Camera-specific hwaccel settings for timelapse exports (correct base) (#21386)

* added hwaccel_args to camera.record.export config struct

* populate camera.record.export.hwaccel_args with a cascade up to camera then global if 'auto'

* use new hwaccel args in export

* added documentation for camera-specific hwaccel export

* fix c/p error

* missed an import

* fleshed out the docs and comments a bit

* ruff lint

* separated out the tips in the doc

* fix documentation

* fix and simplify reference config doc

docs/docs/configuration/record.md

@@ -139,7 +139,11 @@ record:
 
 :::tip
 
-When using `hwaccel_args` globally hardware encoding is used for time lapse generation. The encoder determines its own behavior so the resulting file size may be undesirably large.
+When using `hwaccel_args`, hardware encoding is used for timelapse generation. This setting can be overridden for a specific camera (e.g., when camera resolution exceeds hardware encoder limits); set `cameras.<camera>.record.export.hwaccel_args` with the appropriate settings. Using an unrecognized value or empty string will fall back to software encoding (libx264).
+
+:::tip
+
+The encoder determines its own behavior so the resulting file size may be undesirably large.
 To reduce the output file size the ffmpeg parameter `-qp n` can be utilized (where `n` stands for the value of the quantisation parameter). The value can be adjusted to get an acceptable tradeoff between quality and file size for the given scenario.
 
 :::

docs/docs/configuration/reference.md

@@ -534,6 +534,8 @@ record:
     # The -r (framerate) dictates how smooth the output video is.
     # So the args would be -vf setpts=0.02*PTS -r 30 in that case.
     timelapse_args: "-vf setpts=0.04*PTS -r 30"
+    # Optional: Global hardware acceleration settings for timelapse exports. (default: inherit)
+    hwaccel_args: auto
   # Optional: Recording Preview Settings
   preview:
     # Optional: Quality of recording preview (default: shown below).
@@ -835,6 +837,11 @@ cameras:
       # Optional: camera specific output args (default: inherit)
       # output_args:
 
+    # Optional: camera specific hwaccel args for timelapse export (default: inherit)
+    # record:
+    #   export:
+    #     hwaccel_args:
+
     # Optional: timeout for highest scoring image before allowing it
     # to be replaced by a newer image. (default: shown below)
     best_image_timeout: 60

frigate/config/camera/record.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from enum import Enum
-from typing import Optional
+from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from pydantic import Field
 
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ class RecordExportConfig(FrigateBaseModel):
     timelapse_args: str = Field(
         default=DEFAULT_TIME_LAPSE_FFMPEG_ARGS, title="Timelapse Args"
     )
+    hwaccel_args: Union[str, list[str]] = Field(
+        default="auto", title="Export-specific FFmpeg hardware acceleration arguments."
+    )
 
 
 class RecordConfig(FrigateBaseModel):

frigate/config/config.py

@@ -523,6 +523,14 @@ class FrigateConfig(FrigateBaseModel):
             if camera_config.ffmpeg.hwaccel_args == "auto":
                 camera_config.ffmpeg.hwaccel_args = self.ffmpeg.hwaccel_args
 
+            # Resolve export hwaccel_args: camera export -> camera ffmpeg -> global ffmpeg
+            # This allows per-camera override for exports (e.g., when camera resolution
+            # exceeds hardware encoder limits)
+            if camera_config.record.export.hwaccel_args == "auto":
+                camera_config.record.export.hwaccel_args = (
+                    camera_config.ffmpeg.hwaccel_args
+                )
+
             for input in camera_config.ffmpeg.inputs:
                 need_detect_dimensions = "detect" in input.roles and (
                     camera_config.detect.height is None

frigate/record/export.py

@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ class RecordingExporter(threading.Thread):
             ffmpeg_cmd = (
                 parse_preset_hardware_acceleration_encode(
                     self.config.ffmpeg.ffmpeg_path,
-                    self.config.ffmpeg.hwaccel_args,
+                    self.config.cameras[self.camera].record.export.hwaccel_args,
                     f"-an {ffmpeg_input}",
                     f"{self.config.cameras[self.camera].record.export.timelapse_args} -movflags +faststart",
                     EncodeTypeEnum.timelapse,
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ class RecordingExporter(threading.Thread):
             ffmpeg_cmd = (
                 parse_preset_hardware_acceleration_encode(
                     self.config.ffmpeg.ffmpeg_path,
-                    self.config.ffmpeg.hwaccel_args,
+                    self.config.cameras[self.camera].record.export.hwaccel_args,
                     f"{TIMELAPSE_DATA_INPUT_ARGS} {ffmpeg_input}",
                     f"{self.config.cameras[self.camera].record.export.timelapse_args} -movflags +faststart {video_path}",
                     EncodeTypeEnum.timelapse,