Configuring Camera Recording Settings
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Affected Roles: Administrator, Power Users
Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps: DW Spectrum
Software Version: 6.0
Last Edit: April 3, 2025
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Camera Recording
Administrators and Power Users can configure camera recordings settings for the DW Spectrum Server using the desktop client. This interface includes the ability to set the event when the camera will record, the kind of event that activates recording, and how to set the archive retention period for the camera.
This article will outline the camera recording setup process in DW Spectrum, as well as the different recording types and configurations that can be set by the user.
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Camera Recording Setup
Part 1: Resource Tree Recording Status
The DW Spectrum software is free to use for streaming live videos from IP cameras. However, if you want to record footage to a DW Spectrum Server, a recording license is required to archive data.
Depending on the situation, icons that appear within the Resource Tree panel will indicate the recording status of the camera. Below are the different status icons and their meanings.
No Active License & No Previous Recordings 
- Typical for cameras that are new to the Spectrum Server. Recording has not been enabled yet and no data has been archived for the camera.
Active License & Active Recording Schedule 
- Appears for cameras that have a license applied and a recording schedule that is actively recording video from the camera.
Active License & No Active Recording Schedule 
- Appears for cameras that have a license applied but are not actively recording. This is common for cameras that are set to record only when an I/O (input/output) event is triggered.
- May also indicate a possible communication issue between the camera and the server.
No Active License & Past Recording Archive Available 
- Appears when a camera previously had a recording license applied but is no longer enabled for the camera. The gray circle indicates that there is archived footage still available for viewing. This is common for cameras that have been replaced or are offline with the server.
- May also indicate a loss of connection between the camera and server, or that its recording license has been unavailable for more than 30 days.
Part 2: Enabling Recording
To enable recording on a Server:
- Open the DW Spectrum Client and log in as the Administrator or with the Power Users role.
- Right-click on the target camera in the Resource Tree (left panel) and select “Camera Settings”.
**NOTE: To simultaneously set the recording schedule for multiple devices at the same time, hold the SHIFT key to select a block of devices from the Resource Tree. Alternatively, hold the CTRL key and click on specific devices one at a time.
- Select the “Recording” tab to configure the Recording Schedule.
At the top of the window, set the Recording toggle to the ENABLED (green) position. An activated recording license must be available for the camera.
- In the Recording Schedule section, you may customize a recording schedule for the camera.
Under “Schedule Settings”, select the Framerate (FPS) and Quality for recording.
You can expand the “More Settings” option to manually adjust the desired bitrate, however this setting will automatically update for the camera as you adjust the FPS and Quality settings.
**NOTE: Some cameras have a limited FPS/Bitrate. DW Spectrum will automatically apply the closest setting if the camera cannot support the applied settings. If optimization is disabled, FPS/quality will be ignored and only the schedule will be applied.
- Select the recording parameter that determines when the camera will record. You can change between recording types including Motion, Objects, or Motion & Objects.
Motion Recording
The available Motion recording parameters include the following options. The camera’s Motion Detection feature must be enabled with the DW Spectrum Server for this feature to work.
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- Record Always – select to have the camera constantly record all video to the archive.
- Motion Only – select to have the camera only record when motion has been detected.
- Motion + Low-Res – select to have the camera constantly record all video to the archive using low resolution settings, but switch to the preferred recording settings when motion is detected. This method saves space in the media server storage for scenarios where the camera must always be recording.
- Do Not Record – select to prevent the camera from recording at the specified time.
Object Detection Recording
The available Objects recording parameters include the following options. The camera must have a video analytic feature with object tracking enabled for this feature to work.
- Record Always – select to have the camera constantly record all video to the archive.
- Objects Only – select to have the camera only record when the camera is actively tracking and object or person.
- Objects + Low-Res – select to have the camera constantly record all video to the archive using low resolution settings, but switch to the preferred recording settings when an object is detected. This method saves space in the media server storage for scenarios where the camera must always be recording.
- Do Not Record – select to prevent the camera from recording at the specified time.
Motion & Objects Recording
The available Objects recording parameters include the following options. The camera must have a video analytic feature with object tracking enabled for this feature to work.
- Record Always – select to have the camera constantly record all video to the archive.
- Motion, Objects – select to have the camera only record when the camera has detected motion or when it is actively tracking and object or person.
- Motion, Objects + Low-Res – select to have the camera constantly record all video to the archive using low resolution settings, but switch to the preferred recording settings when motion or an object is detected. This method saves space in the media server storage for scenarios where the camera must always be recording.
- Do Not Record – select to prevent the camera from recording at the specified time.
- After selecting a recording parameter, apply the changes to the camera schedule.
You can select specific hours of the day and days of the week by clicking on individual squares within the schedule grid.
Click-and-drag within the grid to select larger sections of the camera schedule.
- In the Archive Storage section, you can configure the following options:
Keep Archive
- Min – specify the minimum amount of time that the Server may retain recorded footage. Select “Auto” to allow the System to automatically determine the best setting.
- Be careful when setting a minimum retention value. If more than one camera is assigned a Min. Days value, those cameras will have the same priority level – in which case storage results cannot be entirely guaranteed for any of them. If there is insufficient storage space, to retain footage as specified with Min, DW Spectrum will first delete records from cameras that do not have a minimum archive length set, and then the System may stop recording incoming signals from low and average priority Cameras. If storage space is at capacity, no other camera streams will be recorded.
- Max – specify the maximum amount of time that the server will retain recorded footage, after which footage will not be saved for the camera. Select “Auto” to allow the System to automatically overwrite old footage once the maximum retention time has been met.
Motion & Objects Recording
- Pre-Recording – set the amount of time that will be added to the recording before motion or an object is detected. It can be set to a maximum of 90 seconds or less.
- Post-Recording – set the amount of time that will be added to the recording before motion or an object is detected. It can be set to a maximum of 300 seconds or less.
Copying Schedule
Once a recording schedule is configured for the device, you can copy and apply the schedule to another camera. Click the “Copy Schedule to…” button to use this feature.
- Once the recording settings have been configured, click the “Apply” button to save the changes. Click the “OK” button to save the changes and close the Camera Settings window.
For More Information or Technical Support
DW Technical Support: 866.446.3595 (option 4)
https://www.digital-watchdog.com/contact-tech-support/
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DW Sales: 866.446.3595 sales@digital-watchdog.com www.digital-watchdog.com
