Axis M3204-V User Manual

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

UserManual

AboutthisDocument

ThismanualisintendedforadministratorsandusersoftheAXIS
M3204-VNetworkCamera,andisapplicabletormware5.5and
later.Itincludesinstructionsforusingandmanagingtheproducton
yournetwork.Previousexperienceofnetworkingwillbeofusewhen
usingthisproduct.SomeknowledgeofUNIXorLinux-basedsystems
mayalsobebenecial,fordevelopingshellscriptsandapplications.
LaterversionsofthisdocumentwillbepostedtotheAxiswebsite,
asrequired.Seealsotheproduct’sonlinehelp,availableviathe
web-basedinterface.

LegalConsiderations

Videosurveillancecanberegulatedbylawsthatvaryfromcountryto
country.Checkthelawsinyourlocalregionbeforeusingthisproduct
forsurveillancepurposes.

Thisproductincludesone(1)H.264decoderlicense.Topurchase
furtherlicenses,contactyourreseller.

Liability

Everycarehasbeentakeninthepreparationofthisdocument.Please
informyourlocalAxisofceofanyinaccuraciesoromissions.Axis
CommunicationsABcannotbeheldresponsibleforanytechnicalor
typographicalerrorsandreservestherighttomakechangestothe
productandmanualswithoutpriornotice.AxisCommunicationsAB
makesnowarrantyofanykindwithregardtothematerialcontained
withinthisdocument,including,butnotlimitedto,theimplied
warrantiesofmerchantabilityandtnessforaparticularpurpose.Axis
CommunicationsABshallnotbeliablenorresponsibleforincidentalor
consequentialdamagesinconnectionwiththefurnishing,performance
oruseofthismaterial.Thisproductisonlytobeusedforitsintended
purpose.

IntellectualPropertyRights

AxisABhasintellectualpropertyrightsrelatingtotechnologyembodied
intheproductdescribedinthisdocument.Inparticular,andwithout
limitation,theseintellectualpropertyrightsmayincludeoneormore
ofthepatentslistedatwww.axis.com/patent.htmandoneormore
additionalpatentsorpendingpatentapplicationsintheUSandother
countries.

Thisproductcontainslicensedthird-partysoftware.Seethemenuitem
“About”intheproduct’suserinterfaceformoreinformation.

ThisproductcontainssourcecodecopyrightAppleComputer ,
Inc.,underthetermsofApplePublicSourceLicense2.0(see

www.opensource.apple.com/apsl).Thesourcecodeisavailablefrom
https://developer.apple.com/bonjour/

EquipmentModications

Thisequipmentmustbeinstalledandusedinstrictaccordancewiththe
instructionsgivenintheuserdocumentation.Thisequipmentcontains
nouser-serviceablecomponents.Unauthorizedequipmentchangesor
modicationswillinvalidateallapplicableregulatorycertications
andapprovals.

TrademarkAcknowledgments

AXISCOMMUNICATIONS,AXIS,ETRAX,ARTPECandVAPIXare
registeredtrademarksortrademarkapplicationsofAxisABinvarious
jurisdictions.Allothercompanynamesandproductsaretrademarksor
registeredtrademarksoftheirrespectivecompanies.

Apple,Boa,Apache,Bonjour,Ethernet,InternetExplorer ,Linux,
Microsoft,Mozilla,Real,SMPTE,QuickTime,UNIX,Windows,Windows
VistaandWWWareregisteredtrademarksoftherespectiveholders.
JavaandallJava-basedtrademarksandlogosaretrademarksor
registeredtrademarksofOracleand/oritsafliates.UPnP
certicationmarkoftheUPnP

TM

ImplementersCorporation.

TM

isa

RegulatoryInformation

Europe

ThisproductcomplieswiththeapplicableCEmarkingdirectives

andharmonizedstandards:

•ElectromagneticCompatibility(EMC)Directive2004/108/EC.See

ElectromagneticCompatibility(EMC)onpage2.

•LowVoltage(LVD)Directive2006/95/EC.SeeSafetyonpage2.

•RestrictionsofHazardousSubstances(RoHS)Directive201 1/65/EU.

SeeDisposalandRecyclingonpage3.
Acopyoftheoriginaldeclarationofconformitymaybeobtainedfrom
AxisCommunicationsAB.SeeContactInformationonpage3.

ElectromagneticCompatibility(EMC)

Thisequipmenthasbeendesignedandtestedtofulllapplicable
standardsfor:

•Radiofrequencyemissionwheninstalledaccordingtothe

instructionsandusedinitsintendedenvironment.

•Immunitytoelectricalandelectromagneticphenomenawhen

installedaccordingtotheinstructionsandusedinitsintended

environment.

