Setting Up Recording
Using Auto mode for a quick start, or Customization mode for full control
Make sure cameras are added and online. Recording is set per camera, so each camera you want captured must be connected.
Decide your goal. Record everything all the time, or only when something happens? That decides which mode to use.
Open Start > Settings > Record > Mode Settings. At the top you choose between the two modes below.
Rule of thumb: use Auto mode to get going fast, and switch to Customization later if you want different behaviour at different times of day.
Auto mode applies a ready-made recording pattern. The two most common presets are:
All Events Record - records only when a motion, sensor, AI/intelligent or target event happens.
Always (24x7) Record + All Events Record - records continuously all the time, and also flags the event recordings on top. This is the most common 'set and forget' choice.
Go to Start > Settings > Record > Mode Settings.
Select 'Auto Mode' and pick one of the preset modes (for most sites, 'Always (24x7) Record + All Events Record').
To create your own blend of record types, click 'Customized', tick the types you want (see the table below), and click 'Add' so the new mode appears in the list.
For each camera, set the picture quality (encode, resolution, FPS, bitrate, etc. - see 'Picture quality settings' below).
Click 'Apply' / 'OK' to save. Recording starts straight away.
Note: Target Record (people/vehicle/face) needs a camera that supports it; it is not triggered by AI events handled on the NVR, and third-party cameras may not support it.
Customization mode lets you decide exactly when each camera records continuously and when it records only on events, using a weekly schedule.
Go to Start > Settings > Record > Mode Settings and select 'Customization' mode.
Click 'Schedule Management'. You'll see ready-made schedules: 24x7, 24x5 and 24x2 (you can't edit or delete 24x7, but you can edit/delete the others).
Click 'Add' to create a new schedule, give it a name, and set the times.
Apply a schedule to each camera's Schedule Record (continuous) and AI/event record as needed, then save.
The grid shows seven rows (days) of 24 hours each. Blue means recording is on for that time, grey means off.
Drag across the time scale to paint recording hours on, or use the erase tool to remove them.
'Manual' lets you type exact start and end times for a day or for the week.
'All' / 'Reverse' / 'Clear All' select the whole day/week, swap the on and off times, or wipe the selection.
'Copy To' copies one day's pattern to other days so you don't repeat yourself.
Whichever mode you choose, you set how each camera looks and how much space it uses. The defaults are usually fine; adjust if you need sharper footage or less disk use.
Video Encode - H.265S / H.265+ / H.265 / H.264 (newer = smaller files), depending on the camera.
Resolution - higher is clearer but uses more storage.
FPS (frame rate) - higher is smoother but uses more storage.
Bitrate type - CBR keeps a constant bitrate; VBR varies it with the scene to save space.
Max Bitrate / Quality - higher values give better images for more storage. You can set the sub-stream too, and apply settings to all cameras at once under Record > Encode Parameters.
Under Start > Settings > Record > Advanced:
Cycle Record - when the disk fills up, the oldest footage is overwritten by the newest. Keep this on so recording never stops.
Pre-alarm / Post-alarm Record Time - records a few seconds before and after an event, so you don't miss the lead-up or aftermath.
Expiration Time - automatically deletes footage older than a set number of days (useful for retention rules).
To start or stop recording a camera by hand from the live view, click the record button on that camera's toolbar, or right-click the camera and choose 'Manually Record On'. Set how long manual recording lasts under Record > Mode Settings.
Nothing is recording. Check the HDD is installed and formatted, the camera is online, and a record mode/schedule is applied.
Only events record, never continuous. You're likely on an events-only preset - switch to 'Always (24x7) Record + All Events', or add 24/7 hours in your schedule.
Disk fills and recording stops. Turn on Cycle Record so the oldest footage is overwritten.
Footage disappears too soon. Check the Expiration Time isn't set too short, and that the drive is big enough for your settings.
Auto mode - recording set up from a ready-made preset.
Customization mode - recording driven by schedules you build per camera.
Schedule - a weekly map of which hours record; 24x7, 24x5 and 24x2 are built in.
Cycle record - overwriting the oldest footage when the disk is full.
CBR / VBR - constant vs. variable bitrate; VBR usually saves space.
Pre/Post-alarm - extra seconds recorded before and after an event.
Bottom line: go to Record > Mode Settings. For a fast start pick Auto mode and choose 'Always (24x7) Record + All Events Record'. For full control pick Customization mode and build a weekly schedule per camera. Format the disk first, keep Cycle Record on, and set picture quality to balance clarity against storage.