Advances in analog camera technology have created a need for similarly advanced digital recording devices and Panasonic is offering the WJ-HD716 DVR series (digital video recorder).

The 16-channel real-time DVR takes advantage of the improved performance of many of today?s cameras with technology including simultaneous high quality H.264 compression and encoding, and real-time field recording of 480 images per second (ips) and frame recording of 240 ips.

"The WJ-HD716 DVR brings advanced performance and cost efficiencies to a wide range of users and enables them to realize the benefits of a digital format with minimal changes to their existing analog system," said John Centofanti, Regional Sales Manager, Panasonic System Networks Company. "This is a critical point in an industry that is still heavily embedded with analog systems."

The WJ-HD716 is designed with features that are usually only found in hybrid or network recording devices, including Panasonic?s proprietary UniPhier System LSI Platform for real-time recording of up to 16 analog cameras and intelligent Video Motion Detection (i-VMD) with Super Dynamic 5 Link (SD5Link) to share metadata information between cameras and the recorder for advanced motion detection processing and alarm handling. In addition, remote monitoring is available from Internet Explorer or with the Panasonic WV-ASM100 Management Software.

Dual HDMI video outputs ensure that viewing can be optimized on HD monitors and two HDMI interfaces support dual 1080i (1920 x 1080) displays. For added viewing flexibility, screen displays can be configured in 4 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 12 / 16 split screen mode.

The WJ-HD716 is equipped with four front panel accessible hard disk drive (HDD) slots, with an expansion capacity of up to 31 HDD slots. An optional WJ-HDB601 RAID Board is also available for RAID5/6 redundant recording requirements. Recorded images can be copied using the built-in SD/SDHC memory card slot or with an optional DVD drive. The SD/SDHC memory card can also be used for transmitting set up data.

Up to eight users can simultaneously operate the recorder via a network connection, with a maximum of 32 registrations.

Also offered by Panasonic is the WJ-HD616 16-Channel H.264 DVR series that provides 240 ips (field) and 120 ips (frame) recording. Like the WJ-HD716, the unit features 16 analog video inputs, eight coax camera control inputs and four audio inputs.