A device that records video onto a hard disk from one or more ceiling mounted video cameras. Part of a security system, the DVR typically supports 4, 8 or 16 separate camera channels. The frame rate may be adjustable between realtime and time lapse, the latter used to save disk space. Digital-based surveillance recorders offer many advantages over earlier VHS tape-based systems. They provide more recording flexibility, and the images can be easily transmitted over any computer network.