How to play RTSP video stream of IP cameras on VLC player, QuickTime player

Almost IP surveillance cameras support RTSP video stream, that means user can use media player to watch the live video from anywhere. RTSP is the abbreviation of real time streaming protocol, it's a network control protocol designed for use in entertainment and communications systems to control streaming media servers. The protocol is used for establishing and controlling media sessions between end points. This article describes how to play RTSP video stream of IP cameras on VLC player, QuickTime player, and a mobile phone with popular IP camera viewer App.

VLC player and QuickTime player are free media players that support cross-platforms (Windows OS, Mac OS), these two media players have capability to play most multimedia files and various streaming protocols.

Users can use VLC player and QuickTime player to watch live video/image, also view the information of codec detail for MJPEG/MPEG4/H.264 which supports RTSP protocol.

Additionally, user also can find smartphone App which supports RTSP protocol. Using the Smartphone App, user can watch live video streams easily through smartphone from anywhere, anytime.

#1 Download & Install VLC Player / QuickTime Player

Both media players are free to download, install and use. You can go to the media player official websites to download the latest version software, then install in your computer.

1. VLC player : Download and install VLC Player from http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
2. QuickTime player : Download and install QuickTime Player from http://support.apple.com/downloads/#quicktime
3. IP camera viewer apps which support RTSP streams

#2 RTSP URL Setting

Before using the RTSP protocol, you need to know your IP camera's RTSP URL setting. The URL is an IP address with port and authorization information (user name + password). All available RTSP URL formats for IP cameras are listed in table below. Please select the suitable one according to model of camera under testing, with “IP Camera address” being replaced by your dedicated IP address number. If you can't find port information, the default RTSP port number is 554.

3# How to play RTSP stream with VLC Player

1. Check current stream and codec setting by IE browser

Setup > Image > Codec
Go to Codec page. Check codec setting on available streams.

 2.  Check RTSP port setting

Setup > Network > RTSP
Go to RTSP page. Check RTSP port numbers on camera for dedicated stream. 

The Default RTSP port number of each camera model can be found in the User Manual.

3. Open Network Stream

Open VLC player and select “Open Network Stream” from the Media menu.

4. Enter a network URL

Type the network URL in the dialog box below, and then click Play to play the video with RTSP stream. Refer to Sec. RTSP URL Setting above for URL setting format for Messoa IP cameras.

5. Watch Live Stream

After click "Play", you will see the RTSP live video stream on VLC player.

4# How to play RTSP stream with QuickTime Player

1. Check codec, stream & RTSP port numbers.

Follow steps 1 & 2 in section “How to play RTSP stream with VLC Player” above to check the codec, stream and port numbers.

2.  Open QuickTime Preferences 

Edit→Preferences→QuickTime Preferences

Open QuickTime player and select “QuickTime Preferences” from the Edit menu.

3. Set Safe Mode

Go to Advanced page. Click “Safe Mode” and “OK” for normal video display.

4. Open URL

File→Open URL

Select “Open URL” from the File menu.

5.  Enter URL 

Type the network URL in the dialog box below, and then click OK to play the video with RTSP stream.

Refer to Sec. RTSP URL Setting above for URL setting format for IP cameras.

6.  View Live Stream

You will see the RTSP live video stream on QuickTime player now.

5# How to play RTSP stream with IP camera viewer apps

1.  Download and run app on your smart phone

2.  Enter URL 

Please refer to Sec. RTSP URL Setting above for URL setting format for Messao IP cameras.

3.  Enter Messoa camera’s account/password. The default is admin/1234

4.  After that, the app can get RTSP video stream from Messoa IP  camera.