Video Multiplexer

Video applications often require you to manage several different signal sources. A video multiplexer is a device that helps you put recordings of signals from multiple security cameras on one cassette. It handles several video signals simultaneously. Video multiplexers can split a monitor into various display areas and vice versa, i.e., combine output signals from several cameras to a single monitor. You can then record your combined signal on your VCR or wherever else you want to record. They can also provide simultaneous display and playback features. Some video multiplexers allow for remote access. They combine the best features of switchers and quads. Video multiplexers are also called muxes.

Uses of Video Multiplexers

1. Putting the camera signal on a video channel that is accessible to your television.
2. Configurable camera recording.
3. Closed circuit television (CCTV) and video surveillance applications because a video multiplexer can split a monitor into various display areas.
4. Automatic camera detection.
5. Various media and broadcasting applications.

Video multiplexers come in a variety of configurations and features that conform to certain quality standards. The features may differ in quality of resolution, refresh times, weight, power consumption, etc. Multiplexers allow full-screen, full-resolution camera recordings. They can be used for both black-and-white and color cameras and are capable of displaying multiple cameras at the same time. The most common multiple screen display options are 4-way and 9-way.

How to Choose your Video Multiplexer

When choosing the video multiplexer to buy, you should consider the number of camera inputs you need while taking into account future changes (in case of expansion). Features you can look for with your multiplexer include the following:

1. A time and date stamp that lets you know when any recorded activity took place.
2. An alarm output.
3. Motion detection.
4. Capability to be used with your computer software.
5. Use with either color or black-and-white cameras.

Multiplexers are described as simplex or duplex. This description indicates the number of multiplexing functions they can perform at any one time. Simplex multiplexers can perform only one multiplexing function at a time and will show a full-screen image, whereas duplex multiplexers show split options while continuing to record because it has two multiplexing processors in the same unit. Thus, a duplex multiplexer can display multiple cameras at the same time while multiplex-recording those cameras. Triplex multiplexers add a third multiplexing processor that has the ability to view live and recorded video on the same screen at the same time. Quadriplexers, or quads, use four camera connections per monitor. Quads can split the screen and display all the four cameras simultaneously. This means that the images are compressed and the image resolution may be low. In comparison, a multiplexer records each camera individually; thus, no loss from compression will occur. This is because when the output of a multiplexer is connected to a recording device, all cameras are individually recorded in sequence.