Avigilon ACC Player User Manual

Avigilon™ Control Center
Player User Guide

Version 5.2.2

©2006 - 2014 Avigilon Corporation. All rights reserved. Unless expressly granted in writing, no license is granted
with respect to any copyright, industrial design, trademark, patent or other intellectual property rights of Avigilon
Corporation or its licensors.

AVIGILON, CAPTURE IT WITH CLARITY, HDSM, HIGH DEFINITION STREAM MANAGEMENT (HDSM), THE BEST
EVIDENCE, LIGHTCATCHER and the ACC logo are registered and/or unregistered trademarks of Avigilon
Corporation in Canada and other jurisdictions worldwide. Other product names mentioned herein may be the
unregistered and/ or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ™ and ® are not used in association with
each trademark in this document.

This manual has been compiled and published covering the latest product descriptions and specifications. The
contents of this manual and the specifications of this product are subject to change without notice. Avigilon
reserves the right to make changes without notice in the specifications and materials contained herein and shall
not be responsible for any damages (including consequential) caused by reliance on the materials presented,
including but not limited to typographical and other errors relating to the publication.

Avigilon Corporation
http://www.avigilon.com

Revised: 2014-07-21

PDF-PLAYER5-C-Rev2

2

Table of Contents

What is the Avigilon Control Center Player? 5

For More Information 5

Avigilon Training Center 5

Support 5

Upgrades 5

Feedback 5

Starting Up and Shutting Down the Avigilon Control Center Player 6

Starting Up the Player 6

Shutting Down the Player 6

Authenticating Video 7

What are Views? 8

Making a View Full Screen 8

Ending Full Screen Mode 8

Selecting a Layout for a View 8

Editing a View Layout 9

Video 12

Adding and Removing Cameras in a View 12

Adding a Camera to a View 12

Removing a Camera from a View 12

Playing Back Recorded Video 12

Zooming and Panning in a Video 14

Using the Zoom Tools 14

Using the Pan Tools 14

Maximizing and Restoring an Image Panel 14

Maximizing an Image Panel 14

Restoring an Image Panel 14

Listening to Audio 14

Reviewing Recorded POS Transactions 15

Video Display 15

Adjusting Video Display 15

Displaying Analog Video in Deinterlaced Mode 16

Looping Playback 16

Displaying Image Overlays 16

Changing Display Quality 17

Making Image Panel Display Adjustments 17

3

Camera Properties 18

Search 20

Performing an Alarm Search 20

Viewing Alarm Search Results 21

Performing an Event Search 21

Viewing Event Search Results 22

Performing a License Plate Search 23

Viewing License Plate Search Results 24

Performing a Pixel Search 24

Viewing Pixel Search Results 26

Performing a POS Transaction Search 26

Viewing POS Transaction Search Results 27

Performing a Thumbnail Search 28

Viewing Thumbnail Search Results 29

Export 30

Exporting Native Video 30

Exporting AVI Video 32

Exporting a Print Image 36

Exporting a Snapshot of an Image 37

Exporting Still Images 40

Exporting WAV Audio 41

4

What is the Avigilon Control Center Player?

The Avigilon Control Center Player is the video player for Avigilon Native Video Export (AVE) files and Avigilon
Backup (AVK) files.

The Player displays video in image panels, and allows you to control their playback through the Timeline. The
Player is able to authenticate video files against tampering, and can be used to re-export video into other
formats. Both AVE and AVK video include event data embedded in the file, so you are also able to search for
specific alarms, POS transactions, and other events that are linked to the video.

A copy of the Player can be downloaded from the Avigilon website, or exported with the AVE file from the
Avigilon Control Center Client software (see the Avigilon Control Center Client User Guide for more information).

For More Information

Visit Avigilonat http://www.avigilon.com/ for additional product documentation.

Avigilon Training Center

The Avigilon Training Center provides free online training videos that demonstrate how to set up and use the
Avigilon Surveillance System. Register online at the Avigilon Partner Portal site to begin:

http://avigilon.force.com/login

Support

For additional support information, visit http://avigilon.com/support-and-downloads/. The Avigilon Partner Portal
also provides self-directed support resources - register and login at http://avigilon.force.com/login.

Regular AvigilonTechnical Support is available Monday to Friday from 12:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. Pacific Standard
Time (PST):

l North America: +1.888.281.5182 option 1

l International: +800.4567.8988 or +1.604.629.5182 option 1

Emergency Technical Support is available 24/7:

l North America: +1.888.281.5182 option 1 then dial 9

l International: +800.4567.8988 or +1.604.629.5182 option 1then dial 9

E-mails can be sent to: [e-mail].

