How and how to open H264 files from surveillance cameras and DVRs: Understanding the main
Video surveillance systems are an integral part of the equipment in offices, enterprises and even in some homes. But the recordings from the cameras will be completely useless if the user can NOT open them. The content from cameras can not always be opened by the player built into the operating system, since the codec can be used during recording, and not the one installed on the personal computer.
What to do with video from a surveillance camera / DVR
1) Try downloading alternative players
The most popular reason for not being able to open a video file. this is the absence of codecs (well, or various glitches with them). Therefore, the first thing I would recommend is:
If you play the video in the above player failed. it is possible that the file from the recorder was encoded into a “special” codec

Important!
DVRs and surveillance cameras can record video encoders in their own format (much depends on the manufacturer and model of your device). If this is the case, then it will NOT work to open such a video with a regular player and codecs. This is done apparently so that no one (except the owner of the equipment) can edit the video so simply and easily.
There are two options for playing such files:
- Find out the manufacturer and model of the device (on which the video was made) and download programs from the official website (usually, all manufacturers have software on their website for working with their equipment)
- Use the HEX editor, find out the file header and try to manually find the required codec (decoder).
2) use specials. Manufacturer software
For example, I will take one of the popular manufacturers of such equipment. DVR Falcon Eye FE-1104MHD Light (I won’t!). Go to the manufacturer’s official website, I find a specific device model (see screenshot below).
Official website of the manufacturer FALCON EYE
At the bottom of the page are Not only instructions and tech. Features, but also the software to work with the DVR.
Actually, having downloaded and opened the archive, you can find: a player (and not only for Windows), a converter, codecs, etc. “Good”.
Specialist. DVR manufacturer software
In principle, no further difficulties with the processing of such a video should arise.
3) use HEX editors and analyze the beginning of the file
In cases where the manufacturer and model of the device on which the recording was made is unknown (or there is no software on the official website, or it has been closed for a long time). you can try to find a codec to decode video manually. To do this, you need some HEX editor (for example, you can take Win HEX).
By opening the file in such an editor. you will NOT see the video, only numbers, letters, etc. will be displayed (This is “scary” for many users.). Actually, we only need to view the first 4 bytes of the file (see screenshot below, they are highlighted. “4HKH”).
The video file was opened in a hex editor (for 4HKH, you can use this codec, it integrates into the WMP player)
With these 4-bytes, you can manually try to find the codec to decrypt the file. It is enough to ask a question in Google (Yandex) like “4HKH video compressor” (“4HKH video converter”) and other derivatives.
In general, Further actions may differ depending on what software for “decoding” and working with video you download.
That’s all for the additions. thank you in advance.
Player for files from CCTV camera
Viewing SEPARATE video surveillance files (captured by the DVR) after copying from the DVR to the computer is best done with small fast players like Media Player Classic or VLC. Specifics of working with such files and the original format:
- Often, frame-by-frame video parsing is required;
- Need instant “rewind” to /. 2.5 sec or 1 frame;
- It is convenient to shoot and save individual frames (screenshots) using the utility built into the player.
The convenience of the MPC is that the viewing is controlled from the keyboard:
- Right and left arrow buttons on the keyboard “rewind” the current moment by 5 or 5 seconds from this moment of the video.
- Using the same arrows while pressing Ctrl in the “Pause” mode, you can view the video file frame by frame, as in the picture below: it is convenient to search for SEPARATE moments and the best quality “picture”. In the bowels of the player there is also a setting for color, contrast and other parameters, which can be adjusted “on the fly”.
Frame-by-frame rewinding of the h264 file is carried out with Ctrl arrow
- Pause, expand video to full screen (or reverse collapse) by clicking the mouse.
A similar setting of keyboard shortcuts is available in most players, but it is in MPC that everything works by default exactly as it is convenient for viewing recordings from a video surveillance system. Media Player Classic, due to its speed and simplicity, is perhaps the best program for watching videos from a DVR.
We should also mention the ability to quickly take screenshots (SEPARATE frames) to save and / or print them on a printer. This operation is carried out using the AltI combination.
