Converting a .drv file from a CCTV DVR
Discussion
A neighbour knocked on the door last night to ask if I'd mind checking my CCTV, as they'd had a motorbike stolen from their house early one morning.
I've managed to extract 4 .drv files showing the scum-bag walking by my house pushing the bike, then two minutes later running back the other way without the bike. The bike was recovered the same morning, just dumped down the lane.
However, I can't find any tools to play a .drv file, let alone convert it to anything useful that I could share with the neighbour and subsequently the Police. I can play the footage from the browser-based interface for the DVR obviously, but I need to take a copy in a useful format.
I spent last night Googling and installing all sorts of tools to no avail.
Has anyone any experience of dealing with .drv files and successfully converted them? Or at least found a standalone piece of software that can play them?
Cheers
I've managed to extract 4 .drv files showing the scum-bag walking by my house pushing the bike, then two minutes later running back the other way without the bike. The bike was recovered the same morning, just dumped down the lane.
However, I can't find any tools to play a .drv file, let alone convert it to anything useful that I could share with the neighbour and subsequently the Police. I can play the footage from the browser-based interface for the DVR obviously, but I need to take a copy in a useful format.
I spent last night Googling and installing all sorts of tools to no avail.
Has anyone any experience of dealing with .drv files and successfully converted them? Or at least found a standalone piece of software that can play them?
Cheers
nyt said:
I found:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWbAXUFcREs
- http://www.bigasoft.com/articles/convert-dvr-with-...
Any use?
Yep - tried both options last night. The files I have are .drv and not .dvr- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWbAXUFcREs
- http://www.bigasoft.com/articles/convert-dvr-with-...
Any use?
I've managed to find an offline player. There's a link in the browser-based interface that downloads an installer from the DVR itself.
It'd be nice to find a converter, but I'm pretty sure these files aren't just pure video streams. I think there's a lot of 'metadata' in there to link multiple camera views together etc.
nyt said:
I know this sounds dodgy .. there is a downloadable program called 'gspot' which might give you more info on the file type. You may then be able to search for appropriate conversion tools
Have you tried to play the files in VLC. That plays almost anything.
Not the first time I've Googled 'Gspot video' Have you tried to play the files in VLC. That plays almost anything.
However, that comes up with 'File Type: Unknown - Mime Type: Unknown'.Also tried VLC last night - no dice.
marshalla said:
Which brand of CCTV recorder ? Each manufacturer seems to find it necessary to invent their own peculiar codec.
I don't actually know - I'd assume 'unbranded'. I can get a login prompt via telnet but I don't have the credentials. Just Googling now to see if there's a common piece of software that they all use to see if I can find out the default 'admin' password.It was PH'er that installed/configured so I might drop him a note.
Vaud said:
Try uploading to Youtube, it's amazing what it can handle. You can then redownload it to mp4/etc using a browser plugin.
Tried last night. YT didn't recognise the format Thanks all
pmjg66 said:
Have you used these yourself?I tried the converter - didn't work.
The other software package downloads and then is flagged as malicious by Chrome.
eltawater said:
Going at it from a different angle, how about using a screen recorder instead to grab the playback?
That's looking like the only option. I just hope I can preserve some quality, it's already pretty ropey.marshalla said:
Ahh, what the heck - I'm bored with writing this report now.
OP, if you email me a small file I'll see if I can find out what the actual format is.
Sent! Cheers OP, if you email me a small file I'll see if I can find out what the actual format is.
pmjg66 said:
ArsE92 said:
pmjg66 said:
Have you used these yourself?I tried the converter - didn't work.
Vaud said:
I think you are right.I don't think it's encrypted or even particularly well compressed. There's no obvious file header, but there is a very regular structure which makes me think it might just be a sequence of frames with moderately obvious headers. There's also some clear text which, I think, tells me which part of the property it was looking at.
Unfortunately, I don't have time to work on a decoder right now.
Unfortunately, I don't have time to work on a decoder right now.
marshalla said:
I don't think it's encrypted or even particularly well compressed. There's no obvious file header, but there is a very regular structure which makes me think it might just be a sequence of frames with moderately obvious headers. There's also some clear text which, I think, tells me which part of the property it was looking at.
Unfortunately, I don't have time to work on a decoder right now.
That'll be "Servant's quarters". Unfortunately, I don't have time to work on a decoder right now.
No worries - thanks for taking a look.
I'll show the videos to my neighbour on my laptop, and if they want a copy for themselves I can either give them the player that I downloaded from the DVR, or use some kind of screen capture tool.
Thanks all.
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