Tips for Recording Dash Cameras

A dashcam or simply dashboard camera, also referred to as vehicle video recorder, camera, event data recorder or vehicle surveillance camera, is an on-board camera that continuously records the images from a vehicle's front windshield and at times rear or even other windows as well. This type of camera has become very popular over the years due to its ability to capture high-quality videos with low cost and a long life span. They are easy to use as well. Dashboard cameras are often small and unobtrusive, and may be mounted discreetly in high-traffic areas such as parking lots, traffic hubs or on the frontage of a store. This type of camcorder can be used by any driver as an added security measure.

In most dash cams, the recording begins when the car is started and stops. However, some newer dash cams allow a continuous recording after the car has started and stopped, by pressing a button on the dashboard. As soon as the driver begins to accelerate, the video begins.

When choosing a dashcam for your business, you need to consider what you will be using it for. There are many types of dashboards available and the best dash cam for you will depend on your particular purposes. If you need to record traffic violations, the frontview and rearview cameras should be considered. If you will be reviewing video footage at your job, there are dash cams available with both front and rear views. Some dash cams have zoom lenses so you can get a closer look at traffic accidents or the behavior of employees. Whatever the purpose, a dash cam is an excellent investment and an important tool to keep your business running smoothly.

Before purchasing dashcams, determine if you will be recording to an external device like an external hard drive or dvd or to your computer's hard drive. Memory card is another option. Generally, dashcams record onto a high quality SD card. Some cards come with additional features such as being waterproof or having fast data recovery. You will also want to check to see if the recording software requires memory card installation or if you can simply connect your recorder to a computer using its USB port.

Many dash cams record video onto a standard memory card. To view recordings on your computer, connect the dash cam to your computer via its USB port. Windows Media Player can be used to view recordings or you can use Real Video Ultimate or Free imaging software. In order to watch recordings on your computer, you will need a good video card such as SD card or Firewire interface drive. These can usually be purchased at any computer supply store.

Once you have installed a dash cam that has a recording software package and attached to your camera, follow the on-screen instructions to begin recording. It's important to be aware of the file format in order to select and view it in the recording program. Some dash cams record in Mp3 format, while others in WAV format. Most dash cams record to standard RIFF or AIFF files. It is up to the user to transfer these recordings to your computer using the appropriate software.

While you are recording, remember to turn off your vehicle's lights so you won't accidentally activate the recorder while driving. When you're done recording, burn the video to a DVD or save it to an online storage site. There are many sites online that allow users to upload videos and share them. If you are going to post the video to a website, you should make sure you give the proper credit and name to the videographer so potential customers will be able to find and view it.

You can also edit your dash cams recordings after they have been recorded. If you want to trim out any portions of the video that you don't like, you can use software available on your computer to do this. You can also delete unwanted video files by clicking on the file icon on the upper right corner of your dash cam. When you are finished recording, simply delete all of the storage media from your dash cam and put the memory card back into the vehicle. Before you forget about your dash cam, you may want to download a free image editing program so you can have a recordable version of the recorded video files.