Upgrades

Software and firmware upgrades will be made available for download as they become available. Check

http://avigilon.com/support-and-downloads/ for available upgrades.

Feedback

We value your feedback. Please send any comments on our products and services to [e-mail]

What is the AvigilonControl Center Player? 5

Starting Up and Shutting Down the Avigilon Control Center Player

The Avigilon Control Center Player can be started up or shut down at any time.

Starting Up the Player

The Player can be opened in any of the following ways:

l

Double-click the shortcut icon on the desktop.

l In Windows, select All Programs or All Apps > Avigilon > Avigilon Control Center Player > Avigilon Control

Center Player.

When the application first opens, you will be prompted to open an AVE or AVK file.

l Double-click an Avigilon Native Video Export (AVE) file or Avigilon Backup (AVK) file. The Player will open

and display the video file.

Shutting Down the Player

l

In the Avigilon Control Center Player software, select > Exit.

6 Starting Up and Shutting Down the Avigilon Control Center Player

Authenticating Video

All Avigilon Native Video Export (AVE) and Avigilon Backup (AVK) files contain an encrypted digital signature
that is used to confirm that exported images have not been tampered with.

l

To authenticate a video, select > Authenticate Images....

The Authenticate Images dialog box appears and displays the progress as the application checks all the
video images for tampering.

When the process is complete, the Authenticate Images dialog box displays the number of images that are
authentic and the number of images that have been corrupted.

Figure 1: Authenticate Images dialog box

AuthenticatingVideo 7

What are Views?

A View tab is where you watch camera video. Inside the View tab is a set of image panels that allows you to
organize how video is displayed.

You can arrange image panels into different layouts to take advantage of different camera angles and save View
layouts that you like.

Making a View Full Screen

You can maximize a View to fill an entire monitor screen.

l

On the toolbar, click .

Ending Full Screen Mode

l

While the View is in full screen mode, click .

Selecting a Layout for a View

You can organize how video is displayed by selecting a View layout. The figure below shows the default View
layouts.

8 What are Views?

l

On the toolbar, select , then select one of the following layout options.

Figure 2: Layouts in the toolbar

Editing a View Layout

If the default View layouts do not fit your surveillance requirements, you can customize a View layout.

Editing a View Layout 9

1.

On the toolbar, select >Edit Layouts....

Figure 3: Layouts in the toolbar

2. In the Edit Layouts dialog box, select the layout you want to change.

3. Enter the number of Columns: and Rows: you want in your layout.

10 Editing a View Layout

4. In the layout diagram, do any of the following to further customize the layout.

Figure 4: Edit Layou ts dialog box

l To create a larger image panel, select a gray line to delete the border between two image panels.

When a line is highlighted in red, the line can be deleted.

l To restore an image panel, select a dotted line to divide a larger image panel into two. When a

dotted line is highlighted in green, the line can be restored.

l To restore all default View layouts, click Restore Defaults. All custom layouts in the Layouts: list will

be replaced.

NOTE: You can only add or subtract lines to create a rectangular shape.

5. Click OK to save your changes. The previous View layout has been replaced with your customized

layout.

Tip: The keyboard commands used to access View layouts are linked to the layout's position in the Layouts: list.
For example, if your custom layout is placed at the top of the Layouts: list (layout 1), you can press Alt + 1 to use
that layout.

Editing a View Layout 11

Video

The Avigilon Control Center Player allows you to watch exported Avigilon Native Video Export (AVE) video and
Avigilon Backup (AVK) video in View tabs, similar to the Avigilon Control Center Client software.

If the video file contains video from multiple cameras, the video can be displayed in multiple image panels. You
can zoom and pan the exported video images, and use the Timeline to control the playback of the recorded
video.

Adding and Removing Cameras in a View

You can add and remove cameras from the View to focus on specific parts of the video file.

Adding a Camera to a View

Do one of the following:

l Drag the camera from the System Explorer to an empty image panel in the View tab.

l Double-click a camera in the System Explorer.

l In the System Explorer, right-click the camera and select Add To View.

The camera is added to the next empty image panel in the View layout.

Tip: You can drag the same camera to multiple image panels to watch the video at different zoom levels.

Removing a Camera from a View

Do one of the following:

l Right-click the image panel and select Close.

l

Inside the image panel, click .

Playing Back Recorded Video

The Timeline displays when video was recorded and lets you control video playback.

