The Video Configurations section controls:
- how video is streamed to Camlocus,
- how motion events are detected,
- whether recordings are stored,
- and how playback is managed.
This section is one of the most important camera setup areas.
Opening Video Configurations
Open:
Camera → Actions → Edit → Settings → Video Icon
Inside this section you can configure:
- Video Source
- Motion Detection
- Transcoding
- Resolution
- Bitrate
- Record Stream
- Playback
- Offset Time
- Recommended Configurations
Video Source
Select how video is delivered to Camlocus.
Motion Detection Type
Defines how motion alerts are generated.
None (Default)
No motion detection events will be processed.
Use when:
- only live view is needed,
- or continuous recording is enabled without alerts.
FTP Video
Motion events are generated from uploaded FTP video clips.
Events will appear in:
- Alerts page
- motion history
- event timeline
Most commonly used with:
- Blue Iris
- external NVR software
Transcoding
Defines whether uploaded video should be converted into another codec/format.
Yes
Recommended for most users.
Advantages:
- better browser compatibility
- smoother playback
- optimized cloud streaming
Default codec:
- H.264
Premium plans may support:
- AV1 codec
Note:
Transcoding increases server CPU/GPU usage.
No
Disables video conversion.
Recommended only when:
- source video is already fully compatible,
- minimal latency is required,
- or CPU usage must be reduced.
Incorrect codec formats may cause playback problems.
Resolution
Defines recording and streaming resolution.
Original (Default)
Uses the original camera resolution.
Recommended for:
- highest image quality
- evidence recording
- license plate recognition
- detailed playback
Lower resolutions reduce:
- bandwidth usage
- storage usage
- CPU load
Bitrate
Defines stream quality and bandwidth usage.
Higher bitrate:
- better image quality
- larger storage usage
- more internet bandwidth
Lower bitrate:
- smaller storage usage
- lower bandwidth consumption
- reduced image clarity
Example:
- 2048 kbps balanced quality/storage setup
Recommended ranges:
| Usage | Recommended Bitrate |
| Low bandwidth preview | 512–1024 kbps |
| Standard monitoring | 2048 kbps |
| High detail recording | 4096+ kbps |
Record Stream
Enables continuous video recording.
Yes
24/7 recording is enabled.
Footage becomes available in:
- Playback page
- timeline history
Recommended for:
- security monitoring
- evidence retention
- continuous surveillance
No
Only live streaming will remain active.
No playback footage will be stored unless motion clips are uploaded separately.
Playback
Defines how long recordings are stored.
Example retention periods:
- 7 Days
- 14 Days
- 30 Days
Longer retention requires:
- more cloud storage
- higher storage costs
Choose retention based on:
- legal requirements
- investigation needs
- available storage plan
Offset Time
Adjusts camera timestamps.
Useful when:
- cameras display incorrect time,
- multiple cameras are not synchronized,
- external NVR timestamps differ.
Value can be:
- positive
- negative
Measured in seconds.
Disabled
No timestamp correction is applied.
Saving Configuration
After changing settings click:
Update
Changes may take several seconds to apply.
Some stream types may require:
- reconnecting the camera,
- restarting the stream,
- or restarting external software.
Recommended Configurations
Blue Iris + Full Recording
| Setting | Recommended Value |
| Video Source | RTMPS Stream |
| Motion Detection | FTP Video |
| Transcoding | Yes |
| Record Stream | Yes |
| Playback | 7–30 Days |
Low Bandwidth Remote Camera
| Setting | Recommended Value |
| Video Source | FTP Image |
| Transcoding | No |
| Record Stream | No |
Direct IP Camera Integration
| Setting | Recommended Value |
| Video Source | RTSP |
| Transcoding | Yes |
| Record Stream | Yes |
RTMPS Stream
Recommended for:
- Blue Iris
- FFmpeg
- OBS
- external NVR software
This is the recommended option for most advanced installations.
Advantages:
- stable live streaming
- supports 24/7 recording
- lower latency
- cloud-friendly
Use this when video is already being processed by another application or server.
Cloud Device (Adapter)
Streams video through the Camlocus Cloud Adapter installed on:
- Linux PC
- Virtual Machine
- local server
- edge device
Recommended when:
- cameras are inside local networks,
- direct RTSP access is unavailable,
- firewall/NAT restrictions exist.
This option improves security because cameras do not need public internet exposure.
FTP Image
Uploads JPEG snapshots through FTP.
Best for:
- low bandwidth environments
- remote locations
- simple live preview
- time-lapse generation