Systems the export to DVD... Any out there?

[mateck8888 0]

Just curious if anyone knows of a system that exports video to DVD (not as data, but as DVD video for playback in a consumer DVD player). I find it amazing that all the big players do not have this feature. I often prep evidence for my local law enforcement agencies, and they all want it on DVD, because prosecutors HATE the little applications that often come with the video files, and the video files often have special codecs that can't play by itself.

 

I am glad that at least some manufactures allow for more common .avi with common codecs. But NOTHING beats a plain old DVD that can be played in any courtroom in the USA. Anyone know of any manufacture looking at this feature?

[Soundy 1]

I know of none, but I can think of a few drawbacks to it...

 

One, the video has to be converted/transcoded to MPEG-2 for that... which can be a long and CPU-intensive process, which is not something you'd normally want to do ON your DVR.

 

Two, it's not nearly as space-efficient as the codecs typically used for CCTV - at lowest quality, a 4.7GB DVD will hold about 6 hours video, while a data DVD will allow you to put several hours' worth of several cameras. For example, DVR-specific file formats allow proper playback of video recorded at lower framerates, while transcoding for DVD-Video playback requires converting to 30fps (well, 29.97fps for NTSC drop-frame video), which in itself greatly increases the storage space needed. That may be fine for short clips for use in court, but I often see the police wanting half-a-day's output of several or all cameras, which would require multiple DVDs.

 

Three, most DVRs embed timecode and other authentication data in their native video, which allows users (lawyers, police, court officers) to prove that the video hasn't been edited or tampered with. Once you convert to a different format, you lose that proof. Again, a playable DVD-Video might be handy for courtroom playback, but you'd still need a native version that can be authenticated.

 

Most DVRs I've seen that will export AVI, have to convert the video on-the-fly, and it takes FAR longer than exporting directly to their native format, and also takes a lot more space. Rather than exporting video in AVI, it's usually better to export in the DVR's own format, then convert that later as necessary. The conversion will probably go a lot faster anyway.

[mateck8888 0]

Thanks for your comments. In actuality, I have an Aver System demo running in my office that does export to Mpeg2. I'll have to check and see how long it takes to do so. Don't remember it being too bad. Of course after the export, it doesn't do anything to make it into a burnable DVD video.

 

As to the length issue, most of what we have been dealing with here has been shop lifting incidences, traffic stops, gasoline drive offs, and occasional armed robbery. Nothing over a few minutes. I suppose there could be a long covert op sometime, but it seems like everything I get to do is not very long. Our prosecutor wants things in DVD so that everyone, including the defense, can view it. If there does arise a dispute, you can always go back to the original, assuming you exported that as well. Just mentioning the fact that you have the original would kill any serious request for it. But even if you didn’t have the original, it is hard to imaging a jury is going to believe that Walmart hired expert video editors to colon in Ms. Jones to make it look like her that shoplifted the pack of cigarettes.

 

So I still think DVD is really handy to have. But I had not thought of the processing power that might be needed when you are running 16 cameras in the background...

[cctv_down_under 0]

Dont quote me but I am pretty sure some of the Sanyo recorders export in MPEG2 - but is this in a format that can autorun in a standard DVD player - I doubt it - a LOT of newer systems will copy an autorun file onto the DVD as well as their video, IE once you pop the DVD you burned into another pc it will auto detect the codec and if not there it will install it - this could even be made as a simple batch file really - we do this with some of the March Networks DVR's we sell - in this way the codec gets loaded in the background so they have no issue - but I do see your point - the issue is that unless your a casino you dont want to have MPEG2 as the native format as it is too large - so that means transcoding it and that takes a lot of resource to do

[mateck8888 0]

...a LOT of newer systems will copy an autorun file onto the DVD as well as their video, IE once you pop the DVD you burned into another pc it will auto detect the codec and if not there it will install it...