The colored bars on the Timeline show the camera's recording history:

l A red bar shows the camera has recorded a motion event.

l A blue bar shows the camera has recorded video.

l White areas show periods of time during which the camera has not recorded any video.

l An yellow bar is a bookmark in the camera's recording history.

12 Video

Figure 5: Playback con trols on the Timeline

To... Do this...

Select a playback
time

Start playback

Stop playback

Jump forward or
backward on the
Timeline

l Click the dark gray date display and select a specific date and time.

l Click a point on the Timeline.

Click .

l

Click to fast forward. Tap the arrow again to increase the playback speed.

l

Click to rewind. Tap the arrow again to increase the playback speed.

You can play the video up to eight times the original speed.

Click .

l

Click to step forward one frame.

l

Click to step backward one frame.

On the Timeline, click or to move to set points on the
Timeline.

l Move the slider on the bottom left to zoom in or out

on the Timeline.

Zoom in or out of the
Timeline

l Place your mouse over the Timeline and use the

scroll wheel to zoom in or out on the Timeline.

You can zoom in to a quarter of a second, and zoom out to
see years if recorded video exists.

Center the Timeline
on the time marker

Right-click the Timeline, and select Center on Marker.

l Click and drag the time marker through the

Timeline.

Pan the Timeline

l Move the horizontal scroll bar under theTimeline.

l Right-click and drag the Timeline.

Playing Back Recorded Video 13

Zooming and Panning in a Video

Use the zoom and pan tools to focus on specific areas in the recorded video stream.

Using the Zoom Tools

There are two ways to digitally zoom in and zoom out of a video image:

l Move your mouse over the video image, then rotate your mouse wheel forward and backward.

l

On the toolbar, select or , then click the image panel until you reach the desired zoom depth.

Using the Pan Tools

There are two ways to pan through the video image:

l Right-click and drag inside an image panel

l

On the toolbar, select , then left-click and drag the video image in any direction inside the image
panel.

Maximizing and Restoring an Image Panel

You can maximize an image panel to enlarge the video display.

Maximizing an Image Panel

Do one of the following:

l Right-click an image panel and select Maximize.

l

Inside the image panel, click .

l Double-click the image panel.

Restoring an Image Panel

In a maximized image panel, do one of the following:

l Right-click the maximized image panel and select Restore Down.

l

Inside the image panel, click .

l Double-click the image panel.

Listening to Audio

If audio was included in the video file, you can listen to it through the video image panel. The audio is muted by
default.

To control audio playback, do any of the following:

14 Zooming and Panning in a Video

l

In the lower-right corner of the image panel, click to mute or activate the audio.

l Move the slider to change the volume.

Reviewing Recorded POS Transactions

While you watch recorded video, you can review POS transactions that occur at the same time.

1. Select a camera that is linked to the POS transaction source and display the camera's recorded video

2.

In the image panel, click .

If there is more than one POS transaction source linked to the camera, you will be prompted to select
one. The POS transactions are displayed in the next image panel.

l Each transaction is separated by date and time.

l When you select a transaction, the video jumps to that event on the Timeline.

l Scroll up or down to see other recorded POS transactions.

3.

To display cameras that are linked to the POS transaction source, click in the POS transaction image
panel.

If multiple cameras are connected to the POS transaction source, you will be prompted to select one.

4. Use the Timeline to review the video in more detail.

For more information about Timelines, see Playing Back Recorded Video.

If you want to find a specific POS transaction, see Performing a POS Transaction Search.

Video Display

You can adjust how video is displayed on your monitor. The settings only affect how video is displayed on your
monitor and will not affect the contents of the video file.

Adjusting Video Display

You can adjust the Display settings to improve how video is displayed on your monitor.

Reviewing Recorded POSTransactions 15

1.

In the top-right corner of the Player, select > Player Settings....

Figure 6: Player Settings... dialog box

2. Perform any of the following procedures to adjust how video is displayed in image panels.

Displaying Analog Video in Deinterlaced Mode

Select the Display Deinterlaced Images check box if the analog video you are watching is showing interfacing
artifacts. This setting will help improve video image and smooth out some of the artifacts.

Looping Playback

If you want the Player to automatically repeat the video it is playing, select the Loop Playback check box.

Displaying Image Overlays

Select any of the Image Overlays: options to set the type of information that is displayed over video.

16 Displaying AnalogVideo in Deinterlaced Mode

Overlay Description

Camera Name Displays the name assigned to the camera.

Camera Location Displays the location assigned to the camera.

Playback Timestamp (Recorded video only) Displays the exposure timestamp for the video.

Live Timestamp (Live video only) Displays the current system date and time to the millisecond.