Taking screenshots from video recording to MPC player: AltI or File. Save picture
H264 file viewers
A reasonable question arises. how to open the h264 file and what programs are needed for this. The corresponding software is usually supplied with recording devices, but if the video was found by you on the Internet, you can try to open the h264 format using third-party players. Give it a try, because there is no 100% guarantee that the video will open.
Default Player H.264
H264 video player from Shenzhen VStarcam Technology developer. The player is equipped with the simplest file manager, h264 to AVI converter, video rewind, audio playback, fast preview, freeze frame delight and printing are supported. Among the shortcomings of the current version, it should be noted Incorrect display of the picture with different from the standard proportions, the image can be stretched vertically.
VLC Player
One of the most popular and powerful media players that can play most of the well-known multimedia formats, which include H264 / AVC. It is able to open the h264 file from surveillance cameras, but not all models, but the player opens the encoded H264 / AVC video with the MP4 extension without problems. VLC Player has a built-in converter with which videos can be converted to a more common format. If you cannot immediately open h264 in VLC, it is recommended to install ffdshow tryouts, AC3Filter and Haali Media Splitter decoders.
Datakam Player
How else to view the h264 file from the DVR? Search the Internet for the dedicated Datakam Player application, aka Registrator Viewer. It is an alternative to the players supplied with the car recorder, supports video playback recorded using DATAKAM, DOD, ProCam, CamBox, Papago, Digma, xDevice, AdvoCam and many other devices. Player features include working with maps, video scaling and frame-by-frame playback, search and grouping of files.
Useful programs for working with h264
Any player will do to open and view the h264 file from the DVR. The only condition is that there are codec packs installed on the system, like the K-Lite Codec Pack. If available, this uncompressed “clean” video data format should open without problems in a standard Windows player or any other: no additional adjustment is required. Codecs are usually Not required to view video in the CMS. For web access to the DVR through a browser, codecs are also not needed.
These h264 extensions are large containers: it is not always convenient to save them for sending, sending to a remote server or recording to an optical medium. Sometimes it is useful to convert them to another, more familiar and compact format: mov, avi, mpg, etc. Among the best converter programs: Freemake Video Converter, CUDA Video Converter and others. Working with them is easy even for a beginner: just open the source file, select the desired format and settings, then. wait a few minutes for final processing.
Desktop software for converting H264 to AVI
If the H264 video needs to be posted on the Internet for free access, it is advisable to convert it to AVI or MP4, so as not to create difficulties for users by downloading it. To do this, you can use the following converter programs.
Ripbot264
A free converter designed to convert different formats among themselves. The program is focused on converting video to formats supported by mobile devices, but it can also be used to convert H264. Relatively simple, convenient, allows you to adjust the bit rate, FPS and other video parameters, supports distributed encoding with the introduction of local network servers. Requires ffdshow tryouts, Haali Media Splitter, AVisynth program and Net Framework component to work.
AVS Video Converter
Powerful video converter with built-in codecs and wide support for multimedia formats, including H264. It features flexible settings, allows you to change the parameters of the converted video, add menus, subtitles and other elements. The program is easy to use. drag the H264 video into the “Source file” field, select the preferred format on the “Formats” tab and press the “Start” button.
The CMS is NOT very convenient for viewing and managing surveillance system files. For a detailed study of SEPARATE fragments of video recording by saving data on a PC. and open them in SEPARATE programs. This rule will allow you to process individual moments of recording from the DVR faster and more comfortably
Online H264 to AVI converters
You can also convert video recorded by a surveillance camera or video recorder using online services. The method is convenient in that it does not require the installation of third-party programs and additional codecs on the computer.
Online-Convert.com
Online file converter, popular in Runet. It cannot be said that it was tailored for working only with video, but it supports the H264 format and this is the main thing. Conversion can be performed with default settings or with editing elements. The service allows you to change the size of the video, its bitrate, supports removing the audio track, trimming, rotating vertically and horizontally. There is also a choice of codec. You can choose AVI, MKV, MOV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, FLV and MPEG as the output format.
Online-Converting.Ru
A service similar in functionality, which can also be used as an online H264 to AVI converter. Supports resizing, bitrate and FPS video, cropping and reverse. Besides AVI, the downloaded video can be converted to GIF, WMV, OGG, MOV, MKV, MP4 and WEBM.
