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Glossary

Key terms and concepts used in VidRedi DVR and video production.

A​

Audio Channels : The individual audio tracks within a video signal. VidRedi DVR supports up to 16 audio channels for both input and output, allowing for complex audio configurations including stereo, 5.1 surround, and multi-language audio.

B​

Baseband : Uncompressed or minimally compressed video signal, typically from professional video equipment. In VidRedi DVR, baseband sources usually come from Blackmagic DeckLink capture cards.

Blackmagic DeckLink : Professional video capture and playback cards manufactured by Blackmagic Design. VidRedi DVR requires a DeckLink card (Duo or Quad recommended) for baseband video capture.

C​

Capture Card : Hardware device that captures video and audio signals from external sources. See Blackmagic DeckLink.

Channel : A configured video input source in VidRedi DVR. Channels can be baseband/capture card inputs, network streams, or download sources. Each channel can record, play back, and manage video independently.

D​

Debian Trixie : Debian 13, the Linux distribution for which VidRedi DVR is designed and optimized.

DeckLink : See Blackmagic DeckLink.

Download Channel : A channel configured to download video content from network sources (typically HLS streams) rather than capturing live video.

F​

Frame Rate : The number of video frames displayed per second (fps). Common rates include 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, and 60 fps.

FFMpeg : Multimedia framework used for video processing.

G​

GStreamer : Multimedia framework used for video processing.

H​

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) : A streaming protocol that delivers video over HTTP in small chunks. VidRedi DVR can download and archive HLS content through download channels.

L​

Library : The collection of all recorded and uploaded media in VidRedi DVR. The library organizes content into packages and folders for easy management.

M​

Matroska (MKV) : A flexible, open-standard container format for video. VidRedi DVR typically transmuxes MPEG-TS recordings to Matroska for better playback compatibility and time-slip functionality.

MPEG-TS (MPEG Transport Stream) : A container format for video, audio, and data, commonly used in broadcast and streaming applications. VidRedi DVR can record and process MPEG-TS streams.

P​

Package : The fundamental unit of media storage in VidRedi DVR. A package contains everything related to a recording: the video file, metadata, sidecar files, thumbnails, and recording information. This keeps all related content together as a single unit.

Pipeline : The video processing chain that handles video capture, encoding, decoding, and playback. A pipeline failure indicates that this processing chain could not be created or has stopped working.

R​

Recording Channel : Any channel configured to capture video. This includes baseband/capture card inputs, network streaming sources, and download channels.

RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) : A protocol for streaming audio, video, and data over the internet, commonly used for live streaming.

RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) : A network protocol for streaming media, often used for security cameras and professional video equipment.

Runaway Recording : A recording that continues indefinitely without proper stop conditions, potentially consuming all available storage. VidRedi DVR provides settings to prevent runaway recordings.

S​

Sidecar Files : Additional files stored with a video that contain related information such as subtitles, closed captions, timecode data, or custom metadata. In VidRedi DVR, sidecar files are part of the package.

Stream : Video and audio data transmitted over a network. Streaming channels receive this data in real-time and can record or display it.

T​

Time-Slip : The ability to rewind and play back live video while recording continues. This allows reviewing earlier content without stopping the recording, essential for live production and broadcast applications.

Transcoding : Converting video from one format or codec to another. This may be done to change quality, file size, or compatibility.

Transmuxing : Changing the container format of a video file without re-encoding the actual video/audio streams. VidRedi DVR transmuxes MPEG-TS to Matroska for better playback. This is much faster than transcoding as it doesn't re-encode the content.

Transport Controls : The playback controls (play, pause, stop, seek, etc.) used to navigate through video content.

Transport Stream : See MPEG-TS.

W​

WebSocket : A communication protocol that provides full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection. VidRedi DVR uses WebSockets (via Socket.IO) for real-time communication between the web interface and the server.

Winston : The logging library used by VidRedi DVR to record system events, errors, and debugging information.

Common Abbreviations​

  • DVR: Digital Video Recorder
  • fps: Frames Per Second
  • HLS: HTTP Live Streaming
  • MKV: Matroska Video
  • MPEG: Moving Picture Experts Group
  • PCIe: Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (expansion slot type)
  • RBAC: Role-Based Access Control
  • RTMP: Real-Time Messaging Protocol
  • RTSP: Real-Time Streaming Protocol
  • TS: Transport Stream
  • VOD: Video On Demand

Technical Terms​

Bitrate : The amount of data used to represent one second of video or audio, typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Higher bitrates generally mean better quality but larger file sizes.

Buffer : Temporary storage used to smooth out variations in data flow. Buffers help prevent gaps or interruptions during recording or playback.

Codec : A program that encodes or decodes digital video/audio. Common video codecs include H.264, H.265, and MPEG-2.

Container Format : The file format that holds encoded video and audio streams along with metadata. Common containers include MKV, MP4, and TS.

Resolution : The dimensions of a video image, typically given as width × height in pixels (e.g., 1920×1080 for Full HD).