USA

Thisequipmenthasbeentestedusingashieldednetworkcable(STP)
andfoundtocomplywiththelimitsforaClassBdigitaldevice,
pursuanttopart15oftheFCCRules.Theselimitsaredesigned
toprovidereasonableprotectionagainstharmfulinterferenceina
residentialinstallation.Thisequipmentgenerates,usesandcanradiate
radiofrequencyenergyand,ifnotinstalledandusedinaccordance
withtheinstructions,maycauseharmfulinterferencetoradio
communications.However,thereisnoguaranteethatinterference
willnotoccurinaparticularinstallation.Ifthisequipmentdoes
causeharmfulinterferencetoradioortelevisionreception,which
canbedeterminedbyturningtheequipmentoffandon,theuseris
encouragedtotrytocorrecttheinterferencebyoneormoreofthe
followingmeasures:

•Reorientorrelocatethereceivingantenna.

•Increasetheseparationbetweentheequipmentandreceiver.

•Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletonacircuitdifferentfrom

thattowhichthereceiverisconnected.

•Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/TVtechnicianforhelp.

Theproductshallbeconnectedusingashieldednetworkcable(STP)
thatisproperlygrounded.

Canada

ThisClassBdigitalapparatuscomplieswithCanadianICES-003.The
productshallbeconnectedusingashieldednetworkcable(STP)thatis
properlygrounded.
CetappareilnumériquedelaclasseBestconfomeàlanorme
NMB-003duCanada.Leproduitdoitêtreconnectéàl'aided'uncâble
réseaublindé(STP)quiestcorrectementmisàlaterre.

Europe

ThisdigitalequipmentfulllstherequirementsforRFemission
accordingtotheClassBlimitofEN55022.Theproductshallbe
connectedusingashieldednetworkcable(STP)thatisproperly
grounded.

Thisproductfulllstherequirementsforimmunityaccordingto
EN55024ofceandcommercialenvironments

Australia/NewZealand

ThisdigitalequipmentfulllstherequirementsforRFemission
accordingtotheClassBlimitofAS/NZSCISPR22.Theproductshall
beconnectedusingashieldednetworkcable(STP)thatisproperly
grounded.

Japan

この装置は、クラスB情報技術装置です。この装置は、家
庭環境で使用することを目的としていますが、この装置が
ラジオやテレビジョン受信機に近接して使用されると、受
信障害を引き起こすことがあります。取扱説明書に従って
正しい取り扱いをして下さい。本製品は、シールドネット
ワークケーブル(STP)を使用して接続してください。また
適切に接地してください。

Korea

이기기는가정용(B급)전자파적합기기로서주로가정에
서사용하는것을목적으로하며,모든지역에서사용할수
있습니다.적절히접지된STP(shieldedtwistedpair)케이
블을사용하여제품을연결하십시오.

Safety

ThisproductcomplieswithIEC/EN/UL60950-1,SafetyofInformation
TechnologyEquipment.Ifitsconnectingcablesareroutedoutdoors,
theproductshallbegroundedeitherthroughashieldednetworkcable
(STP)orotherappropriatemethod.

DisposalandRecycling

Whenthisproducthasreachedtheendofitsusefullife,disposeof
itaccordingtolocallawsandregulations.Forinformationabout
yournearestdesignatedcollectionpoint,contactyourlocalauthority
responsibleforwastedisposal.Inaccordancewithlocallegislation,
penaltiesmaybeapplicableforincorrectdisposalofthiswaste.

Europe

Thissymbolmeansthattheproductshallnotbedisposedof
togetherwithhouseholdorcommercialwaste.Directive2012/19/EU
onwasteelectricalandelectronicequipment(WEEE)isapplicablein
theEuropeanUnionmemberstates.Topreventpotentialharmto
humanhealthandtheenvironment,theproductmustbedisposed
ofinanapprovedandenvironmentallysaferecyclingprocess.For
informationaboutyournearestdesignatedcollectionpoint,contact
yourlocalauthorityresponsibleforwastedisposal.Businessesshould
contacttheproductsupplierforinformationabouthowtodispose
ofthisproductcorrectly.

ThisproductcomplieswiththerequirementsofDirective2011/65/EUon
therestrictionoftheuseofcertainhazardoussubstancesinelectrical
andelectronicequipment(RoHS).

China

Thisproductcomplieswiththerequirementsofthelegislative
actAdministrationontheControlofPollutionCausedbyElectronic
InformationProducts(ACPEIP).

ContactInformation

AxisCommunicationsAB
Emdalavägen14
22369Lund
Sweden

Tel:[phone]
Fax:[phone]

www.axis.com

Support

Shouldyourequireanytechnicalassistance,pleasecontactyourAxis
reseller.Ifyourquestionscannotbeansweredimmediately,your
resellerwillforwardyourqueriesthroughtheappropriatechannelsto
ensurearapidresponse.IfyouareconnectedtotheInternet,youcan:

•downloaduserdocumentationandsoftwareupdates

•ndanswerstoresolvedproblemsintheFAQdatabase.Search

byproduct,category,orphrase

•reportproblemstoAxissupportstaffbyloggingintoyourprivate

supportarea

•chatwithAxissupportstaff(selectedcountriesonly)

•visitAxisSupportatwww.axis.com/techsup/

LearnMore!