Motion Activity Highlights motion in red.

Bounding boxes outline objects detected in the video. The color of the bounding box
identifies the object type:

l Red - a person

l Blue - a vehicle

Video Analytics Activity

l Yellow - a suspicious object

The Video Analytics Activity overlay is only activated for video from cameras that are
connected to a Rialto device.

NOTE: If both the Motion Activity overlay and the Video Analytics Activity overlay are
enabled, for cameras connected to a Rialto device the system will only display
bounding boxes, and will not display the red motion activity overlay.

Changing Display Quality

If your computer does not have enough network bandwidth or processing power, you may not be able to watch
video at its full image rate and quality. You can configure the image panels to display video in high quality and
low frame rate, or low quality and high frame rate.

Select a higher display quality setting if you need to see specific details or faces in the scene. Select a lower
display quality setting if it's more important to see moving events as they occur.

The Change Display Quality: settings only affect the image panel display and do not affect the actual video
quality or image rate between the camera and the server. Therefore, you can review recorded footage later to
confirm what you saw in the image panel.

In the Change Display Quality: area, select one of the following options:

l Maximum: displays video at full resolution with the lowest image rate.

l High (Default): displays video at 1/4 resolution.

l Medium: displays video at 1/16 resolution.

l Low: displays video at 1/64 resolution with the highest image rate.

Making Image Panel Display Adjustments

You can change the image panel display settings to bring out video details that are hard to see with the image
panel's default settings.

Changing Display Quality 17

1. Right-click an image panel and select Display Adjustments....

Figure 7: Display Adjustmen ts... panel

The Display Adjustments... settings are displayed in a floating pane immediately beside the image panel.

2. Move the sliders to adjust the Gamma:, Black Le vel: and White Level:.

The image panel displays a preview of your changes.

3. Click Restore Defaults to clear your changes.

Camera Properties

To see detailed information about any camera in the AVE file, you need to access the camera properties.

l In the System Explorer, right-click a camera and select Properties....

Figure 8: Camera Properties dialog box

The Camera Properties dialog box displays the following information about the camera:

l Camera Name

l Model number

18 Camera Properties

l Firmware Version:

l Location:

l MAC Address:

l Serial Number:

l Resolution:

Camera Properties 19

Search

AVE and AVK files have embedded event data, so you can quickly search for events or motion that occur within
the video file.

NOTE: If your video file does not contain a specific type of data, that search option will not be available.

Performing an Alarm Search

If the video is linked to an alarm, you can search for specific alarm triggers in the video file.

1.

In the New Task menu, under Search, click .

The Search: Alarms tab is displayed.

Figure 9: Search : Alarms tab

2. In the Alarms to Search: list, select all the alarms you would like to include in the alarm search.

3. In the Time Range to Search: area, set the date and time range of your search. The time range is

highlighted on the Timeline by the black time range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to

20 Search

modify the time range.

4. Click Search.

Viewing Alarm Search Results

1. In the Search Results area, select a search result. The event is highlighted on the Timeline and the video

is displayed in the image panel. Details about the search result are displayed to the right.

2. Use the Timeline controls to review the event.

See Playing Back Recorded Video for more information.

3. If the search result is linked to multiple cameras, select a camera from the drop-down list above the

image panel to change the video that is displayed.

4. Click Export this event to export the selected event video.

See Export for more information.

5. To export all listed search results, click Export results to a file and save the file. The search results can be

saved as either a CSV or Text file.

Performing an Event Search

The Event Search allows you to search for specific motion events and digital input events.

1.

In the New Task menu, click

The Search: Event tab is displayed.

Viewing Alarm Search Results 21

Figure 10: Search: Event tab

2. In the Camera(s) to Search: area, select all the cameras you want to include in the search.

3. In the Time Range to Search: area, set the date and time range of your search. The time range is

highlighted on the Timeline by the black time range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to
modify the time range.

4. In the Events to Search For: area, select the types of events to include in the search.

5. Click Search.

Viewing Event Search Results

1. In the Search Results area, select a search result. The event is highlighted on the Timeline and the video is

displayed in the image panel. Details about the search result are displayed to the right.

2. Use the Timeline controls to review the event.

See Playing Back Recorded Video for more information.

3. Click Export this event to export the selected event video.

See Export for more information.

4. If you want to further refine your search, click Perform a pixel search on this event. You can now search for

pixel changes in the selected search result.

See Performing a Pixel Search for more information.

22 Viewing Event Search Results

5. To export all listed search results, click Export results to a file and save the file. The search results can be

saved as either a CSV or Text file.

