiving images, a CD writer is included as standard in all VDM recorders. Any
incidents on the hard disc that you wish to archive onto CD may be marked. These are then copied
onto a blank CD. Both CD-R and CD-RW type CDs may be used. The CD-R discs have the
advantage for evidence of being permanent and completely protected from possible alteration. The
CD-RW discs on the other hand may be erased and re-used.
• Incidents stored onto CD may be played back in any VDM.
• CDs may also be played back on a PC with the free “VDM Replay” or “VDM Play” software.
• The CD drive also stores the VDM’s configuration, which can facilitate subsequent installations.
• The CD drive is also used to install firmware updates to the system. These will be made available on
CD and on the Internet as new features are added.
An important feature of the VDM Digital Recorder is the inclusion of removable hard drives. This offers the
significant advantage over products with in-built hard drives in providing the user with the ability to upgrade
the drive capacity at any time. Additionally, it also means zero down-time if one of the two drives fails in
service; a replacement drive can be sourced and plugged in while the system continues unaffected on its
single remaining drive.
The removable hard drive facility also allows additional hard drives be used to extend the storage capability.
A further application is in situations where review of the recordings is required at another site; a hard drive
can be readily removed and transported.
Whilst the VDM Digital Recorders are designed to run out of the box with no set-up required, there is great
flexibility in the configuration options. The update rate and the image qualities of each camera may be
programmed to optimise the usage of the available hard drive capacity. These settings can be different
depending on time of day and on the alarm and activity status. An important feature of the VDM Digital
Recorders is that the actual size of the recorded images depends on how much detail there is in them.
Images with less information content use less discs space than those containing a lot of detail, such as
faces, people and number plates. The benefit is that the hard drive space is used much more efficiently;
enabling higher quality images and faster updates than would otherwise be possible. This is in contrast to
other systems where images are forced to a constant size, irrespective of their information content.
A variety of multi-screen screen modes are provided, including real-time quads and real-time picture-in-
picture (PIP). Dual monitor outputs are provided for the main monitors, and a spot monitor output provides a
completely independent full screen display. Independent covert protection is possible on main and spot
monitors. Each monitor also has auto-sequencing facilities, with a user programmable set of cameras for
each.
The keyboard and menu system are fully protected by a multiple level password system that may be used if
required.