VisitAxislearningcenterwww.axis.com/academy/forusefultrainings,
webinars,tutorialsandguides.

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

TableofContents

HardwareOverview..........................................5

..............................................................5

ConnectorsandButtons..........................................5

LEDIndicators..................................................6

AccessingtheProduct.......................................7

AccessfromaBrowser...........................................7

AccessfromtheInternet..........................................7

SettheRootPassword...........................................7

TheLiveViewPage..............................................8

MediaStreams.............................................11

HowtoStreamH.264............................................11

MJPEG........................................................1 1

AXISMediaControl(AMC)........................................11

AlternativeMethodsofAccessingtheVideoStream....................12

SettingUptheProduct......................................14

BasicSetup....................................................14

Video.....................................................15

VideoStream...................................................15

StreamProles.................................................16

CameraSettings................................................16

ViewArea.....................................................17

Overlay........................................................18

PrivacyMask...................................................19

LiveViewCong............................................21

PTZ(PanTiltZoom).........................................23

PresetPositions.................................................23

GuardTour.....................................................23

Advanced......................................................24

Detectors..................................................25

CameraTampering..............................................25

MotionDetection...............................................25

Applications...............................................28

ApplicationLicenses.............................................28

InstallApplication...............................................28

ApplicationConsiderations........................................28

Events....................................................30

SettingUpanActionRule........................................31

Recipients.....................................................31

Schedules......................................................33

Recurrences....................................................33

Recordings.................................................34

RecordingList..................................................34

ContinuousRecording............................................34

Languages.................................................35

SystemOptions.............................................36

Security.......................................................36

Date&Time....................................................38

Network.......................................................38

Storage.......................................................44

Maintenance...................................................44

Support.......................................................45

Advanced......................................................45

ResettoFactoryDefaultSettings...................................46

Troubleshooting............................................47

CheckingtheFirmware...........................................47

UpgradingtheFirmware..........................................47

EmergencyRecoveryProcedure....................................47

Symptoms,PossibleCausesandRemedialActions.....................48

TechnicalSpecications......................................51

PerformanceConsiderations.......................................53

4

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

2

1

3

4 5

6

7

HardwareOverview

HardwareOverview

1

StatusindicatorLED

2

Coverplates

3

Controlbutton

4

PowerindicatorLED

5

NetworkindicatorLED

6

Networkconnector

7

ProductIDandSerialnumber(S/N)

ConnectorsandButtons

Fortechnicalspecications,seepage51.

NetworkConnector

RJ45EthernetconnectorwithPoweroverEthernet(PoE).

NO

TICE

NO NO

TICE TICE

Theproductshallbeconnectedusingashieldednetworkcable(STP).Allcablesconnectingtheproducttothenetworkshall
beintendedfortheirspecicuse.Makesurethatthenetworkdevicesareinstalledinaccordancewiththemanufacturer’s
instructions.Forinformationaboutregulatoryrequirements,seeElectromagneticCompatibility(EMC)onpage2.

5

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

HardwareOverview

ControlButton

Thecontrolbuttonisusedfor:

•Resettingtheproducttofactorydefaultsettings.Seepage46.

•ConnectingtoanAXISVideoHostingSystemservice.Seepage40.Toconnect,pressandholdthebuttonforabout3
secondsuntiltheStatusLEDashesgreen.

•ConnectingtoAXISInternetDynamicDNSService.Seepage40.Toconnect,pressandholdthebuttonforabout3seconds.

LEDIndicators

LED

Network

Status

Note

•TheStatusLEDcanbeconguredtobeunlitduringnormaloperation.Tocongure,gotoSetup>SystemOptions>Ports

•TheStatusLEDcanbeconguredtoashwhileaneventisactive.

•TheStatusLEDcanbeconguredtoashforidentifyingtheunit.GotoSetup>SystemOptions>Maintenance.

Color

Green

Amber

UnlitNonetworkconnection.

GreenSteadygreenfornormaloperation.

Amber

Red

Green

Amber

&Devices>LED.Seetheonlinehelpformoreinformation.

Indication

Steadyforconnectiontoa100Mbit/snetwork.Flashesfornetworkactivity.

Steadyforconnectiontoa10Mbit/snetwork.Flashesfornetworkactivity.

Steadyduringstartupandwhenrestoringsettings.

Slowashforfailedupgrade.

Normaloperation. Power

Flashesgreen/amberduringrmwareupgrade.

6

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

AccessingtheProduct

AccessingtheProduct

ToinstalltheAxisproduct,refertotheInstallationGuidesuppliedwiththeproduct.

