Bit Rate Settings for Video Servers

Overview

This document provides an overview of the required bit rates for SmartSight video servers (S1000
series, S1000w, S1100w, S1500e series, and S1600e). It provides examples for typical frame
rates and resolutions.

Warning

The values indicated in this document could be different from those you measure. A lot of factors
can influence the bit rate and video quality generated by a video server.

The presented values represent the maximum bit rates generated by the video encoders. The
average bit rate will be lower. To calculate the storage space, use the Disk Space Calculator
available in the same Downloads sub-section.

Exceptions

The quality of the analog signal or camera has an important impact on these values.
The unit settings have an important impact on these values.

Setup

The results were obtained with the following setup:

Pelco Spectra-Lite II, manual focus and manual iris.

Outdoor scene, clear sunlight sky, zoomed on a street such that an intermediate car
occupies one third of the screen.
Input filter = medium;
rate control = advanced;
min. quantizer = 2;
max. quantizer = 10.
S1500e with firmware 2.00.
(Firmware 2.00 to 2.31 will have the same behavior.
Firmware from 2.50 (March 2003) will have a better behavior at low frame rate.
S1000, S1000w, S1100w and S1600e will have the same behavior as the S1500es.)
Bit Rate Settings for Good Visual Quality

CIF resolution:
352 columns x 240 lines (NTSC)
352 columns x 288 lines (PAL)

CIF average < 30% average > 30% average > 50%
motion motion motion
frame/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec
30 512 Kbps 1 Mbps 1.4 Mbps
15 384 Kbps 684 Kbps 950 Kbps
10 256 Kbps 512 Kbps 716 Kbps
5 128 Kbps 256 Kbps 358 Kbps

2CIF resolution:
352 columns x 384 lines (NTSC)
352 columns x 448 lines (PAL)

2CIF average < 30% average > 30% average > 50%
motion motion motion
frame/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec
30 1 Mbps 2 Mbps 2.8 Mbps
15 684 Kbps 1.3 Mbps 1.8 Mbps
10 512 Kbps 1 Mbps 1.4 Mbps
5 256 Kbps 512 Kbps 716 Kbps

All lines resolution:

352 columns x 480 (NTSC)
352 columns x 576 lines (PAL)

All lines average < 30% average > 30% average > 50%
motion motion motion
frame/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec
30 1.25 Mbps 2.5 Mbps 3.5 Mbps
15 850 Kbps 1.7 Mbps 2.4 Mbps
10 640 Kbps 1.3 Mbps 1.8 Mbps
5 320 Kbps 640 Kbps 896 Kbps

4CIF resolution:
704 columns x 480 lines (NTSC)
704 columns x 576 lines (PAL)

4CIF average < 30% average > 30% average > 50%
motion motion motion
frame/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec bit rate/sec
30 2.5 Mbps N.D. N.D.
15 1.7 Mbps 3.4 Mbps 4.8 Mbps
10 1.3 Mbps 2.6 Mbps 3.6 Mbps
5 640 Kbps 1.3 Mbps 1.8 Mbps
Notes

If you need better quality you can:

Increase the bit rate.
Modify the input filter value (CLI or SConfigurator).
Reduce the max. quantizer value (CLI) or increase the quality (nDVR).

If you want to sustain quality and bit rate, but not frame rate:
Reduce the max. quantizer value (CLI) or increase the quality (nDVR).

If you want to keep sustained 30 fps with 100% motion in 2CIF or All lines:
Set the rate control mode to alternate (nDVR or SConfigurator). This may cause the bit rate
to peek over the set value.
Set the encoder mode to fast (CLI only).

If you want 30 fps at a lower bit rate:

Set the bit rate to fit your requirements.
Take a look at the visual quality.
If youre not satisfied, modify the input filter value (CLI or SConfigurator) and increase the
min. quantizer (CLI only).

(July 2003)