Overview
Iris lets you bring video from IP cameras, NVRs, and other network video sources into your Studio using two common industry protocols:
ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) — An open standard that lets Iris automatically discover cameras on your local network, retrieve their video stream addresses, and — if the camera supports it — control pan, tilt, and zoom directly from the Iris interface.
RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) — The underlying video streaming protocol most IP cameras use. You can connect to any RTSP-capable camera by entering its stream URL, even if the camera doesn't support ONVIF.
When you add a source using ONVIF, Iris discovers the camera and automatically figures out the correct RTSP stream URL for you. When you add a source using RTSP directly, you provide the URL yourself.
ONVIF is most useful when working with third-party or OEM cameras that aren't officially listed in Iris's supported models but conform to the ONVIF standard.
What You'll Need
An Iris Bridge installed, linked, and running. Without a Bridge, you'll see a warning: "To discover NDI, USB, and RTSP sources, you must first link an Iris Bridge."
Network access — Your camera and the machine running the Bridge must be on the same local network (or have network routing between them).
Camera credentials (for ONVIF sources) — Many ONVIF cameras require a username and password. This is typically the same login you use to access the camera's web interface.
RTSP stream URL (for manual RTSP sources) — The full address of your camera's video stream, e.g.,
rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/live/main. Check your camera's documentation for the correct path.Available source slots on your plan.
Adding an ONVIF Source (Automatic Discovery)
In your Studio, click to add a video source. This opens the "Add a video source" dialog.
On the Discover sources step, Iris automatically scans your network. ONVIF cameras appear in the list labeled as "RTSP (ONVIF)." You can use the filter dropdown to show only ONVIF sources.
Select the camera you want to add. A video preview panel on the right attempts to connect and show a live feed.
If the camera requires authentication, you'll see a badge that says "Authentication Required." Enter the username and password for the camera's web interface and click "Authenticate and Continue."
While Iris connects to the ONVIF device, you'll see a "Connecting..." badge on the preview. If something goes wrong, you may see:
"ONVIF connection failed" — Camera is unreachable or ONVIF isn't enabled on the device
"Invalid credentials" — Wrong username or password
"The device is now locked" — Too many failed login attempts. A countdown timer shows how long to wait.
5. Once the preview is live, click Continue to proceed through the remaining steps (Configure video → Connect controls) and save.
If the camera is already linked to another Studio, you'll see a confirmation dialog asking if you want to unlink it from the other Studio and link it here instead.
Adding an RTSP Source Manually
Open the Add a video source dialog.
On the Discover sources step, click the "Manually Configure" link at the bottom of the panel (next to "an RTSP source").
You'll jump to the Configure video step. Enter your camera's full RTSP stream URL in the Stream URL field (e.g.,
rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/live/main). If you leave out the port, Iris defaults to 554.Click "Check Connectivity." Iris attempts to connect and shows a live preview on the right.
If the URL is invalid (not a proper RTSP address or missing a host), the input shows an error state and the Check Connectivity button is disabled.
Once the preview appears, continue through the remaining steps to select a manufacturer/model and save.
If the Bridge feature is enabled, you can also select which Bridge should handle this source during setup.
After Adding a Source
Once added, your ONVIF or RTSP source appears as a video source in your Studio. Here's what you can do:
Edit the RTSP URL — Open the device settings and update the Stream URL field. The change takes effect when you save.
Switch video protocol — You can change an existing source from RTSP to NDI (or vice versa) from the Video protocol dropdown in the device settings.
If the camera disconnects after being added, the RTSP driver automatically attempts to reconnect — retrying approximately once per second until the camera comes back online. You don't need to intervene manually.
What Features Are Supported?
Feature | ONVIF Source | RTSP Source |
Auto-discovery | Yes | No — manual URL entry |
Live video preview | Yes | Yes |
Snapshot/thumbnail | Yes | Yes |
PTZ Control | Yes (if camera has PTZ profile) | No |
Position Presets | Yes (via Iris) | No PTZ = no presets |
Camera metadata | Yes (model, manufacturer, resolution) | Partial |
Stream used in workflows | Yes | Yes |
Advanced Settings | Yes | Yes |
Network Requirements
For ONVIF and RTSP to work, ensure:
Camera and Iris Bridge are on the same local network (or connected via VPN/routing)
RTSP port (usually 554) is open
ONVIF port (default 8080 in Iris, though some cameras use different ports) is accessible
UDP and TCP protocols are enabled
No firewall or NAT blocking device discovery or stream access
RTSP connections use TCP with a 10-second connection timeout. If the camera doesn't respond within that window, the connection attempt fails.
