Proprietary DVR Format
Definition
Video storage format used by commercial CCTV/DVR systems that is specific to the manufacturer, often unplayable without the vendor's own software. The native proprietary file must be preserved as the primary exhibit before any conversion.
- Playback
- Usually requires vendor's own software
- Handling rule
- Preserve native file as primary exhibit
- Conversion step
- Export to a standard format only after preservation
- Risk if skipped
- Conversion artefacts can alter timestamps or frame data
Common questions
Why insist on keeping the proprietary original instead of just the converted video?+
Conversion to a standard codec can drop embedded metadata, alter frame timing, or introduce compression artefacts, so retaining the untouched native file lets a later examiner re-verify authenticity or re-export with different settings if the conversion is challenged.
Does every DVR vendor use a different proprietary format?+
Largely yes; there is no single industry standard, so an investigator handling footage from multiple CCTV systems in one case may need several different vendor players or a multi-format tool like DVR Examiner to access all of it.
Related terms
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