Theproductcanbeusedwithmostoperatingsystemsandbrowsers.TherecommendedbrowsersareInternetExplorerwithWindows,
SafariwithMacintoshandFirefoxwithotheroperatingsystems.SeeTechnicalSpecicationsonpage51.

ToviewstreamingvideoinInternetExplorer,allowinstallationofAXISMediaControl(AMC)whenprompted.

TheAxisproductincludesone(1)H.264decoderlicenseforviewingvideostreams.ThelicenseisautomaticallyinstalledwithAMC.
Theadministratorcandisabletheinstallationofthedecoders,topreventinstallationofunlicensedcopies.

Note

•QuickTime

•Ifyourcomputerrestrictstheuseofadditionalsoftwarecomponents,theproductcanbeconguredtouseaJavaapplet

forviewingMotionJPEG.

AccessfromaBrowser

TM

isalsosupportedforviewingH.264streams.

1.Startabrowser(InternetExplorer,Firefox,Safari).

2.EntertheIPaddressorhostnameoftheAxisproductinthebrowser’sLocation/Addresseld.Toaccesstheproductfroma
Macintoshcomputer(MacOSX),clickontheBonjourtabandselecttheproductfromthedrop-downlist.

IfyoudonotknowtheIPaddress,useAXISIPUtilitytolocatetheproductonthenetwork.Forinformationabouthowto
discoverandassignanIPaddress,seetheInstallationandManagementSoftwareCDorthedocumentAssignanIPAddress
andAccesstheVideoStreamonAxisSupportwebatwww.axis.com/techsup

3.Enteryourusernameandpassword.Ifthisisthersttimetheproductisaccessed,therootpasswordmustrstbe
congured.Forinstructions,seeSettheRootPasswordonpage7.

4.Theproduct’sLiveViewpageopensinyourbrowser.

Note

ThecontrolsandlayoutoftheLiveViewpagemayhavebeencustomizedtomeetspecicinstallationrequirementsand
userpreferences.Consequently,someoftheexamplesandfunctionsfeaturedheremaydifferfromthosedisplayedin
yourownLiveViewpage.

AccessfromtheInternet

Onceconnected,theAxisproductisaccessibleonyourlocalnetwork(LAN).ToaccesstheproductfromtheInternetyoumust
congureyournetworkroutertoallowincomingdatatrafctotheproduct.Todothis,enabletheNAT-traversalfeature,which
willattempttoautomaticallyconguretheroutertoallowaccesstotheproduct.ThisisenabledfromSetup>SystemOptions>
Network>TCP/IPAdvanced.

Formoreinformation,seeNATtraversal(portmapping)forIPv4onpage41.SeealsoAXISInternetDynamicDNSServiceat

www.axiscam.net

ForTechnicalnotesonthisandothertopics,visittheAxisSupportwebatwww.axis.com/techsup

SettheRootPassword

ToaccesstheAxisproduct,youmustsetthepasswordforthedefaultadministratoruserroot.ThisisdoneintheCongureRoot
Passworddialog,whichappearswhentheproductisaccessedforthersttime.

Topreventnetworkeavesdropping,therootpasswordcanbesetviaanencryptedHTTPSconnection,whichrequiresanHTTPS
certicate.HTTPS(HypertextTransferProtocoloverSSL)isaprotocolusedtoencrypttrafcbetweenwebbrowsersandservers.The
HTTPScerticateensuresencryptedexchangeofinformation.SeeHTTPSonpage41.

7

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

AccessingtheProduct

Thedefaultadministratorusernamerootispermanentandcannotbedeleted.Ifthepasswordforrootislost,theproductmustbe
resettothefactorydefaultsettings.SeeResettoFactoryDefaultSettingsonpage46.

TosetthepasswordviaastandardHTTPconnection,enteritdirectlyinthedialog.

TosetthepasswordviaanencryptedHTTPSconnection,followthesesteps:

1.ClickCreateself-signedcerticate.

2.ProvidetherequestedinformationandclickOK.Thecerticateiscreatedandthepasswordcannowbesetsecurely.

3.Enterapasswordandthenre-enterittoconrmthespelling.

4.ClickOK.Thepasswordhasnowbeencongured.

SetPowerLineFrequency

PowerlinefrequencyissetthersttimetheAxisproductisaccessedandcanonlybechangedfromPlainCong(seepage46)
orbyresettingtheproducttofactorydefault.

Selectthepowerlinefrequency(50Hzor60Hz)usedatthelocationoftheAxisproduct.Selectingthewrongfrequencymaycause
imageickeriftheproductisusedinuorescentlightenvironments.

Whenusing50Hz,themaximumframerateislimitedto25fps.

Note

Powerlinefrequencyvariesdependingongeographicregion.TheAmericasusuallyuse60Hz,whereasmostotherpartsof
theworlduse50Hz.Localvariationscouldapply.Alwayscheckwiththelocalauthorities.