Video playback software. 264 and H.264
Today, surveillance cameras can be seen at almost every turn. You may also be planning to install one or more cameras in your home. Such devices work with video file formats. 264 or H.264. But how to watch the video and how to open the file will be discussed in the article.
Differences and similarities between 264 and H.264 formats
Format. 264. they are raw elementary streams of H.264-ES video files (also called temporary MPEG-4 video file). In turn, H.264-ES is part of the H.264 format specification. Older DVRs record video in.64 format. Such video files cannot be used for direct viewing with an ordinary player and require processing by special programs.
H.264 format allows you to reduce video recording to a minimum size. After the videos are fully compressed, the video and audio quality is still high. CCTV cameras and video recorders of a new type work with this format. H.264 files are also called MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC / H.264 files. Despite the long and scary name, it is very easy to find an H.264 file player on the net.
To open such files, you must use one of the following methods:
- Use special programs and utilities;
- Convert video files.
Opening H.264 video
Almost all popular programs and converters work with the H.264 format, the most popular are:
Working with format. 264
Let’s take a closer look at how to open a.264 file from a DVR or surveillance camera.
Special programs
The following programs will be useful to open video.264:
.264 video files can be merged or unmerged. We will consider how to do this further.
Utilities
To play a.264 file, you need to place it in a Container format that can be recognized by any media player. For this purpose, we recommend using one of the following utilities:
- Demuxer. knows how to create dsm or mpc records. It is worth noting that dsm files can only be played in this junk.
- Mkvcleaver. with its help you can cut video in.MKV.
- Mkvmerge. able to modify, cut, merge or Separate video files. After video processing, the video quality does NOT deteriorate, but the format changes to.MKV.
- Haali Muxer. can help in converting, merging or unmerging video files. After video processing, it is assigned the.MKV format.
Conversion
Conversion process. 264 and H.264 is quite simple. To do this, you need to download a conversion program. The most popular programs for this purpose are:
We hope that the tips in this article have helped you understand how to View and Process 264 and H.264 recordings. If you have any questions, please contact us. Describe your problem in detail so that we can help you.
How to open h264 from CCTV camera
.H264 video files are rare. Basically, this format is used by auto-recorders, surveillance cameras and some camera models for professional / amateur video shooting. This format allows you to record long videos, which DO NOT take up much space on the drive, which is very useful because The place there is very limited.
There are also some subtypes of the.H264.H264-ES.264 format, which are found only on older cameras. Cannot be played on a computer without special processing, unlike the standard.
Opening h264 files
Unfortunately, on modern versions of Windows OS, problems may arise when working with this format. On Mac and Linux, these problems are almost never encountered.
Windows users are left with two options:
- Use services for online video conversion from one format to another (for example, to the usual MP4). These services have restrictions on the length and weight of the video. There is also a risk of Incorrect conversion.
- Use a player that is able to correctly read and open the video in. H264.
If you chose the second option, then first install the desired player, and later open the video with it. To do this, right-click on the video file and select the item “Open with.”, Then look for the desired player and open the video in it.
Quicktime Player
Apple computers have this player by default, and there is also a version that is fully compatible with Windows. Free distribution, support for Windows users.
In addition to the ability to play video and music of different formats, the player has many functions that will come in handy when processing video / sound. For example, you can convert a file from one format to another, customize the audio track, etc. In the case of the version for Windows, some functions of the player may not be available. The installation process is standard. you agree to the license agreement, choose a place to install and wait for completion.
Opening with VLC Media Player
Installed by default on Some Linux distributions. Able to play almost all known video and photo formats. It will run on almost any version of Windows without any problems. Free distribution.
In addition to watching the video, the user can make some adjustments to its quality (for example, reduce it to compress the size of the video file), perform primitive manipulations with the audio track. Unlike QuickTime and standard Windows players, this product is developed and supported by a non-profit organization, which allows serious changes to the program’s functionality for Individual users. The main feature is the ability to play damaged files. It is also possible to broadcast and receive video and audio from the network.
