User`s manual
 14 
AXIS 210A/211A - Video Streams
Video Streams
The AXIS 210A/211A provides several different image and video formats. You choose the 
type depending on your requirements and the properties of your network. 
The Live View page in the AXIS 210A/211A pro
vides access to Motion JPEG and MPEG-4 
video streams, and to single JPEG images. Other applications and clients can also access 
these video streams/images directly, without going via the Live View page. 
Video Stream Types
Motion JPEG
This format uses standard JP
EG still images in the video stream. These images are then 
displayed and updated to create a stream that shows constantly updated motion. 
The Motion JPEG stream uses 
considerable amounts of bandwidth, but also provides 
excellent image quality and access to every individual image contained in the stream.
Note also that multiple clients a
ccessing Motion JPEG streams can use different image 
settings.
MPEG-4
This is a video compression standard that makes go
od use of bandwidth, and which can 
provide high-quality video streams at less than 1 Mbit/s. 
The MPEG-4 standard provides scope for a large range of different coding tools for use by 
various applications in different situations, 
and the AXIS 210A/211A provides certain 
subsets of these tools. These are represented as Video object types, which are selected for 
use with different viewing clients. The supported video object types are:
• Simple - sets the 
coding type to H.263, as used by QuickTime™. 
• Ad
vanced Simple - sets the coding type to MPEG-4 Part 2, as used by AMC 
(AXIS Media Control). 
When using MPEG-4 it is also possible to control the 
bit rate, which in turn allows control 
of bandwidth usage. CBR (Constant Bit Rate) is used to achieve a specific bit rate by 
varying the quality of the MPEG-4 stream. When using VBR (Variable Bit Rate), the quality 
of the video stream is kept as constant as possible, at the cost of a varying bit rate. 
Notes: 
MPEG-4 is licensed technology. The AXIS 210A/211A includes one viewing client license. Installing addi-
tional unlicensed copies of the viewing client is prohibited. To purchase additional licenses, contact your 
Axis reseller.
All clients viewing the MPEG-4 stream must use the same set of coding tools.