TheLiveViewPage

ThecontrolsandlayoutoftheLiveViewpagemayhavebeencustomizedtomeetspecicinstallationrequirementsanduser
preferences.Consequently,someoftheexamplesandfunctionsfeaturedheremaydifferfromthosedisplayedinyourownLiveView
page.Thefollowingprovidesanoverviewofeachavailablecontrol.

8

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

AccessingtheProduct

ControlsontheLiveViewPage

ClickViewsizetoscaletheimagedownto800pixelswideortofullscale.Onlyavailable
inMJPEG.

SelectastreamprolefortheLiveViewpagefromtheStreamProledrop-downlist.For
informationabouthowtocongurestreamproles,seepage16.

TheManualTriggerbuttonisusedtotriggeranactionrulefromtheLiveViewpage.For
informationabouthowtocongureandenablethebutton,seeManualTriggeronpage9.

ClickSnapshottosaveasnapshotofthevideoimage.Thisbuttonisprimarilyintended
forusewhentheAXISMediaControlviewertoolbarisnotavailable.Enablethisbutton
fromLiveViewCong>ActionButtons.

ManualTrigger

TheManualTriggerisusedtotriggeranactionrulefromtheLiveViewpage.Themanualtriggercanforexamplebeusedto
validateactionsduringproductinstallationandconguration.

Tocongurethemanualtrigger:

1.GotoSetup>Events.

2.ClickAddtoaddanewactionrule.

3.FromtheTriggerdrop-downlist,selectInputSignal.

4.Fromtheseconddrop-downlist,selectManualTrigger.

5.Selectthedesiredactionandconguretheothersettingsasrequired.

Formoreinformationaboutactionrules,seeEventsonpage30.

ToshowthemanualtriggerbuttonsintheLiveViewpage:

1.GotoSetup>LiveViewCong.

2.UnderActionButtons,selectShowmanualtriggerbutton.

AXISMediaControlviewertoolbar

TheAXISMediaControlviewertoolbarisavailableinInternetExploreronly.SeeAXISMediaControl(AMC)onpage1 1formore
information.Thetoolbardisplaysthefollowingbuttons:

ThePlaybuttonconnectstotheAxisproductandstartsplayingamediastream.

TheStopbuttonstopsthemediastream.

TheSnapshotbuttontakesasnapshotofthevideoimage.Thelocationwheretheimageissavedcanbespecied
intheAMCControlPanel.

9

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

AccessingtheProduct

ClicktheViewFullScreenbuttonandthevideoimagewilllltheentirescreen.PressESC(Escape)onthecomputer
keyboardtocancelfullscreenview.

TheRecordbuttonisusedtorecordthecurrentvideostream.Thelocationwheretherecordingissavedcanbespeciedin
theAMCControlPanel.EnablethisbuttonfromLiveViewCong>ViewerSettings.

PTZControls

TheLiveViewpagealsodisplaysPan/Tilt/Zoom(PTZ)controls.Theadministratorcanenable/disablecontrolsforspeciedusersunder
SystemOptions>Security>Users.

Note

ThesecontrolsareavailableifdigitalPTZisenabledintheselectedviewarea,seeViewAreaonpage17.

ClicktheEmulatejoystickmodebuttonandclickintheimagetomovethecameraviewinthedirectionofthe
mousepointer.

ClicktheCentermodebuttonandclickintheimagetocenterthecameraviewonthatposition.Thecentermode
buttoncouldalsobeusedtozoominonaspecicarea.Clickintheimageanddragtodrawarectanglesurrounding
theareatobemagnied.Tozoomout,rotatethemousewheel.

ClicktheCtrlpanelbuttontoopenthePTZcontrolpanelwhichprovidesadditionalPTZcontrols.
User-denedbuttonscanalsoappearintheControlpanel.SeeControlsonpage24.

SelectaPTZpresetpositiontosteerthecameraviewtothesavedposition.SeePresetPositions
onpage23.

PanandTiltbars–Usethearrowstopanandtiltthecameraview,orclickona
positiononthebartosteerthecameraviewtothatposition.

ThePTZcontrolscanbedisabledunderPTZ>Advanced>Controls,seeControlsonpage24.

10

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

MediaStreams

MediaStreams

TheAxisproductprovidesseveralvideostreamformats.Yourrequirementsandthepropertiesofyournetworkwilldeterminethe
typeyouuse.

TheLiveViewpageintheproductprovidesaccesstoH.264andMotionJPEGvideostreams,andtothelistofavailablestream
proles.Otherapplicationsandclientscanaccessvideostreamsdirectly,withoutgoingviatheLiveViewpage.

HowtoStreamH.264

H.264can,withoutcompromisingimagequality,reducethesizeofadigitalvideolebymorethan80%comparedwiththeMotion
JPEGformatandasmuchas50%morethantheMPEG-4standard.Thismeansthatmuchlessnetworkbandwidthandstoragespace
arerequiredforavideole.Orseenanotherway,muchhighervideoqualitycanbeachievedforagivenbitrate.

