What is a digital video recorder (DVR), and which features should I look for when purchasing?
A stand-alone digital video recorder, or DVR, is essentially a specialized computer designed to record video images to a hard drive. The DVR converts the analog camera signal to digital and then compresses and saves the images. Digital compression results in a much sharper picture and offers a more efficient means of storage (i.e., digital recordings are more compressed than analog). DVRs are generally capable of handling between 1 and 16 camera inputs and will allow viewing of these images all at once or one at a time. All video feeds are recorded to the hard drive. The DVR is a complete replacement for switchers, quads, or multiplexers connected to a VCR. DVRs are easy to install and operate, with simple plug and play functionality and a user interface similar to a traditional VCR.
