Recording & Playback
Configure recording schedules and storage, then review and export recorded footage.
Recording Overview
Kalytera uses codec copy when the incoming stream and recording path are compatible; processing may transcode other codec or profile combinations. Protected recordings use Kalytera's .ktr segments with integrity checking and AES-GCM encryption enabled by default.
Configure recording at Configure → Recording. The page has three tabs: Devices, Storage, and Schedules.
Recording Types
Each camera can be configured independently with one of four recording modes:
| Mode | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous | Records 24/7 without interruption. | Critical areas requiring full coverage at all times. |
| Scheduled | Records only during defined time windows (e.g., business hours). | Reducing storage while keeping coverage during active periods. |
| Motion | Records when motion is detected, with configurable pre/post-event buffers. | Minimizing storage in low-activity areas. |
| Disabled | No automatic recording. Operators can start manual recordings on demand. | Reference cameras, temporary disablement. |
Recording Schedules
Create named schedules to control when cameras record in Scheduled mode:
- Go to Configure → Recording and open the Schedules tab.
- Click Add Schedule.
- Enter a name (e.g., Business Hours), select the days of the week, and set start and end times.
- Click Save.
- Assign the schedule to one or more cameras in the Devices tab by setting the recording mode to Scheduled and selecting the schedule.
Multiple schedules can be created and reused across any number of cameras.
Storage Settings
Go to the Storage tab in Configure → Recording to configure:
- Recording Path: The folder where recordings are stored. Choose a drive with adequate free space (see System Requirements).
- Maximum Storage: A hard limit in GB. When the limit is reached, the oldest recordings are automatically deleted to make room for new ones (circular buffer behavior).
- Retention Period: Alternatively, set a maximum age in days for recordings. Recordings older than the threshold are deleted by the retention background job.
Do not set the recording path to the same drive as Windows (typically C:\). Use a dedicated data drive or NAS share. A full system drive will cause recording failures and can destabilize the OS.
Per-Device Recording Configuration
In the Devices tab of Configure → Recording, you can configure each camera individually:
- Recording Mode: Continuous, Scheduled, Motion, or Disabled.
- Pre-event Buffer (Motion mode): How many seconds before a motion event to include in the recording.
- Post-event Buffer (Motion mode): How many seconds after motion stops to continue recording.
- Schedule Assignment (Scheduled mode): Which schedule to use.
- Stream: Main stream (default, higher resolution) or substream for recording.
Playback
Navigate to Video → Playback (or use Video → Live and click the Playback tab) to review recorded footage.
The playback interface shows:
- Camera cell: Shows the selected camera's recording for the chosen time range.
- Timeline: A horizontal scrollable timeline showing when recordings exist (blue bars). Click any segment to start playback at that point.
- Playback controls: Play/pause, step forward/back, speed control (0.5× to 8×), and seek by entering a date/time.
- Date picker: Jump to any date to view recordings for that day.
Export clips
Kalytera can produce MP4, MKV, AVI, or WebM exports. Choose a container that is compatible with the source codec and the system where the evidence will be reviewed.
- In Playback, navigate to the start of the clip you want to export.
- Click Export in the toolbar.
- Set the start time, end time, and output format.
- Click Start Export.
- Exports appear in Video → Exports. Download the completed media and its SHA-256 sidecar when evidence verification is required.
Exports run as background jobs, so the page does not need to remain open. The SHA-256 sidecar lets a recipient confirm that the exported file has not changed after generation.
Troubleshooting Playback
- No recordings appear on the timeline: Confirm the camera's recording mode is not Disabled, and that the storage path is accessible and has free space.
- Playback starts but stalls: This can occur when a recording segment is incomplete. The player will resume at the next available segment automatically within a few seconds.
- Export takes too long: Large exports (multiple hours) may take several minutes. Check the export progress in Video → Exports.
- "No recordings found" for a known-good camera: Verify the recording path in Configure → Recording → Storage is correctly set and the drive is mounted.