Digital Video Recorders | Video Recording Systems

One of the crucial pieces to your surveillance package is your video recording system. If you are going to spend the money for  state-of-the-art hidden spy  cameras, digital video recorders will compliment them perfectly. Of course digital video recorders (although the best value in the long run) are pretty expensive. A standard VCR will probably do the trick in most cases (with some limitations).  Time-lapse or motion activated VCRs optimize recording time, but won't give you quite the quality or near the options of digital video recorders.

Specifications versus Benefits

Whether you have one, four or sixteen cameras you have to take what those cameras see and store that video for reference or possible evidence. When contemplating the choice between standard video recording systems and digital video recorders, it is well to keep in mind the difference between benefits and  specifications.  The technical specifications of any system are nice to know (and probably worth considerable bragging rights depending upon the crowd you run with), but how the product benefits you should be your primary concern. 

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Sounds fancy but really it's just common sense.  Of course we would like you to buy the most expensive gear we offer, but the primary consideration that should drive your decision, is how this piece of gear will benefit you.   Do you really need that fancy equipment with all the bells and whistles?  Can you afford it?  If so, by all means, feel free to buy half the store!  Will a less capable model satisfy your needs (and not leave you with buyer's remorse)?  If so, get that one. If you are not sure, do more research!  Email us, check around, ask someone who owns one already.  The last thing you want to do is buy the less expensive model and then later on decide you actually need the "big kahuna".   

If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

The bottom line is if you feel rushed or that you might be getting in over your head, take a step back and relax a bit.  We aren't going any where and as the boss likes to say "We ain't sellin' used cars here".  Our aim is for you to be so completely satisfied with your purchase that you not only return to buy again, but spread the news to your friends about what great service and support you got from us.  That's just good business.   

First you need to decide whether you want to record digitally to a DVR, record onto VHS tapes using a VCR, or maybe look into a VISEC, PC based system. There are a bunch of products and tons of information here, so take your time and enjoy looking around.  

Which Video Recording System is right for you?

Digital Video Recorders (DVR) - Unlike VCRs, DVRs record video to a computer hard drive or other media such as a CD or DVD. This makes a DVR easy to maintain because there are no bulky tapes to change or the risk of losing video quality when recording over previous footage. Except for the World's Smallest DVR, all of our other DVRs can be operated and monitored remotely from anywhere in the world using the Internet. Surveillance video data is stored directly on the Digital Video Recorders, so it can be protected from loss caused by operating errors, tampering and accidents.

VCRs - VCRs record to a video cassette tape which creates the need to change tapes. So we built our VCRs with time-lapse and video motion detection features. Video motion detection allows the VCR to begin recording only while motion is detected. Time-lapse is a series of images taken in a set number of time intervals. This means that not every frame is recorded as it is with Real Time. Time-lapse and motion detection help space out your video tapes so you get more surveillance from each tape.

VISEC Surveillance Software - VISEC is a software that is installed on an existing computer that you own. VISEC turns that computer into a video surveillance system. You can connect up to four cameras to the computer and the video can be set-up to record to your computer, VISEC's server, or an FTP site. VISEC can be run in stealth mode, which means that anyone using your computer would not know it's running.