Decidingwhichcombinationofprotocolsandmethodstousedependsonyourviewingrequirements,andonthepropertiesof
yournetwork.TheavailableoptionsinAXISMediaControlare:

UnicastRTP

RTPoverRTSP

RTPoverRTSPoverHTTP

MulticastRTP

AXISMediaControlnegotiateswiththeAxisproducttodeterminethetransportprotocoltouse.Theorderofpriority,listedinthe
AMCControlPanel,canbechangedandtheoptionsdisabled,tosuitspecicrequirements.

Note

H.264islicensedtechnology.TheAxisproductincludesoneH.264viewingclientlicense.Installingadditionalunlicensed
copiesoftheclientisprohibited.Topurchaseadditionallicenses,contactyourAxisreseller.

Thisunicastmethod(RTPoverUDP)isused
forliveunicastvideo,especiallywhenitis
importanttoalwayshaveanup-to-datevideo
stream,evenifsomeframesaredropped.

Thisunicastmethod(RTPtunneledoverRTSP)
isusefulasitisrelativelysimpletocongure
rewallstoallowRTSPtrafc.

Thisunicastmethodcanbeusedtotraverse
rewalls.Firewallsarecommonlyconguredto
allowtheHTTPprotocol,thusallowingRTPto
betunneled.

Thismethod(RTPoverUDP)shouldbeusedforlivemulticastvideo.Thevideostreamisalways
up-to-date,evenifsomeframesaredropped.
Multicastingprovidesthemostefcientusageofbandwidthwhentherearelargenumbersof
clientsviewingsimultaneously.Amulticastcannothowever,passanetworkrouterunlessthe
routerisconguredtoallowthis.ItisnotpossibletomulticastovertheInternet,forexample.
Notealsothatallmulticastviewerscountasoneunicastviewerinthemaximumtotalof20
simultaneousconnections.

Unicastingisusedforvideo-on-demand
transmissionsothatthereisnovideotrafc
onthenetworkuntilaclientconnectsand
requeststhestream.
Notethatthereareamaximumof20
simultaneousunicastconnections.

MJPEG

ThisformatusesstandardJPEGstillimagesforthevideostream.Theseimagesarethendisplayedandupdatedataratesufcient
tocreateastreamthatshowsconstantlyupdatedmotion.

TheMotionJPEGstreamusesconsiderableamountsofbandwidth,butprovidesexcellentimagequalityandaccesstoeveryimage
containedinthestream.TherecommendedmethodofaccessingMotionJPEGlivevideofromtheAxisproductistousetheAXIS
MediaControlinInternetExplorerinWindows.

AXISMediaControl(AMC)

AXISMediaControl(AMC)inInternetExplorerinWindowsistherecommendedmethodofaccessinglivevideofromtheAxisproduct.

11

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

MediaStreams

TheAMCControlPanelcanbeusedtocongurevariousvideosettings.PleaseseetheAXISMediaControlUser’sManualformore
information.

TheAMCControlPanelisautomaticallyinstalledonrstuse,afterwhichitcanbecongured.OpentheAMCControlPanelfrom:

•WindowsControlPanel(fromtheStartscreenorStartmenu)

•Alternatively,right-clickthevideoimageinInternetExplorerandclickSettings.

AlternativeMethodsofAccessingtheVideoStream

YoucanalsoaccessvideoandimagesfromtheAxisproductinthefollowingways:

•MotionJPEGserverpush(ifsupportedbytheclient,Firefox,forexample).ThisoptionmaintainsanopenHTTPconnection
tothebrowserandsendsdataasandwhenrequired,foraslongasrequired.

•StillJPEGimagesinabrowser.Enterthepathhttp://<ip>/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi

•WindowsMediaPlayer.ThisrequiresAXISMediaControlandtheH.264decodertobeinstalled.Thefollowingpaths
canbeused:

-UnicastviaRTP:axrtpu://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-UnicastviaRTSP:axrtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-UnicastviaRTSP,tunneledviaHTTP:axrtsphttp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-Multicast:axrtpm://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

•QuickTime

TM

.Thefollowingpathscanbeused:

-rtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-rtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.3gp

12

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

MediaStreams

Note

•<ip>=IPaddess

•TheAxisproductsupportsQuickTime6.5.1andlater.

•QuickTimeaddslatencytothevideostream.

•ItmaybepossibletouseotherplayerstoviewtheH.264streamusingthepathsabove,althoughAxisdoesnotguarantee

this.

13

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

SettingUptheProduct

SettingUptheProduct

TheAxisproductcanbeconguredbyuserswithadministratororoperatorrights.Toopentheproduct’sSetuppages,clickSetupin
thetopright-handcorneroftheLiveViewpage.