Supported Codecs
Iris supports the following video codecs for RTSP streams:
H.264 (most common)
H.265
MJPEG (some cameras)
Iris also supports RTSPT (RTSP over TLS) — use rtspt:// in your stream URL if your camera supports encrypted RTSP.
What Happens If…
…you close the app before saving? Any unsaved source configuration is lost. Temporary preview devices are cleaned up automatically.
…your network drops during setup? The connection may fail. For RTSP streams, the system will retry automatically. Once your network recovers, try again.
…you enter the wrong ONVIF credentials? You'll see an "Invalid credentials" badge. The dialog stays open so you can re-enter.
…the camera locks you out after too many failed logins? You'll see a lockout message with a countdown timer. Wait for it to expire, then try again.
…you've reached your plan's source limit? The Continue button and Manually Configure link are disabled. You'll see a message suggesting you upgrade.
…the ONVIF device is already linked to another Studio? A confirmation dialog asks if you want to unlink it from the other Studio and link it here.
…the camera disconnects after being added? The RTSP driver automatically retries the connection approximately once per second until the camera comes back online.
…multiple Bridges are on the same network? They may all discover the same camera. You can select which Bridge handles the source during setup.
Troubleshooting
What's happening | Likely cause | What to do |
No devices in the discovery list | Bridge not linked, or camera not on same network | Ensure your Bridge is installed, linked, and running. Verify the camera is on and on the same network. |
"Authentication Required" badge | Camera requires ONVIF credentials | Enter the username/password for the camera's web interface |
"Invalid credentials" | Wrong username or password | Double-check credentials. Some cameras (e.g., PTZOptics) only accept "admin" as the username. |
"ONVIF connection failed" | Camera unreachable or ONVIF not enabled | Verify the camera's IP is reachable. Check that ONVIF is enabled in the camera's own settings. |
"Device is now locked" | Too many failed login attempts | Wait for the countdown timer, then try again with correct credentials |
RTSP URL shows error state | Invalid URL format | Ensure URL starts with |
"Check Connectivity" button disabled | URL is empty, invalid, or unchanged | Enter or modify a valid RTSP URL |
Video preview not appearing | Stream unreachable or wrong path | Verify the RTSP URL including the stream path. Check camera docs for the correct path. Try testing in VLC first. |
"Reached plan limit for sources" | Plan source cap hit | Remove an existing source or upgrade |
Camera PTZ controls not available | No PTZ profile found on camera | Not all cameras support PTZ via ONVIF. Check your camera's specs. |
Stream connects but no video | Wrong subpath or stream profile | Try different stream paths (e.g., |
FAQs
What's the difference between adding a source via ONVIF vs. RTSP? ONVIF discovers the camera automatically and retrieves its stream URL for you. It can also enable PTZ control if the camera supports it. With RTSP, you provide the URL yourself and don't get automatic PTZ through ONVIF.
Do I need to know my camera's RTSP URL to use ONVIF? No — that's the main advantage. Iris queries the camera for its stream URL automatically.
What port does ONVIF use? Iris defaults to port 8080. Some cameras may differ, but most ONVIF cameras are discovered automatically via network scanning.
What port does RTSP use? Standard is 554. If you omit the port from your URL, Iris defaults to 554.
Can I change the RTSP URL of an existing source? Yes. Open the device settings and update the Stream URL field.
Can I switch a source from RTSP to NDI? Yes. In the device settings, change the Video protocol dropdown.
Does Iris support encrypted RTSP (RTSPS/RTSPT)? Yes. Use rtspt:// in your URL if your camera supports RTSP over TLS.
Can I control PTZ through ONVIF? Yes — if your camera has an ONVIF PTZ profile, Iris detects it and enables movement controls. If no PTZ profile is found, movement controls won't be available.
What happens if my camera temporarily goes offline? Iris automatically attempts to reconnect the RTSP stream. Once the camera comes back, the feed should resume without manual intervention.
Can multiple Bridges see the same camera? Yes. You select which Bridge handles the source during setup.
What cameras are supported? Any camera that supports ONVIF or provides an RTSP stream should work. Iris has built-in support for many brands including PTZOptics, Bolin, Lumens, BZBGEAR, Marshall, Panasonic, HuddleCamHD, and others.
Can I link multiple RTSP streams from the same device? Yes. Add multiple RTSP sources under different names.
Are ONVIF sources secure? ONVIF uses HTTP or HTTPS depending on the camera. Use credentials when required, and avoid exposing RTSP streams to the public internet without protection.