Performing a License Plate Search

The License Plate Search allows you to search for license plates that were detected in the exported video.>

1.

In the New Task menu, under Search, click

The Search: License Plates tab is displayed.

Figure 11: Search: License Plates tab

2. In the Camera(s) to Search: area, select all the cameras you want to include in the search.

3. In the Time Range to Search: area, set the date and time range of your search. The time range is

highlighted on the Timeline by the black time range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to
modify the time range.

4. In the License Plate Search Options: area, enter the license plate you want to find and a minimum

confidence of a match.

5. Click Search.

Performing a License Plate Search 23

Viewing License Plate Search Results

1. In the Search Results area, select a search result. The event is highlighted on the Timeline and the video is

displayed in the image panel. Details about the search result are displayed to the right.

2. Use the Timeline controls to review the event.

See Playing Back Recorded Video for more information.

3. If the search result is linked to multiple cameras, select a camera from the drop-down list above the image

panel to change the video that is displayed.

4. Click Export this event to export the selected event video.

See Export for more information.

5. To export all listed search results, click Export results to a file and save the file. The search results can be

saved as either a CSV or Text file.

Performing a Pixel Search

The Pixel Search allows you to search for tiny pixel changes in specific areas in the camera’s field of view.

1.

In the New Task menu, click

The Search: Pixel tab is displayed.

24 Viewing License Plate Search Results

Figure 12: Search: Pixe l tab

By default, the entire search image panel is highlighted in green.

2. In the Camera to Search: area, select a camera.

3. In the Time Range to Search: area, set the date and time range of your search. The time range is

highlighted on the Timeline by the black time range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to
modify the time range.

4. Define the pixel search area by using the motion detection tools above the image panel.

Tip: If you are looking for something very specific, limit the green area to a dot to find what you're looking
for more quickly.

5. In the Pixel Search Options: area, drag the Threshold: slider to select the amount of motion required to

return a search result.

A high threshold requires more pixels to change before results are found.

6. Enter a number in the Join results less than field to set the minimum number of seconds between

separate search results. You can enter any number between 1-100 seconds.

7. Click Search.

Performing a PixelSearch 25

Viewing Pixel Search Results

1. In the Search Results area, select a search result. The event is highlighted on the Timeline and the video is

displayed in the image panel. Details about the search result are displayed to the right.

2. Use the Timeline controls to review the event.

See Playing Back Recorded Video for more information.

3. Click Export this event to export the selected event video.

See Export for more information.

4. To export all listed search results, click Export results to a file and save the file. The search results can be

saved as either a CSV or Text file.

Performing a POS Transaction Search

The POS Transaction Search allows you to search for specific transactions in the video file.

1.

In the New Task menu, click .

The Search: POS Transactions tab is displayed.

26 Viewing PixelSearch Results

Figure 13: Search: POS Tran sactions tab

2. In the POS Transaction Sources to Search: area, select all the POS transaction sources you would like to

include in the search.

3. In the Time Range to Search: area, set the date and time range of your search. The time range is

highlighted on the Timeline by the black time range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to
modify the time range.

4. In the Search Text: area, enter any text that will help you filter the search results. For example, you can

enter product names or transaction values.

Use the Wildcards and Regular expressions search methods to find a range of results. Leave the Text:
field blank to find all transactions.

5. Click Search.

Viewing POS Transaction Search Results

1. In the Search Results area, select a search result. The event is highlighted on the Timeline and the video

is displayed in the image panel. Details about the search result are displayed to the right.

2. Use the Timeline controls to review the event.

See Playing Back Recorded Video for more information.

Viewing POS Transaction Search Results 27

3. If the search result is linked to multiple cameras, select a camera from the drop-down list above the image

panel to change the video that is displayed.

4. Click Export this event to export the selected event video.

See Export for more information.

5. To export all listed search results, click Export results to a file and save the file. The search results can be

saved as either a CSV or Text file.

Performing a Thumbnail Search

The Thumbnail Search is a visual search that displays search results as a series of thumbnail images.

1.

In the New Task menu, click .

The Search: Thumbnails tab is displayed.

Figure 14: Search: Thumbnails tab

2. In the Camera to Search: area, select a camera.

3. In the Time Range to Search: area, set the date and time range of your search. The time range is

28 Performing a Thumbnail Search

highlighted on the Timeline by the black time range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to
modify the time range.

4. In the image panel, move or drag the edges of the green overlay to focus the search on one area in the

video image. Only the area highlighted in green will be searched.

5. Click Search.

Viewing Thumbnail Search Results

The search results display thumbnails at equal intervals on the Timeline.