 

Yes, I think most DVR systems do that. At that point, the DVD is just a bid CD, and of course has no playback on DVD players. I have a netvision system one that does that, but often the software they load is not very user friendly. It's great for us professional who are used to seeing "student projec grade" programs written, and can intuitively figure them out. Especially exciting is the language.

 

For a laugh, here is a quote from my Hikivision player software that you can download free:

 

Convert to AVI File will be Failed to Play the MPEG4 File. The converted AVI File can't be larger than 2g! Playing the Converted AVI File must INstall the Divx! if Continued, Click OK Button."

 

matt

"

[cctv_down_under 0]

Thats too funny -

 

What I meant though is you can strip down what most DVR's do in the export process....Ie there is usually just acodec needed for their file to be played in Windows Media Player (assuming that extension is supported) - so you just create a batch file to first detect codec - if not there install it - then launch windows media player (havent seen many pc's without it) and play the root directory of the cd.

 

This means no crappy player to use......just simple WMP but beware with playspeeds.

 

This is only going to work with DVR's that support native formats - but here is a Suga load of these around

[mateck8888 0]

Ok, I see what you mean. That might come in handy some day on some of the real primitive ones.

matt

[Soundy 1]

Thanks for your comments. In actuality, I have an Aver System demo running in my office that does export to Mpeg2. I'll have to check and see how long it takes to do so. Don't remember it being too bad. Of course after the export, it doesn't do anything to make it into a burnable DVD video.

 

Well, that's the other thing: there's more to the structure of a DVD-Video than just the video format.

 

So I still think DVD is really handy to have. But I had not thought of the processing power that might be needed when you are running 16 cameras in the background...

 

Right. Point is, it's probably a lot quicker to simply do it on another computer afterward. Export to your authenticated format and keep that for your original, then load a copy onto a new, fast PC and author as many DVD-Video discs as you need from there. Then you can add your fancy menus and stuff too

[Soundy 1]

Dont quote me but I am pretty sure some of the Sanyo recorders export in MPEG2 - but is this in a format that can autorun in a standard DVD player - I doubt it - a LOT of newer systems will copy an autorun file onto the DVD as well as their video, IE once you pop the DVD you burned into another pc it will auto detect the codec and if not there it will install it - this could even be made as a simple batch file really - we do this with some of the March Networks DVR's we sell - in this way the codec gets loaded in the background so they have no issue - but I do see your point - the issue is that unless your a casino you dont want to have MPEG2 as the native format as it is too large - so that means transcoding it and that takes a lot of resource to do

 

The Vigils do that, no batch required: they put their player/codec installer on the disc with an autorun, so when you pop it in (at least on a Windows machine), it launches, checks if the player and codec already exist on the machine, starts the install if they're not, and just loads the video if they area. The player includes an Authentication function that will tell you within seconds if the video has been tampered with or damaged at all.

[mateck8888 0]

 

Right. Point is, it's probably a lot quicker to simply do it on another computer afterward. Export to your authenticated format and keep that for your original, then load a copy onto a new, fast PC and author as many DVD-Video discs as you need from there. Then you can add your fancy menus and stuff too

 

True, but for for the end user, that would be a bit much to ask. They don't work with this stuff every day like we do. Some of them are great with their Glocks, but not so good with their mice! Even if it took an hour in the background, it would be worth it for them just to set an in-point, and an out-point, and wait for a DVD-Video to pop out.

[Soundy 1]

Yeah, pretty sure your average end-user would just get frustrated at the amount of time it would take the machine to do that... most of them are non-multitasking so sitting staring at the progress bar waiting for the thing to complete would absorb all their attention.

 

Look at it this way: most times you're going to need something like that in DVD-Video format, it will be for "business" issues - store theft, credit card fraud, etc. Coming in to extract and process and convert video is one of the services we, as professionals, can provide our clients to take the worries off them.

[Lethal83 0]

Im looking for exactly the same thing.

I look after a supermarket chain in Australia and they are all asking for the same thing.

They are all short clips of shoplifters, armed robberies etc.

 

I do understand the idea of keeping the video tamperproof but would be good if you had the option.

 

Lee