Dahua 4k color X

[wittaj]

You generally want to match the FPS and iframes. For some systems like Blue Iris, not having them match can be the difference between it capturing motion or not. It also deals with compression of the video.

This will explain H264 versus H265 a little better.

The left image is H264, so all the blocks are the same size corresponding to the resolution of the camera. H265 takes areas that it doesn't think has motion and makes them into bigger blocks and in doing so lessens the resolution. In theory H265 is supposed to need half the bitrate because of the macroblocking. But if there is a lot of motion in the image, then it becomes a pixelated mess. The only way to get around that is a higher bitrate. But if you need to run the same bitrate for H265 as you do H264, then the storage savings is zero. Storage is computed based on multiplying bitrate, FPS, and resolution.



So my one camera sees a parked car in front of my house. H265 sees that the car isn't moving, so it macroblocks almost the whole car. Now a door checker comes by and the motion is missed by the macroblock being so large. Or if it catches it, because the bitrate is low, it is a pixelated mess.

The car is clear and defined in H264, but is blurry and soft edges in H265.

H265 is one of those theory things that sounds good, but reality use is much different.

 

[NightLife]

@wittaj , you rock man. Again, and again you take time to write things up in such a way that it makes brilliant sense. You should consider tech journalism


I always wondered why we were repeatedly steered away from using H.265. Now it's locked and loaded. Thanks!

 

[ronoob]

You generally want to match the FPS and iframes. For some systems like Blue Iris, not having them match can be the difference between it capturing motion or not. It also deals with compression of the video.

This will explain H264 versus H265 a little better.

The left image is H264, so all the blocks are the same size corresponding to the resolution of the camera. H265 takes areas that it doesn't think has motion and makes them into bigger blocks and in doing so lessens the resolution. In theory H265 is supposed to need half the bitrate because of the macroblocking. But if there is a lot of motion in the image, then it becomes a pixelated mess. The only way to get around that is a higher bitrate. But if you need to run the same bitrate for H265 as you do H264, then the storage savings is zero. Storage is computed based on multiplying bitrate, FPS, and resolution.

View attachment 110742

So my one camera sees a parked car in front of my house. H265 sees that the car isn't moving, so it macroblocks almost the whole car. Now a door checker comes by and the motion is missed by the macroblock being so large. Or if it catches it, because the bitrate is low, it is a pixelated mess.

The car is clear and defined in H264, but is blurry and soft edges in H265.

H265 is one of those theory things that sounds good, but reality use is much different.

Hi Wittaj!

So, based on this, are you using H264 with Color4K-X? or H265?

Thanks!

 

[wittaj]

H264 is what I use for all my cameras.

 

[zexoni70]

H264 is what I use for all my cameras.

Dear @wittaj in the pictures below are also the settings in all my cameras.



But what I would ask is the setting for I Frame Interval where it offers 20 or 40, so I'm interested in which value is better and what actually changes by setting the I Frame Interval to 20 or 40 ...?



I would also ask you to explain to me the difference between AI Codec vs Smart Codec vs General i.e. which is the best to choose from the offered codec if H.264 is used as encoding mode?



Greeting and thanks!

 

[wittaj]

Most will match iframe number and FPS. Most use 15 for both.

 

[zexoni70]

Most will match iframe number and FPS. Most use 15 for both.

Here I set up and now both IFrame and FPS are at 15.
So I hope to see improvement!

 

[zexoni70]

Hi @wittaj I would just have one more question for you and if you can explain to me if what is the difference in these three ways of Encoding Strategy (General, Smart Codec and AI Codec)?
Which of the three offered to choose, ie. what do you think is best and what did you choose in your camera settings?
Just to note that I own a camera IPC-HDW3849H-AS-PV-S3 and that it doesn't have that quality as your 4K Full color, so I would like to adjust it the best I can !



Thanks and sorry if I'm boring?

 

[wittaj]

The general codec is the basic codec that it will comply with your settings for variable or constant bitrate and the bitrate number.

AI codec will reduce the video bitstream for anything recorded that isn't AI triggered to save storage space. This is used primarily if you are using IVS rules.

Smart codec will reduce the video bitstream for non triggered video recording to save storage space. This is used primarily for those using smart motion detection.

Personally, I would recommend the general codec. We recommend CBR over VBR, so AI and Smart codec basically mimics VBR and as such you could miss something important.

 

[flynreelow]

The general codec is the basic codec that it will comply with your settings for variable or constant bitrate and the bitrate number.

AI codec will reduce the video bitstream for anything recorded that isn't AI triggered to save storage space. This is used primarily if you are using IVS rules.

Smart codec will reduce the video bitstream for non triggered video recording to save storage space. This is used primarily for those using smart motion detection.

Personally, I would recommend the general codec. We recommend CBR over VBR, so AI and Smart codec basically mimics VBR and as such you could miss something important.

excellent info as usual.

 

[ronoob]

The general codec is the basic codec that it will comply with your settings for variable or constant bitrate and the bitrate number.

AI codec will reduce the video bitstream for anything recorded that isn't AI triggered to save storage space. This is used primarily if you are using IVS rules.

Smart codec will reduce the video bitstream for non triggered video recording to save storage space. This is used primarily for those using smart motion detection.

Personally, I would recommend the general codec. We recommend CBR over VBR, so AI and Smart codec basically mimics VBR and as such you could miss something important.

But then, are you recording all the time? Or only on motion detection etc?
If yes, wouldn't that eat a lot of space, especially if you have more 4k cameras?

 

[zexoni70]

But then, are you recording all the time? Or only on motion detection etc?
If yes, wouldn't that eat a lot of space, especially if you have more 4k cameras?

I have five 4K cameras and I set each one to activate NVR recording on Motion Detection (MD), as I only have one 4 TB WD Purple HDD, I think in my case it is unnecessary to set the NVR to record all the time ...

 

[wittaj]

Beat practice is to record 24/7 because motion detection isn't perfect and something can always happen that doesn't trigger motion detection.

I have my system dialed in pretty good but occasionally someone will have on the right mixture of clothing that the system struggles to see a person and I would have completely missed it if not for 24/7 recording.

 

[samplenhold]

But then, are you recording all the time? Or only on motion detection etc?

I think in my case it is unnecessary to set the NVR to record all the time ...

There are multiple reasons that recording on motion only is not a good idea, such as not all motion in view trips the cam to record and being able to trace before and after video can be very important to understand just what went on. See these posts.

Why I like Continuous Recording (aka 24/7)

So a guy came to the door yesterday, and while my wife did not open the door, it kind of spooked her out. She said he seem suspicious saying he found a driver's license on the lawn and wanted to know if it belonged to her. So when I got back from the range, I checked out the cams. This is one...

ipcamtalk.com

Use of Overview and LPR Cams to Document Midnight Vehicle Distributing Offensive Flyers on Lawns

We were out of town and I was checking my cams remotely one morning and noticed one of the Deputies that regularly patrol my subdivision had been at my front door. She has come to me a few times requesting video as she knows I have fairly good coverage of the streets at my corner. I noticed that...

ipcamtalk.com