Opening with Windows Media
A standard player for Windows operating systems, with the exception of the latest Windows 10. If you have this player installed by default, the.H264 file will open without any problems. Initially, the system may ask which program to open the video file, but usually it automatically opens in the built-in player.
If you are using Windows 10, you can download and install this player. Problems with its implementation should not arise. However, the standard player in this OS also opens the h264 format without any problems.
Using one of the proposed programs, you can easily open a video file in.H264 format. Video can be easily converted to any format if needed.
How to open H264 from CCTV camera. Opening video files in H.264 format
H.264. one of the video compression standards. Often this format is for files recorded on surveillance cameras and video recorders. Using the H.264 standard allows you to obtain a High compression ratio of a video stream with maximum quality preservation. This unusual extension may confuse the average user, but in fact, opening such files is NOT more difficult than other videos.
H.264 file viewing options
Most modern video playback software can open H.264 without problems. When choosing, you should be guided by ease of use and the presence of additional functions in each individual player.
VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player has always been distinguished by its wide capabilities in terms of playing video files of a wide variety of formats, including H.264.
- Click on “Media” and select “Open File” (CtrlO).
Change to the directory with the desired file. Be sure to specify “all files” in the drop-down list for H.264 to be displayed. Select it and click “Open”.
Or find the video on your computer and just drag and drop into the VLC Media Player window.
You can watch the video.
Media Player Classic
One of the simplest solutions to open H.264 on a computer is Media Player Classic.
-
Expand the File tab and click Quick File Open (CtrlQ). The next item “Open file” performs a similar action, but with preliminary display of the window for selecting dubbing, which in our case is not necessary.
You can also drag video from File Explorer to the player.
After a couple of moments, playback will begin.
Kmplayer
We must also mention KMPlayer as a tool for viewing H.264. However, unlike the previous versions, this player has integrated ad units.
-
Open the menu and click “Open file (s)” (CtrlO).
In the Explorer window that appears, navigate to the folder with the desired file, select “All files” as displayed and open the H.264 video.
Or you can drag it to the KMPlayer playback area.
In any case, this video will be launched.
Gom player
The GOM Player interface, like the functionality, is similar to KMPlayer, and promo materials also occasionally flash. But the main thing for us is that it recognizes the H.264 format.
-
Click on the name of the program and select “Open file (s)” (F2).
You can also use the button on the bottom panel to open.
Now find the folder with H.264, specify the display of all files and open the desired video.
As usual, don’t forget about the possibility to drag and drop the file into the player window.
H.264 can now be viewed.
Bsplayer
For a change, consider BSPlayer as an option to solve the problem with opening H.264.
Navigate to the location where the desired video is stored, specify the display of all files and open H.264.
Dragging and dropping will also work.
Playback starts almost immediately.
As you can see, you can open H.264 through one of the usual video players. The main thing is not to forget to indicate the display of all types of files.
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How to open h264 from CCTV camera?
Video surveillance systems are an integral part of the equipment in offices, enterprises and even in some homes. But the recordings from the cameras will be completely useless if the user can NOT open them. The content from cameras can not always be opened by the player built into the operating system, since the codec can be used during recording, and not the one installed on the personal computer.
What is h264 and h265?
H264. a hardware codec that allows you to record video using a camera, capture it from a computer, and also receive it using a variety of second methods. H264 and H265 are very popular in recording devices due to support for hardware encoding method (which is much faster than software) and the ability to save the final video in almost any modern format.
- Supports hardware video encoding method, so you can achieve better recording quality and frame rate even on very mediocre hardware.
- The ability to save videos in almost any popular format.
- H264 is supported by almost all modern hardware and software.
- In the absence of hardware encoding on the hardware, h264 can work in software mode, although it will be much slower and worse.
H265. a more modern codec, designed to eventually replace the obsolete h264. This codec is distinguished by increased speed and quality of images, but video capture in h265 is supported by a rather small amount of equipment. Only the most expensive cameras and DVRs support shooting using this codec.
How to open processed h264 and h265 (avi, mp4 and similar formats)
In the overwhelming majority of cases, the user will NOT even have to install anything, modern operating systems (both stationary and mobile), with all the updates already available “out of the box”, can open processed videos from cameras.
