Recommended Encode Settings for Best Performance.
Setting optimal encode settings can improve system performance, storage space, and reduce bandwidth transfer. Regarding camera encoding (regardless of make or model) we recommend the following:
We recommend making use of the H.265 compression when available. H.265 provides more efficient bandwidth and resources on both the encoding and storage.
(If you are working with ONVIF cameras and are failing to get a successful connection, try setting H.264 on the camera itself. Avoid H.264B or H.264H in this case.)
It is recommended to choose the maximum available for the camera. Resolution has less impact on encoding than the factors below, so the main reason to reduce this is if your recorder is older and does not support the max resolution or you are trying to pull the camera feed into a 3rd party device or software that has its own limitations for resolution. (If possible, share a substream feed for limited 3rd party devices, and then you can keep your high resolution recordings on the recorder itself)
Reasonable frame rates typically are somewhere around 15-30fps, depending on what is supported by your equipment. Objects moving at high speed will require higher frames, such as cards being flipped, heavy machinery, vehicles, or cash registers. People moving about usually do not require 30fps.
Bitrate Type
CBR (Constant Bit Rate) - CBR encodes video streams at a single consistent bitrate .It is a reliable choice for live streaming.
VBR (Variable Bit Rate) - VBR refers to encoding or transcoding stream segments at different bitrates according to their complexity. The primary benefit of VBR encoding is that it allocates a higher bitrate to the more complex segments of media files and lower bitrates to the simple segments.
Bitrate (KBPS)
This setting is key. The bitrate kbps (kilobits per second) dictates your video file size, which is directly linked to storage and transmission rates, as well as video processing on the recorder itself. You want to keep your bitrates somewhere in the range described below.
Optimum Performance Bitrate = (512 x MP of camera) (i.e. 8mp camera would be set to 4096 for bitrate). Higher than these numbers will tax your recorder video processing with little to no benefit at all in video quality.
Midway Point = (384 x MP of camera); This setting is right in the middle between the highest recommended bitrate and the lowest recommended. There should be no noticeable reduction in quality at this point, but reduces the resources used. Best when trying to increase the available storage space or improve performance.
Lowest Recommended Bitrate = (256 x MP of camera); Lower than this, and you will notice a lessening of video quality.
Audio
Audio encoding has a low impact on performance and storage space, but must be enabled in the Encode settings of your camera or recorder if you want to hear audio or record it. Make sure that all streams have audio enabled when you need audio for a given camera. On some devices, you will need to also specify the source of the audio (Such as from the Audio In on the back of the recorder, or the camera itself. Or it can be a selection of Line-in or Built in Mic)