1. To change the size of the search result thumbnails, select Large Thumbnails, Medium Thumbnails, or

Small Thumbnailsfrom the menu above the search results.

Figure 15: Search: Thumbnails results tab

2. Select a thumbnail to highlight the video on the Timeline.

3. Click Step In, or double-click the thumbnail to perform another search around the thumbnail.

Click Step Out to return to the previous results page.

4. Click Open In View(after selecting a thumbnail) to open the recorded video in a new View.

5. Click Change Search to change the search criteria.

Viewing Thumbnail Search Results 29

Export

You can export video in multiple video and image formats. The Export tab can be accessed from bookmark
options, the New Task menu, and any Search tab.

You can also export snapshots of an image panel as you monitor video.

Exporting Native Video

The Native (AVE) format is the recommended format for exporting video. You can export video from multiple
cameras in a single file, and the video maintains its original compression.

If there is audio linked to the video, the audio is automatically included in the export.

1.

In the New Task menu, click  . The Export tab opens.

Figure 16: Export tab for AVE export

2. In the Format: drop-down list, select Native.

3. In the System Explorer, select the camera video you want to export.

4. To automatically divide the export into separate files, select the Split file into sizes of: check box, then

30 Export

select one of the options from the drop-down list, or manually enter the size of each file in MB.

This option allows you to export smaller files for storing in a flash drive or on optical media.

This setting is automatically disabled if you choose to burn the export to disc because the system auto­detects the disc size.

5. Enter the Time Range you want to export. The Time Range is highlighted on the Timeline by black time

range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to modify the time range.

6. Set the export image rate:

Option Description

Select this option to control how many
images per second are exported.

Export at _ image rate

Export one image every _ min _sec

7. Click one of the following:

l Start Export: to save the file locally.

l In the Save As dialog box, name the export file and click Save.

l Burn to Disc: to burn the file directly to disc media.

For example, the video is streaming at 30
images per second. If you select 1/2, only
15 images for that second will be exported.

Select this option to control the time
between each exported video image.

For example, if you enter 5 min. 0 sec., only
one image will be exported for every 5
minutes of video.

Exporting Native Video 31

Figure 17: Burn to Disc Dialog Box

a. When the dialog box appears, insert a disc and select the media burning drive.

b. Name the export file. The file name is automatically given a numbered suffix to help identify

which file you are playing if the export spans multiple discs.

c. Click Burn to Disc to start the export. If this button is disabled, the disc may be corrupt or full.

d. Monitor the export progress to see if extra discs are required. When a disc is full, the export

automatically pauses and you are asked to insert a new disc. After you insert a new disc,
click Resume Export.

The number of discs required to export a video varies widely depending on the type of camera and disc
used. Video is stored on the server with minimal compression to maximize the function of Avigilon's
HDSM™technology, so the size of an export can be quite large due to the camera's high megapixel
resolution and frame rate.

Generally, if you export a 2 minute video from a 2MP H.264 HD camera into AVE format, you will export a
93 MB file. To reduce the number of discs required, you can lower the frame rate or use a disc type with a
larger capacity. Be aware that reducing the frame rate too much may cause the exported video to be
jerky or missing data.

8. When the export is complete, click OK.

Exporting AVI Video

Video exported in Audio Video Interleave (AVI) format can be played in most media players. Be aware that you
can only export one video at a time in this format.

32 Exporting AVI Video

1.

In the New Task menu, click  . The Export tab opens.

Figure 18: Export tab for AVI export

2. In the Format: drop-down list, select AVI video.

3. In the System Explorer, select the camera video you want to export.

4. In the Encoder: field, select the compression used. The VC-1 (Windows Media Video) compression is

included by default because it is tailored for high-resolution AVI encoding.

If you are planning to burn the export to disc, it is important to select a compression method to help
reduce the export size and maintain video quality.

5. In the Quality: drop-down list, select the exported image quality level.

6. In the Resolution: field, select a resolution for the video image. You can manually enter the resolution or

click the drop down arrow to select a standard resolution.

NOTE: The Resolution: field automatically maintains the image aspect ratio.

7. To automatically divide the export into separate files, select the Split file into sizes of: check box, then

select one of the options from the drop-down list, or manually enter the size of each file in MB.

This option allows you to export smaller files for storing in a flash drive or on optical media.

Exporting AVI Video 33

This setting is automatically disabled if you choose to burn the export to disc because the system auto­detects the disc size.

