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Guide to Enabling Recording via NVR DI Signals

This guide explains how to enable NVR recording using a DI (Digital Input) signal from an external device or a camera.

Reference document: EMSTONE NVR User Manual (2022.10.20)

Overview

Recording based on a DI signal is configured in the following order.

  1. Connect the DI signal to an NVR sensor number
  2. Configure sensor properties
  3. Link recording to the sensor event (Event Mapping)
  4. Check recording options
  5. Verify operation

1. Connecting a DI signal to an NVR sensor number

There are two ways to receive a DI signal.

Method A. Using a camera DI

  1. In Settings > Camera Settings > Add & Manage Network Camera, select the target camera.
  2. Click the Check Connection & Inputs button to update the sensor/relay information provided by the camera.
  3. In Advanced settings > Sensor, assign the camera's DI to an NVR sensor number.

Method B. Using a USB DIO device

  1. Connect the USB DIO device to the NVR.
  2. Simply connecting it automatically assigns sensors 1–4, so no additional configuration is needed.

2. Configuring sensor properties

Go to Settings > Event Settings > Sensor.

  1. Select the Type for the sensor number you'll use, according to the characteristics of the external device.
  2. N/C [0→1]: Normally Closed
  3. N/O [1→0]: Normally Open
  4. To configure multiple sensors identically, select them with the checkboxes in the first column and configure them together.

Note: The Type setting is only enabled on devices with a capture card.

3. Linking recording to the sensor event (Event Mapping)

  1. In the sensor's advanced features, click the Event Mapping... button.
  2. Select the row for the target sensor (e.g., Sensor 1) from the list.
  3. Click the Add... button at the bottom.
  4. In the action selection window, expand Recording, select the camera(s) to record, and click OK.
  5. Confirm that <camera name> Recording has been added to the Action column, then click OK to save.

List of available actions

Action Description
Warning Message Displays a warning message (linked by default)
Pop-up 1x1 pop-up of the camera video (linked by default)
Border Blink Blinks the camera border
Email Sends an email
Alarm Triggers an alarm (DOUT) signal
Alarm On / Alarm Off Turns the alarm on / off
PTZ Link Links a PTZ preset
Recording Records the specified camera (the core of this guide)

4. Checking recording options

In Settings > Camera Settings > Recording, check the following items.

  • Pre-Event: Sets how many seconds before the event to start recording
  • Post-Event: Sets how many seconds after the event to continue recording
  • Always record cameras: If you want to record only when an event occurs, disable this option or configure it via a schedule.

Note: The schedule applies not only to recording, but also to all devices that use scheduling, such as motion detection and sensors.

5. Verifying operation

  1. Input a DI signal from the external device.
  2. Check that the sensor detection / recording status indicators for each camera on the main screen operate normally.
  3. Use the search function to verify that the sensor event and recording data were recorded.