[Linux-based NVR] Why is the video playback choppy or jumpy when using the fast-forward function?

Question

Why is the video playback choppy or jumpy when using the fast-forward function?

Answer

This issue is related to a camera-specific setting used to reduce the amount of frames in the video in specific situations. If not properly configured, this feature may affect NVRs and VAST/VSS software playback.  To resolve this issue you will need to do the following:

• Turn off a setting which is called "Dynamic Intra Frame Period" for the recording stream (defaults to Stream 1).
• Reduce the "Intra frame" period to a lower value to add more frames per second in the video recordings. The "intra frame" acts as a snapshot that the camera uses to preview the video when fast-forwarding. 

Disable the function on the camera:

1. Access the camera configuration interface and navigate to "Configuration > Media > Video".

2. Select the "Stream" tab which will show all streams available in the camera.

3. Click on "Video Settings for Stream 1" to access the configurations for the Stream 1 used for recording.

4. Uncheck "Dynamic Intra Frame Period" to disable the frame reduction feature. 

[Optional] Change the "Intra frame period" value to 1/2 S. This will increase the number of I-frames (motion frames) in the video feedback and enhance smoothness.

Please note that if the environment being recorded by the camera is too complex, increasing the amount of frames will increase camera loading.

Disable feature on an ND NVR:

1. Access the ND configuration interface and navigate to "Camera > Media."

2. Select the camera whose configurations you want to change, and click on "Video" to modify its settings.

3. In the "Main stream" section, uncheck the "Dynamic Intra Frame Period" feature.

[Optional] Change the "Intra frame period" value to 1/2 S. This will increase the number of I-frames (motion frames) in the video feedback and enhance smoothness.

Disabling the function on VAST2/VSS:

1. In the VAST2/VSS UI interface, click on the gear icon to open the system settings.

2. Click on the "Camera" in the "Device" configuration section.

3. Select a camera, then go to Video > Uncheck "Dynamic Intraframe Period" for Stream 1.