If, on a computer or mobile phone, videos loaded from the recorder or filmed with a separate camera open, in this case, additional software will need to be installed. As such software, you can install another player, with which all videos will open, or use a package of codecs that add support for new formats to the built-in Media Player.
The most popular players for Windows PC:
- VLC Media Player. an advanced video and audio player based exclusively on free software. The player features low resource consumption and high operating speed;
- Kmplayer. one of the most popular players supporting a huge number of video formats, adding third-party effects during playback, and also having many other functions. There is one drawback in KMPlayer. huge demands on computer resources, because of which it does not work well on weak PCs;
- Allplayer. This is a young player, a distinctive feature of which is playing archived files without the need to unpack them first.
There are many other players for the computer, the final choice depends solely on the user’s preferences.
Using media codecs
Not all users will want to change the player to play the maximum number of video formats. In this case, you can install any of the modern codec packages into the built-in Media Player. There are NOT too many high-quality codec packages on computers:
- K-Lite Codec Pack. one of the most common and old codec packages. It is distributed in several editors, it is recommended to use the Full or Mega edition to play video from cameras, other versions may lack the necessary components. Also, this package allows you to install Media Player Classic on your computer.
- ADVANCED Codecs. younger, but not less advanced codec package. In addition to the standard features, it allows you to programmatically improve the quality of the video being played, although it does this very mediocre.
- Media Player Codec Pack. media codec package Designed to be embedded exclusively in standard Windows Media Player. When installing it, the user will not be prompted to install an alternative player, otherwise it practically does not differ from analogues.
- Xvid Codec. a codec package designed primarily for converting video rather than playing it. It is perfect when you need to convert a picture from a camera into a format understandable for most devices. For normal playback, the previous codecs are enough.
What to do with raw video (RAW)?
Some DVRs and IP cameras take pictures exclusively in raw format, using the h264 or h265 codec. As a result, videos do NOT open on second devices without first converting to more common and understandable formats. Basically, owners of professional cameras face this problem, but it also rarely occurs in video surveillance systems.
You can convert images of their raw format using a video editor. Paid editors
- Sony Vegas Pro. an excellent video editor from Sony, which allows you not only to convert videos from one format to another, but also to perform many other actions. This application is mainly used to work with Sony cameras, but other cameras / DVRs are quite supported.
- Adobe Premiere. video editor from Adobe. This application will appeal to users of other products from the company, for example Photoshop, since all programs from Adobe have synchronization with each other.
Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase a paid video editor or install a hacked version, so there are also free analogs:
- Openshot. free video editor based exclusively on free software. A distinctive feature of the program is the most simple and intuitive interface.
- Shortcut. another free video editor that differs from the previous one mainly in interfaces.
H.264 than open?
“I have a video surveillance system and I want to review my past records. Video files are loaded in.H264 format, I tried to open them with VLC Player, but the files could not be played “.
These and other issues related to.H264 files are quite common today. This is due to the fact that the H.264 standard has gained great popularity, both in amateur and professional digital video.
H.264 than open?
What is H.264 file?
In simple terms, an H.264 file (MPEG-4 AVC). is a video file encoded in the licensed H.264 video compression standard, which provides a high level of compression (low bit rate) with excellent image quality.
Reference! Bitrate. the number of bits (units of information) transmitted per unit of time. For Full HD (1080p) movies, the video file bitrate is about 10 Mbps.
Due to its high compression level and other advantages, the H.264 codec replaces the previous MPEG-4 ASP codec and is widely used in AVCHD camcorders, Blu-ray and HD DVD discs, HDTV TVs, etc.
Key Benefits of H.264 AVC Files
Advantages of H.264 AVC:
- The audio in the codec can be compressed separately and captured along with the H.264 video stream;
- Backward compatible with older compression standards like H.263 / H.261, etc.;
- Reduces the size of a digital video file by about 50%
- Open for licensing to all vendors;
- Is a standard for interaction between various devices;
- Allows you to transmit video from high definition cameras over the Internet.
How to open.H264 file in Windows?
There are many media players on Windows that play h.264 files.