•Administratorshaveunrestrictedaccesstoallsettings.

•OperatorshaveaccesstoallsettingsexceptSystemOptions

Seealsotheonlinehelp

.

BasicSetup

BasicSetupprovidesshortcutstothesettingsthatshouldbemadebeforeusingtheAxisproduct:

1.Users.Seepage36.

2.TCP/IP.Seepage38.

3.Date&Time.Seepage38.

4.VideoStream.Seepage15.

TheBasicSetupmenucanbedisabledfromSystemOptions>Security>Users.

14

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

Video

Video

ItispossibletocongurethefollowingvideofeaturesinyourAxisproduct:

•Videostream.Seepage15.

•Streamproles.Seepage16.

•Camerasettings.Seepage16.

•Viewarea.Seepage17.

•Overlayimage.Seepage18.

•Privacymask.Seepage19.

VideoStream

YoucandenethefollowingvideostreamsettingsfromVideo>VideoStream:

•Image.Seepage15.

•H.264.Seepage16.

•MJPEG.Seepage16.

PixelCounter

Thepixelcountershowsthenumberofpixelsinanareaoftheimage.Thepixelcounterisusefulinsituationswherethereisa
requirementthattheimageisacertainsize,forexampleinfacerecognition.

Thepixelcountercanbeaccessedfrom:

•Video>VideoStream.UnderPreview,clickOpenandselecttheShowpixelcounteroptiontoenabletherectangle
intheimage.Usethemousetomoveandresizetherectangle,orenterthenumberofpixelsintheWidthandHeight
eldsandclickApply.

•TheLiveViewpageinInternetExplorerwithAXISMediaControl(AMC)inWindows.Right-clickintheimageandselect
Pixelcounter.Usethemousetomoveandresizetherectangle.

Image

ThedefaultimagesettingscanbeconguredunderVideo>VideoStream.SelecttheImagetab.

Thefollowingsettingsareavailable:

•Resolution.Selectthedefaultresolution.

•Compression.Thecompressionlevelaffectstheimagequality,bandwidthandlesizeofsavedimages;thelowerthe
compression,thehighertheimagequalitywithhigherbandwidthrequirementsandlargerlesizes.

•Mirrorimage.Ifrequired,theimagecanbemirrored.

•Rotateimage.Ifrequired,theimagecanberotated.

•Maximumframerate.Toavoidbandwidthproblems,theframerateallowedtoeachviewercanbeLimitedtoaxed
amount.Alternatively,theframeratecanbesetasUnlimited,whichmeanstheAxisproductalwaysdeliversthehighest
frameratepossibleunderthecurrentconditions.

•Overlaysettings.SeeOverlayonpage18.

15

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

Video

ClickSavetoapplythenewsettings.

H.264

H.264,alsoknownasMPEG-4Part10/AVC,isavideocompressionstandardthatprovideshighqualityvideostreamsatlowbitrates.
AnH.264videostreamconsistsofdifferenttypesofframessuchasI-framesandP-frames.AnI-frameisacompleteimagewhereas
P-framesonlycontainthedifferencesfrompreviousframes.

TheGOVlengthisthenumberofframesbetweentwoconsecutiveI-frames.IncreasingtheGOVlengthmaysaveconsiderablyon
bandwidthrequirementsinsomecases,butmayalsohaveanadverseaffectonimagequality.

ThebitratecanbesetasVariablebitrate(VBR)orConstantbitrate(CBR).VBRadjuststhebitrateaccordingtotheimage
complexity,usingupmorebandwidthforincreasedactivityintheimage,andlessforlowerimageactivity.Whentheactivityin
thesceneincreases,thebitratewouldusuallyincreaseaswell.Ifthereisasurplusinbandwidth,thismaynotbeanissueand
selectingVariablebitrate(VBR)willbesufcient.Butifbandwidthislimited,itisrecommendedtocontrolthebitratebyselecting
Constantbitrate(CBR).Whentheactivityinthesceneincreases,VBRadjuststhebitrateaccordingtothecomplexity,usingup
morebandwidthforincreasedactivityinthescene,andlessforlowersceneactivity.CBRallowsyoutosetatargetbitratethat
limitsthebandwidthconsumption.

TheCBRtargetbitrateworksliketheceilingofatent.Itlimitsthebitrate,whilemaintainingsomeexibility.Thebitratemaybounce
upanddownwithinthesettargetbutwhenitnearsthesettargetvalue,thelimitationkicksin.However,becauseCBRwillalways
prioritizeacontinuousvideostream,itallowstemporaryovershootsfromthetargetbitrate.Becausesettingatargetvalueprevents
thebitratefromincreasing,framerateandimagequalityareaffectednegatively.Topartlycompensateforthis,selectwhichvariable
shallbeprioritized,framerateorimagequality.Notsettingaprioritymeansthatframerateandimagequalityareequallyaffected.

