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What Is the Difference Between Mainstream and Substream

Submitted by chenlu225 on Tue, 12/26/2023 - 16:21

Have you ever wondered about the distinction between substream and mainstream? And why does monitoring seem to hit a roadblock? Additionally, how can one swiftly calculate the hard drive capacity for monitoring purposes? In this exploration, we will unravel the differences between substream and mainstream, drawing parallels to shed light on their unique characteristics. Simultaneously, we'll delve into the challenges associated with monitoring, offering practical insights into efficiently calculating the required hard drive capacity. Let's embark on this journey together as we dissect these topics and gain a comprehensive understanding.

Difinition: Mainstream Vs Substream

Mainstream:is the primary video feed. This is the stream that the DVR or NVR will use when saving footage to the internal hard disk drive (HDD), and it provides the highest quality of video. You can adjust the settings in a mainstream DVR or NVR to increase or decrease the recording resolution. These settings will affect the recording file size, as well as the amount of recording time available.

Substream:is the secondary video feed. In general, sub-streams provide a video stream that has a lower quality. They are typically used to stream video over the Internet to computers, smartphones, or tablets. By doing so, you are able to reduce the streaming quality for remote viewing while maintaining a high level of recording and storage on the mainstream HDDs.

What Is Mainstream and Substream in CCTV?

In the context of CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) and surveillance systems, "mainstream" and "substream" are terms used to describe different video streams with varying resolutions and qualities. These terms are often associated with IP cameras and video encoding settings. Let's explore the meanings of mainstream and substream in the CCTV context:

Mainstream:

The mainstream stream in CCTV refers to the primary video stream that usually has higher resolution and image quality.
Mainstream is the main video feed that is often used for live viewing or recording high-quality footage.
It is the primary video stream used for critical monitoring purposes where clear and detailed images are essential.

Substream:

The substream, on the other hand, is a secondary video stream that typically has lower resolution and quality compared to the mainstream.
Substream is commonly used for secondary purposes such as remote viewing on mobile devices, where bandwidth or data limitations may be a concern.
It allows for efficient use of network resources by providing a lower-quality stream for non-critical monitoring or remote access.

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