8. Select the Skip recording gaps check box to avoid pauses in the video caused by gaps in the recording.

9. Select the image overlays you want: Timestamp, Camera name, and Camera location.

10. Enter the Time Range you want to export. The Time Range is highlighted on the Timeline by black time

range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to modify the time range.

11. Set the export image rate:

Option Description

Select this option to control how many
images per second are exported.

Export at _ image rate

For example, the video is streaming at 30
images per second. If you select 1/2, only 15
images for that second will be exported.

Select this option to control the time
between each exported video image.

Export one image every _ min _sec

For example, if you enter 5 min. 0 sec., only
one image will be exported for every 5
minutes of video.

12. Click Change Image Region... to only export part of the video image. In the Change Image Region... dialog

box, move and resize the green overlay to select the region you want to export, then click OK. Only areas
highlighted in green will be exported.

13. Click Display Adjustments... to adjust the Gamma:, Black Level: and/or White Level:.

14. Click one of the following:

l Start Export: to save the file locally.

l In the Save As dialog box, name the export file and click Save.

l Burn to Disc: to burn the file directly to disc media.

34 Exporting AVI Video

Figure 19: Burn to Disc Dialog Box

a. When the dialog box appears, insert a disc and select the media burning drive.

b. Name the export file. The file name is automatically given a numbered suffix to help identify

which file you are playing if the export spans multiple discs.

c. Click Burn to Disc to start the export. If this button is disabled, the disc may be corrupt or full.

d. Monitor the export progress to see if extra discs are required. When a disc is full, the export

automatically pauses and you are asked to insert a new disc. After you insert a new disc,
click Resume Export.

The number of discs required to export a video varies widely depending on the type of camera and disc
used. Video is stored on the server with minimal compression to maximize the function of Avigilon's
HDSM technology, so the size of an export can be quite large due to the camera's high megapixel
resolution and frame rate.

Generally, if you export a 2 minute video from a 2MP H.264 HD camera into uncompressed AVI format,
you will export a 2.7 GB file. If you select an Encoder: format and compress the video, you can export a
224 MB video at high quality. It is recommended that you always select an Encoder: format for AVI export
to help significantly reduce the file size.

To further reduce the file size you can select a lower quality setting, lower the export frame rate, reduce
the video resolution, or focus the export on a specific image region. Be aware that reducing each of the
available settings too much may cause the export to be blurry or missing frames.

If it is important to have a high quality and full frame rate export, it is recommended that you use the AVE
export format instead. AVE export intelligently compresses the video to create a smaller export file while
maintaining video data so that you can search, re-export video, and authenticate the video against
tampering through the Avigilon Control Center Player software.

15. When the export is complete, click OK.

Exporting AVI Video 35

Exporting a Print Image

You can export a frame of video directly to your printer or as a PDF, and include notes related to the image.

To print a photo of the video you are currently watching, take a snapshot. For more information, see Exporting a

Snapshot of an Image.

1.

In the New Task menu, click  . The Export tab opens.

Figure 20: Export tab for print image export

2. In the Format: drop-down list, select Print image or PDF file.

3. In the System Explorer, select the camera video you want to export.

4. (Print Image Only) Click Printer Settings... to change the printer and paper size that the image is printed on.

5. Select the image overlays you want: Timestamp, Camera name, and Camera location.

6. Click Add Export Notes... to add notes about the exported image. The notes are added below the image.

7. In the Time Range box, enter the exact date and time of the video image you want to export.

8. Click Change Image Region... to only export part of the video image. In the Change Image Region... dialog

box, move and resize the green overlay to select the region you want to export, then click OK. Only areas
highlighted in green will be exported.

9. Click Display Adjustments... to adjust the Gamma:, Black Level: and/or White Level:.

36 Exporting a Print Image

10. Click Start Export.

l If you are exporting a Print image, the image is sent to the printer.

l If you are exporting a PDF file, save the image.

The Preview area displays the video you are exporting.

11. When the export is complete, click OK.

Exporting a Snapshot of an Image

You can export a snapshot of any image panel with video. When you export a snapshot, you are exporting what
the image panel is currently displaying.

1. To export a snapshot, do one of the following:

l

In the image panel, click .

l Right-click the image panel and select Save Snapshot.

The snapshot Export tab is opened, and the image you want to export is displayed.

Exporting a Snapshot of an Image 37

Figure 21: Export tab for sn apsh ot export

2. In the Format: drop-down list, select an export format.

3. For the selected export format, define your preferences:

Format Export options

Native

NOTE: The Native format requires the

Avigilon Control Center Player to view.

