Last updated on October 25th, 2020
This tutorial contains detailed instructions on how to continuous record video from your IP Network camera(s) or from your local USB Webcam on your Windows PC, by using the
Free iSpy Video Surveillance Software
. In fact with this tutorial you’ll learn how to connect your Webcam or your IP camera with iSpy, and how to setup iSpy to record video from your camera
24/7 on your local disk.
The iSpy is an excellent Open Source Camera Security Software that can help you to monitor and record your local (USB) or your network (IP) cameras in real time straight on your PC. iSpy Camera Surveillance Software, can be used for unl
imited Cameras and Microphones (including IP and USB cameras), Motion Detection, Recording, Scheduling, Remote Access, Network Audio Broadcasting,
Password Protection, Desktop Recording, YouTube Uploading, Cloud Uploading, FTP, SFTP, SMS, Twitter and Email alerts. Click
here
to explore all the features of iSpy.
How to use the iSpy Free Camera Recording Software to capture Video 24/7 from an IP or USB Camera.
Step 1. Download and Install iSpy.
First of all
download
and
install
the
iSpy Video Surveillance Software
according your Windows architecture (32bit or 64Bit).
Step 2. Add your Camera to iSpy.
1.
After installation launch iSpy, to connect your camera with the surveillance program . *
* Note
: If asked by Windows Defender Firewall click
Allow access
.
2.
At ‘Getting Started’ window, clear the “Show getting started” box (if you want) and close the window.
3.
Now, according your camera connection (USB or Network/IP camera) follow the corresponding instructions below to connect your camera to iSpy.
-
Local Camera (USB).
1. To connect your USB Webcam to iSpy, click the
Add
button and choose
Local Camera
.
2. Select your local camera and click
OK
.
3. Navigate to
Step-3
to configure your camera in iSpy.
-
Network Camera (IP):
1. To connect your IP Network camera to iSpy, click the
Add
button and chose
IP Camera
.
2. Now leave the Video source window open and…
a. By using your Web browser navigate to
iSpy’s camera database
.b. In the alphabetical list, locate your camera’s manufacturer name. (e.g. TP-Link) *
* Note:
Click the
More
button to see all manufactures.
c. Now, locate and
click
your camera model from the list. (e.g. TP-Link NC450)
d. At the URL Generator window:
-
-
-
Type the
IP Address
of the network camera that you want to add in iSpy. -
Type the
Username
and the
Password
your ‘re using to connect to the camera. -
Click
Generate
.
-
-
e. Finally click the Copy button to copy the generated URL on the clipboard.
3. Now open the
Video Source
window in iSpy camera recording application and…
a. Select the
FFMPEG (H264) tab.
b.
Paste
the copied URL from your clipboard.c.
Click
the
Test
button to test the camera connection with iSpy.
d. If the result of connection test is
Connected,
means that you have successfully added your IP camera to iSpy. At this case click
OK
and
OK
to close the Video source window.e. Continue to
Step-3
to configure your IP camera in iSpy.Advertisements
Step 3. Configure Camera Recording in iSpy.
Upon adding your camera to iSpy, is time to configure the camera recording and other settings. As you can see in the ‘Edit Camera’ window/options, iSpy has lot of settings to configure, but in this step are mentioned only the settings that needed to continuous record video from your local or IP camera to your local disk.
-
Camera
settings tab: leave the default settings and change if you want: *
a. The
Name
of your camerab. The default
Video recording
to
15fps
(if your camera supports it.)
* Note:
If you want to learn more about the Camera settings, see
here
.
-
Recording
settings tab:
a. Leave the default mode for recording:
Record on Detect.
b.
Max. Record Time
of the generated videos. {it’s advisable to keep this value to 15 minutes (900 seconds) or less.}
* Note:
If you want to learn more about the Recording settings, see
here
.
-
Scheduling
settings tab: In this window, you can configure the settings required to continuously record video from your camera (24/7 camera recording). To do that:
a.
Check
the
Schedule Camera
box on the top and click
Add.
b. At
Schedule Editor
apply the following settings and click
OK
:
-
-
-
Set
When
to
00:00
-
Check all the Days
of week -
At
Action
select
Recording Start.
-
-
c. Click
Add
again on the main ‘Scheduling’ window.d. At
Schedule Editor
apply the following settings and click
OK
:
-
-
-
Set
When
to
23:59
-
Check all the Days
of week
-
At
Action
select
Recording Stop.
-
-
e. At this point you should see a similar window, like below, on your screen:
-
Storage
settings tab: At this window you can view the default storage location for the recorded videos, or you can set a new one. To configure a new Media Location:
a. Click the tree (3) dots icon
to navigate to the main Storage options of the iSpy program.
b. Click the
Add
button to select a new location for the recorded videos.
c. Click the tree (3) dots icon
and choose on which folder on your disk you want to save the camera videos.
d. Now, according the remaining free space on your disk, choose the maximum folder size (e.g. 10GB) and choose what happens if the is over 70% (e.g. delete all files over 3 days old). When done, click
OK
twice.
e. Finally, in Camera’s
Storage
settings >
Media Location
, select the new location and click
Finish
.
f. At this point you have finished with the necessary settings for 24h recording from your camera. To apply the changes click
File
>
Exit
from the iSpy’s main menu (or restart your PC) and launch iSpy again. *
* TIP:
If you want to modify the camera settings, right click on the camera and click
Edit
.
Suggestion:
From the main screen of iSpy program, click
and at ‘Options’ tab,
check
the following options to avoid stopping recording from your camera
-
Run on Startup
-
Minimize on close.
That’s it! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
Even $1 can a make a huge difference for us
in our effort to continue to help others while keeping this site free:
constantly protected
from malware threats,
existing and future ones
, we recommend that you install
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO
by clicking below (we
do earn a commision from sales generated from this link, but at no additional cost to you. We have experience with this software and we recommend it because it is helpful and useful):