Thecurrentbitratecanbesettoappearastextoverlay.UnderOverlaySettings,selectIncludetextandenterthemodier
#bintheeld.

Toapplythesettings,clickSave.

MJPEG

Sometimestheimagesizeislargeduetolowlightorcomplexscenery.Adjustingthemaximumframesizehelpstocontrolthe
bandwidthandstorageusedbytheMotionJPEGvideostreaminthesesituations.SettingtheframesizetotheDefaultsetting
providesconsistentlygoodimagequalityattheexpenseofincreasedbandwidthandstorageusageinlowlight.Limitingtheframe
sizeoptimizesbandwidthandstorageusage,butmaygivepoorimagequality.Topreventincreasedbandwidthandstorageusage,
themaximumframesizeshouldbesettoanoptimalvalue.

StreamProles

Astreamproleisasetofpredenedstreamsettingsincludingresolution,compression,framerateandoverlaysettings.Stream
prolescanbeused:

•Whensettinguprecordingusingactionrules.SeeEventsonpage30.

•Whensettingupcontinuousrecording.SeeContinuousRecordingonpage34.

•IntheLiveViewpage–selectthestreamprolefromtheStreamproledrop-downlist.

Forquicksetup,useoneofthepredenedstreamproles.Eachpredenedprolehasadescriptivename,indicatingitspurpose.If
required,thepredenedstreamprolescanbemodiedandnewcustomizedstreamprolescanbecreated.

Tocreateanewproleormodifyanexistingprole,gotoSetup>Video>StreamProles.

ToselectadefaultstreamprolefortheLiveViewpage,gotoSetup>LiveViewCong.

CameraSettings

TheVideo>CameraSettingspageprovidesaccesstoadvancedimagesettingsfortheAxisproduct.

16

AXISM3204-VNetworkCamera

Video

ImageAppearance

IncreasingtheColorlevelincreasesthecolorsaturation.Thevalue100givesmaximumcolorsaturation.Thevalue0givesa
blackandwhiteimage.

TheimageBrightnesscanbeadjustedintherange0–100,whereahighervalueproducesabrighterimage.

IncreasingtheSharpnesscanincreasebandwidthusage.Asharperimagemightincreaseimagenoiseespeciallyinlowlight
conditions.Alowersettingreducesimagenoise,butthewholeimagewillappearlesssharp.

TheContrastchangestherelativedifferencebetweenlightanddark.Itcanbeadjustedusingtheslidebar.

WhiteBalance

Whitebalanceisusedtomakecolorsintheimageappearthesameregardlessofthecolortemperatureofthelightsource.TheAxis
productcanbesettoautomaticallyidentifythelightsourceandcompensateforitscolor.Alternatively,selectthetypeoflight

sourcefromthedrop-downlist.Foradescriptionofeachavailablesetting,seetheonlinehelp

ExposureSettings

Conguretheexposuresettingstosuittheimagequalityrequirementsinrelationtolighting,framerateandbandwidth
considerations.

.

Exposurevalue-Clickinthebartone-tunetheexposure.

EnableBacklightcompensation-Enablethisoptionifabrightspotoflight,forexamplealightbulb,causesotherareasin

theimagetoappeartoodark.

Exposurezones-Thissettingdetermineswhichpartoftheimageisusedtocalculatetheexposure.Formostsituations,theAuto
settingcanbeused.Forparticularrequirements,selectapredenedarea.

Exposurepriority-WhenMotionisprioritizedandmaximumShuttertimeissettoasmallvalue,motionblurintheimageis
minimized.Thiscanbeusefulforrecognitionofmovingobjectssuchaspeopleandvehicles.However,prioritizingmotionmaycause
anincreaseinimagenoise,especiallyinlowlightsituations.WhenLownoiseisprioritizedandGainissettoasmallvalue,image
noiseisminimized.Thelesizeisreduced,whichcanbeusefulifstoragespaceorbandwidthislimited.However,prioritizinglow
noisemayresultinaverydarkimage,especiallyinlowlightsituations.

ViewArea

Aviewareaisacroppedpartofthefullview.TheviewareaistreatedasavideosourceinLiveViewandhasitsownvideo
streamandPTZsettings.

Whensettingupaviewareaitisrecommendedthatthevideostreamresolutionisthesamesizeasorsmallerthantheviewarea
size.Settingthevideostreamresolutionlargerthantheviewareasizeimpliesdigitallyscaledupvideoaftersensorcapture,
requiringmorebandwidthwithoutaddingimageinformation.

Toenable,gotoVideo>CameraSettingsandselectEnableViewArea.

Toconguretheviewarea:

1.GotoVideo>ViewArea.

2.SelectanAspectratioandaVideostreamresolution.

3.Usethemousetomoveandresizetheviewarea.

4.SelectEnablePTZtoenabledigitalPTZfortheviewarea.

5.ClickSavetosavethesettings.

17