PNG image

38 Exporting a Snapshot of an Image

This is the recommended export format because the exported
image maintains its original compression and can be
authenticated against tampering in the Avigilon Control Center
Player.

1. In the Resolution: field, select a resolution for the video

image. You can manually enter the resolution or click the
drop down arrow to select a standard resolution.

NOTE: The Resolution: field automatically maintains the
image aspect ratio.

2. Select the image overlays you want: Timestamp, Camera

name, and Camera location.

Format Export options

3. Click Change Image Region... to only export part of the

video image. In the Change Image Region dialog box,
move and resize the green overlay, then click OK. Only
areas highlighted in green are exported.

4. Click Display Adjustments... to adjust the Gamma:, Black

Level:, and/or White Level:.

1. In the Quality: drop-down list, select the exported image

quality level.

2. Set the image Resolution:.

JPEG image

TIFF image

Print image

3. Select the image overlays you want.

4. Click Change Image Region... to only export a part of the

video image.

5. Click Display Adjustments... to modify the image quality.

1. Set the image Resolution:.

2. Select the image overlays you want.

3. Click Change Image Region... to only export a part of the

video image.

4. Click Display Adjustments... to modify the image quality.

1. Click Printer Settings... to change the selected printer and

paper size.

2. Select the image overlays you want.

3. Click Add Export Notes... to add notes about the

exported image. The notes are printed below the image.

4. Click Change Image Region... to only export a part of the

video image.

5. Click Display Adjustments... to modify the image quality.

1. Select the image overlays you want.

2. Click Add Export Notes... to add notes about the

exported image.

PDF file

3. Click Change Image Region... to only export a part of the

video image.

4. Click Display Adjustments... to modify the image quality.

4. Click Start Export.

5. In the Save As dialog box, name the export file and click Save. If you are printing the snapshot, the image

is sent to your printer instead.

The Preview area displays the snapshot you are exporting.

6. When the export is complete, click OK.

Exporting a Snapshot of an Image 39

Exporting Still Images

Video can be exported as a series of still PNG images, JPEG images, or TIFF images. When you export a series
of still images, you are exporting each frame of video as an independent file.

If you only want one photo of the video you are watching, take a snapshot. See Exporting a Snapshot of an

Image for more information.

1.

In the New Task menu, click  . The Export tab opens.

Figure 22: Export tab for still image export

2. In the Format: drop-down list, select PNG images, JPEG images, or TIFF images.

3. In the System Explorer, select the camera video you want to export.

4. (JPEG only) In the Quality: drop-down list, select the exported image quality level.

5. In the Resolution: field, select a resolution for the video image. You can manually enter the resolution or

click the drop down arrow to select a standard resolution.

NOTE: The Resolution: field automatically maintains the image aspect ratio.

6. Select the image overlays you want: Timestamp, Camera name, and Camera location.

7. Enter the Time Range you want to export. The Time Range is highlighted on the Timeline by black time

range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to modify the time range.

40 Exporting StillImages

8. Set the export image rate:

Option Description

Select this option to control how many
images per second are exported.

Export at _ image rate

Export one image every _ min _sec

9. To limit the number of images that are exported, select the Export at most _ images check box and enter

a number.

10. Click Change Image Region... to only export part of the video image. In the Change Image Region...

dialog box, move and resize the green overlay to select the region you want to export, then click OK.
Only areas highlighted in green will be exported.

11. Click Display Adjustments... to adjust the Gamma:, Black Level: and/or White Level:.

12. Click Start Export.

13. In the Save As dialog box, name the export file and click Save.

The Preview area displays the video you are exporting.

14. When the export is complete, click OK.

For example, the video is streaming at 30
images per second. If you select 1/2, only
15 images for that second will be exported.

Select this option to control the time
between each exported video image.

For example, if you enter 5 min. 0 sec., only
one image will be exported for every 5
minutes of video.

Exporting WAV Audio

If you want to export audio with video, simply export the video in Native or AVI format. Any audio that is linked to
the video is automatically included in the export file.

This procedure exports the audio alone.

Exporting WAV Audio 41

1.

In the New Task menu, click  . The Export tab opens.

Figure 23: Export tab for audio export

2. In the Format: drop-down list, select WAV audio.

3. In the System Explorer, select the camera that the audio is linked to.

4. Enter the Time Range you want to export. The Time Range is highlighted on the Timeline by black time

range markers. You can also drag the time range markers to modify the time range.

5. Click Start Export.

6. In the Save As dialog box, name the export file and click Save.

The Preview area displays the video linked to the audio you are exporting.

7. When the export is complete, click OK.

42 Exporting WAV Audio