A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) is an electronic device that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card, SSD, or other local or networked mass storage device. DVRs can record analog video sources on-site or capture video from a digital source. They can be connected to analog cameras via coaxial cables, enabling them to be accessed remotely. DVRs offer enhanced functionality like the ability to search recordings for events, or sort by time and date. DVRs can be configured to automatically replace older footage once storage becomes full.
DVRs are commonly used in security systems and provide a multitude of advanced functions over VCR technology, including video searches by event, time, date, and camera. There is also much more control over quality and frame rate, allowing disk space usage to be optimized, and the DVR can also be set to overwrite the oldest security footage should the disk become full. In some DVR security systems, remote access to security footage using a PC can also be achieved by connecting the DVR to a LAN network or the Internet.
DVRs can be categorized as being either PC-based or embedded. A PC-based DVRs architecture is a classical personal computer with video capture cards designed to capture video images. An embedded type DVR is specifically designed as a digital video recorder with its operating system and hardware.
In summary, a DVR is a device that records video in a digital format to a storage device and is commonly used in security systems. It offers advanced functionality over VCR technology, including the ability to search recordings for events, sort by time and date, and remote access to security footage. DVRs can be categorized as PC-based or embedded.
