What is the Difference Between Mainstream and Substream
DVR4-4480G, DVR4-4480RN, DVR4-4480V, DVR4-4580G, DVR4-4580RN, DVR4-4580V, DVR4-4680, DVR4-4680RN, DVR4-4685, DVR4-4685RN, DVR4-4780V, DVR4-4980V, DVR4-5580, DVR4-5580G, DVR4-5580RN, DVR4-5680, DVR4-5680RN, DVR8-4480G, DVR8-4480RN, DVR8-4480V, DVR8-4580G, DVR8-4580RN, DVR8-4580V, DVR8-4680, DVR8-4680A, DVR8-4680RN, DVR8-4685, DVR8-4685RN, DVR8-4780V, DVR8-4880RN, DVR8-4980, DVR8-5580, DVR8-5580A, DVR8-5580G, DVR8-5580RN, DVR8-5580RU, DVR8-5680, DVR8-5680A, DVR8-5680RN, DVR8-5680RU, DVR8-5880RU, DVR16-4580G, DVR16-4580RN, DVR16-4580V, DVR16-4680, DVR16-4680A, DVR16-4680RN, DVR16-4680RU, DVR16-4880RU, DVR16-4980, DVR16-5580, DVR16-5580G, DVR16-5580G2, DVR16-5580RU, NVR8-8580, NVR8-8580RN, NVR8-8780, NVR8-8780RN, NVR16-8580, NVR16-8580RN, NVR16-8780, NVR16-8780RN, NVW-650, NVW-800, NVW-MR4K, DVR4-4680XN, DVR4-4680XU, DVR4-5680XN, DVR8-4680X, DVR8-4680XN, DVR8-4680XU, DVR8-5680X, DVR8-5680XU, NVR8-ADVANX, NVR16-ADVANX
These settings are available in most Swann security system recorders. In V8 recorders, go to Menu > Record.
Mainstream is the primary video feed used for recording and provides the highest video quality. It has higher definition and higher bandwidth than substream.
Substream is a secondary video feed that is used mainly for remote viewing from computers, smartphones, or tablets over the Internet from outside the network. It has lower resolution and smaller bandwidth than mainstream and is usually used when viewing multiple cameras at once from a mobile device.
Mainstream settings can be adjusted to increase or decrease recording resolution as well as bitrate. See Estimate how much bandwidth your recorder uses or requires when streamed.