Deployment

IC-Recorder is a single-channel recording application. However, it is designed to allow several copies to run smoothly on one or more PCs for multi-channel recording scenarios.

When deploying IC-Recorder, you have two options:

  • Deploy the software on existing DVR hardware.

  • Obtain dedicated hardware specifically for video recording.

The type of hardware you require depends on the number of channels to be recorded and the required video resolution and frame rate (SD or HD). Use the information provided below to guide your selection.

For more information about offshore deployment of IC-Recorder together with IC-Inspection and NEXUS IC, see Offshore Deployment.

Warning

Disable “Automatically adjust clock for Daylight Saving Time” on DVR computers. IC-Recorder periodically syncs time with IC-Inspection but dead-reckons between updates. Sudden clock adjustments during operations can lead to issues. We strongly recommend that you avoid daylight saving adjustments.

PC-based Video Capture Devices

IC-Recorder supports a variety of video capture hardware, both internal and external. If a device supports “DirectShow,” it is likely to work seamlessly with IC-Recorder. Below are some recommended options:

  • Startech S-Video Composite to USB Video Capture Cable (SVID2USB23) (Startech)

    • An external USB device suitable for laptops and any machine requiring single-channel recording.

    • Captures full analog resolution (720x576 for PAL).

    • Devices with a “2861” or “EM2861” chip or chipset are also compatible.

    • While not broadcast quality, image degradation happens anyway due to electrical noise and signal attenuation by the time the signal reaches the capture device, so the quality of the capture device becomes less critical.

    • We have encountered challenges when connecting multiple of these USB devices to a single machine, but using just one device has consistently worked well

  • Osprey Analog Series (e.g., 260e and 210e) (Osprey)

    • Internal broadcast-quality cards.

    • Positive experiences with the 260e and its older sibling. The 100e model is likely suitable as well.

    • For multi-channel recording, consider the 4-channel 460e. Note, however, that there’s a known PCIe bus issue: Windows infrequently allocates IRQs on the PCIe bus, resulting in frame drops for the 460e. To address this, navigate to Options ‣ Hardware ‣ Properties ‣ Device, move the slider on the ‘PCIe Bus Usage’ section (up or down), and click Apply. After next reboot, the problem may recur though.

  • Blackmagic DeckLink Cards (Blackmagic)

    Blackmagic offers suitable cards, but they may be more finicky to set up than Osprey devices and are less heavily tested with IC-Recorder.

  • Osprey HD Devices

    For HD capture, Osprey provides both USB 3.0 devices (USB 3.0 devices) and internal cards (internal cards).

Note

If you need to edit recording profiles, install Windows Media Encoder (Windows Media Encoder) and copy its WmProEdt.exe (usually located under C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Components\Encoder) to IC-Recorder’s Profiles folder (usually located under C:\Users\Public\Documents\IC-Recorder\Profiles).

Computing power

When using these video devices, the processing power of your PC plays a crucial role as video is converted into WMV format by the PC’s own CPU. Thus, the CPU needs to be powerful enough to do the conversion work. Consider the following:

  • For a single channel of HD video at 1080p25, your CPU should have a multi-CPU score of approximately 11,000 on Geekbench. If you’re dealing with two channels, aim for twice that score (around 22,000). Doubling the frame rate (e.g., 1080p50) doubles the CPU requirements. An SD channel (with about one-fifth the pixels of 1080p25) needs roughly one-fifth the CPU power.

  • If you’re buying an Intel CPU, consider an LGA 2066 socket paired with an X299 chipset (as of 2018). The number of PCIe lanes required depends on the number of hard disks connected to the motherboard NVMe connectors. If you’re using only one NVMe port, a 28-lane CPU should suffice. For multiple NVMe SSDs, more lanes may be advisable. Check your motherboard documentation to understand which PCIe card slots will be activated under different circumstances (often expressed as “×16/×0/×8/×0” or “×8/×0/×8/×8”). Keep in mind that as of 2018, AMD CPUs may offer better performance per dollar compared to Intel.

  • Regarding capture cards, an Osprey 460e-equipped modern PC can handle recording up to 4 channels of SD video. For the Osprey 825e, expect it to handle 2 channels of HD video.

Hardware

When choosing PC hardware for video processing, consider the following factors:

  • Ensure that your hardware provides an adequate number of PCIe lanes. These lanes are essential for various components, including capture cards, optional graphics cards, and RAID controllers. Keep in mind that SATA, M.2 drives, and other peripherals also consume PCIe lanes. After selecting a CPU, consult the motherboard documentation. If the CPU has a limited number of lanes (e.g., less than 44), not all PCIe slots may be active or may operate at reduced physical width.

  • As of 2019, we recommend the X299 chipset as a suitable choice for video processing. High-end graphics cards are unnecessary; focus on how many monitors the graphics card can support simultaneously (referred to as “heads”). Some cards have more output connectors than they can drive concurrently. Consider the i7-7800X CPU for your setup.

  • Avoid using RAID directly on the encoding machines. RAID introduces potential failure points and complicates troubleshooting. Instead, transfer video data off the encoding machines and onto a redundant storage system like a NAS.

  • If you’re using SSDs, ensure that their sustained write speed can handle the maximum video capture rate. Recording multiple HD channels may exceed the sustained write capabilities of certain SSDs. Mitigate this by installing several SSDs and distributing different channels across them. Spinning hard disks are also a viable option for video storage. Consider using a small SSD for the operating system, plus a hard disk for the video data.

Non-PC based Video Capture Devices

IC-Recorder also supports the Marshall VS-103E-3GSDI encoder (Marshall VS-103E-3GSDI encoder). The Marshall encoder handles digital video conversion using its own hardware, bypassing the PC or laptop’s CPU. Although its text overlay capabilities are slightly less robust, they remain perfectly adequate. This device captures either standard-definition composite analog video or HD digital video via SDI or HDMI (though not both simultaneously). When controlled by IC-Recorder, the Marshall Encoder records exclusively to AVI format.

Computing power

The Marshall device digitises and encodes video, significantly reducing the load on the PC or laptop. The PC’s primary role becomes simple video decoding for viewing the video stream. In general terms, a single PC can control and preview up to 4 channels of video from 4 encoders.

Hardware

Whenever possible, use a Power over Ethernet (PoE)-capable Ethernet switch for your Marshall encoders. This eliminates the need for separate wall-wart power bricks for each unit. As long as the switch receives good-quality power, it minimizes power-related issues.

Remember that the limitations of SSD write speed described earlier also apply in this context.

Preview

When using a Marshall encoder in IC-Recorder, you can preview video complete with overlay. However, under certain circumstances, this preview may stutter or skip. It’s important to note that this preview is separate from the recorded stream. Skipping during preview does not imply skipping in the final recorded video. To verify the actual recorded content, play back the recorded video.

If you want an accurate video reference, use VLC Player and connect to the following URL: rtsp://<IP address>/video1_audio1. Alternatively, connect a monitor directly to the Marshall encoder’s HDMI Out port. Keep in mind that HDMI Out only provides pass-through video without text overlay.

Storage & Redundancy

IC-Recorder stores video in the location that you have configured. Ensure sufficient storage space for the recorded video. Implement robust security measures and backup strategies for video data. Note that there are no inherent archiving or backup routines within IC-Recorder. We recommend using network-based archiving utilities or PowerShell scripts to manage video data effectively.

Always prioritize hardware redundancy to ensure uninterrupted operation in case of hardware failures.