Each camera input has a dedicated codec to allow cameras to be fine tuned to suit any requirement. Any camera can be set to any compression level, in any quality, at any image rate per second. The powerful use of macros allows the user to program the DVR to just about any form of configuration giving you full control of how you use the equipment.

Blade DVRs are true hybrids, incorporating network inputs for direct connection to IP cameras with a maximum of 20 inputs - 16 analogue and four IP. Live and recorded video can be viewed over a network using MPEG-4, with control of multiple DVRs from multiple locations.

All the DVRs in the range are capable of recording a full 25ips for each camera. Up to four internal drives allow 160GB to 3TB of internal storage. This maximises recording duration without compromising resolution or image capture rates. Built-in by design are cooling tunnels to channel the air flow around the internal hard disks, the temperature of which are constantly monitored and alarms triggered should the threshold be reached.

"The Blade range of DVRs offers customers an excellent solution at a time when IP is becoming more popular but doesn't form 100 percent of installations," says Andrew Pigram, Vista brand director. "The range has been engineered to exceedingly high specifications to ensure reliability and performance is optimised at all times."