Best Software with Which to Open H.264 File
Some of the best ones:
- VLC Media Player;
- Kmplayer;
- Bsplayer;
- Light Alloy;
- GOM Player;
- Media Player Classic.
Play H.264 files with VLC media player
Find out about proven ways to convert videos in our new article. “How to reformat a video”.
For example, a user has footage from CCTV cameras or a consumer camcorder in H264 format and needs to play the captured video in Windows.
Open an internet browser, follow the link: http://www.Videolan.org/vlc/index.html and click “Download VLC” to download the latest version of the VLC player.
Click “Download VLC”
Note! The downloaded file can be found in the “Settings” of the browser, go to its “Downloads”.
Go to the “Settings” browser, open “Downloads”
Run downloaded file.
Run the downloaded file
Select language and click “OK”.
Choose a language and click “OK”
Press “Next” three times.
Click “Install”.
After installing the software, click “Finish”.
After starting the program, click on “Tools” and click on “Settings”.
Click “Tools” and click “Settings”
Open the “Input / Codecs” item on the left by clicking the mouse and select “Demultiplexers”.
Expanding on the left with a click of the mouse the item “Input-codecs” and select “demultiplexers”
Select a case in the drop-down list “Demultiplexer module” option “H264 demultiplexer” and click “Save”.
Select the option “H264 Demultiplexer” in the “Demultiplexer module” list, click “Save”
Now you can open and view H.264 files in VLC media player. This requires:
Click “Media” and click “Open File.”.
Click “Media” and click “Open file.”
Select “all files” from the drop-down list, click on the required file in the window and click “Open”.
Select “all files” in the drop-down list, click on the desired file in the window and click “Open”
You can also simply drag the desired file from the Windows folder into the media player window to open the file.
Using the mouse, drag the file from the folder to the media player window to open the file
The video will open in the video player window.
Play H.264 video in VLC media player
After watching the video, you can return the automatic selection of the demultiplexer.
Advice! If you have problems playing videos with H.264 codecs, you can also try to rename the.H264 file extension to.Mpg file and try to play it.
Installing ffdshow media decoder
If the file is not Playable, you can install the ffdshow universal media decoder into the operating system.
Go to the address: http://ffdshow-tryout.Sourceforge.Net/download.php and click on the link with 32- or 64-bit OS, depending on the version of Windows installed in the user.
Go to the official website, click on the download link that corresponds to the installed OS
Run the downloaded file from the Downloads folder or from another folder where you saved it when downloading.
Run the downloaded file from the Downloads folder
Click “OK”.
Press “Next” six times.
We read the information, click “Next”
Click “Install”.
Click on the “Install” button
Uncheck the decoder settings and click “Finish”.
Uncheck the decoder settings items and click “Finish”.
After installing the media decoder, it will be able to play H.264 video stream in any DirectShow-compatible media player automatically.
H.264 / H.265 player
Screenshots, click to enlarge:
Video player for playing H.264 and H.265 files on Windows.
License details:
Unless otherwise noted, all software is distributed under the terms of the MIT License https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
Copyright (c) 2019 LLC “Business Center Algorithm” Krasnodar
This license permits persons who have received a copy of this software and related documentation (hereinafter referred to as the “Software”) to use the Software free of charge without restriction, including the unrestricted right to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense and / or sale of copies of the software, as well as to persons who provide the software, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and these terms and conditions Must be included in all copies or significant portions of this software.
This software is provided “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, including WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR ITS PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREQUENCY, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THEM. IN NO EVENT, the authors OR the copyright holder are not LIABLE FOR ANY claims, DAMAGES, OR OTHER claims, INCLUDING IN THE ACTION OF A CONTRACT, DELICA OR ANOTHER SITUATION, AUTOMATIC PRODUCTS DUE TO THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR OTHER SOFTWARE ACTIONS.
Files h264. than open them?
CCTV cameras have become part of our life. The video obtained from such cameras is played in h264 format, which is not known to all users. In fact, it is practically NO different from other extensions. How and how to open such a file, our article will tell.
Features of the h264 format
Video in h264 format is usually obtained from the latest models of CCTV cameras and DVRs. The main feature of such files is that they have a minimal size, while the quality of video and sound remains high.
Despite the fact that many users have never heard of h264, it is quite simple to open it. To do this, use special utilities and programs, and sometimes convert the video into a more convenient version.
How to open h264?
To play the h264 file, just install one of THESE programs on your computer:
- Quick Time Player. a standard video viewing application that plays all modern formats, including h264.
- Light Alloy. a player with built-in decoders, which allow not only to play a variety of videos, but also to edit them using tools.
- Ripbot264. a professional tool designed to work specifically with recordings from CCTV cameras (Figure 1).
Note: Standard video players like Media Player Classic or VLC Media Player will also help to open the h264 file (Figure 2).
When to use converters?
If one of the above players is not installed on the computer, and the user does not have time to download it, you can open the h264 file using online converters.
To do this, you just need to select the appropriate tool on the Internet, download the video and select the format into which it will be converted. This method has only one significant drawback: during the conversion process, the quality of sound and image is significantly reduced. On the other hand, the use of converters. an efficient and quick way to open video from surveillance cameras. But for professional work with such files or their further use, it is better to choose professional tools for viewing and editing. With their help, you can slow down or speed up the video, improve the quality of video and audio, or zoom in on the image to see small details.
H.264: how to open a file from a surveillance camera
Any digital video surveillance system is equipped with a software shell that is designed for both control and viewing of content. The general name for such software. camera control system, or CMS. This environment is convenient only for everyday online viewing and a cursory glance at CCTV cameras, regardless of the presence of one or two cameras, or a multi-channel system (for example, 4ch).
The embedded software (CMS) has a rather modest and not always comfortable functionality for watching videos, in contrast to highly specialized programs. over, you won’t have to learn new software: we are talking about a regular media player and converter. These are two programs. a universal answer to the question about the h264 format, and how to open this file from a surveillance camera.
Player for files from CCTV camera
Viewing SEPARATE video surveillance files (captured by the DVR) after copying from the DVR to the computer is best done with small fast players like Media Player Classic or VLC. Specifics of working with such files and the original format:
- Often, frame-by-frame video parsing is required;
- Need instant “rewind” to /. 2.5 sec or 1 frame;
- It is convenient to shoot and save individual frames (screenshots) using the utility built into the player.
The convenience of the MPC is that the viewing is controlled from the keyboard:
- Right and left arrow buttons on the keyboard “rewind” the current moment by 5 or 5 seconds from this moment of the video.
- Using the same arrows while pressing Ctrl in the “Pause” mode, you can view the video file frame by frame, as in the picture below: it is convenient to search for SEPARATE moments and the best quality “picture”. In the bowels of the player there is also a setting for color, contrast and other parameters, which can be adjusted “on the fly”.
- Pause, expand video to full screen (or reverse collapse) by clicking the mouse.
A similar setting of keyboard shortcuts is available in most players, but it is in MPC that everything works by default exactly as it is convenient for viewing recordings from a video surveillance system. Media Player Classic, due to its speed and simplicity, is perhaps the best program for watching videos from a DVR.
We should also mention the ability to quickly take screenshots (SEPARATE frames) to save and / or print them on a printer. This operation is carried out using the AltI combination.
Useful programs for working with h264
Any player will do to open and view the h264 file from the DVR. The only condition is that there are codec packs installed on the system, like the K-Lite Codec Pack. If available, this uncompressed “clean” video data format should open without problems in a standard Windows player or any other: no additional adjustment is required. Codecs are usually Not required to view video in the CMS. For web access to the DVR through a browser, codecs are also not needed.
These h264 extensions are large containers: it is not always convenient to save them for sending, sending to a remote server or recording to an optical medium. Sometimes it is useful to convert them to another, more familiar and compact format: mov, avi, mpg, etc. Among the best converter programs: Freemake Video Converter, CUDA Video Converter and others. Working with them is easy even for a beginner: just open the source file, select the desired format and settings, then. wait a few minutes for final processing.
The CMS is NOT very convenient for viewing and managing surveillance system files. For a detailed study of SEPARATE fragments of video recording by saving data on a PC. and open them in SEPARATE programs. This rule will allow you to process individual moments of recording from the DVR faster and more comfortably