diff --git a/frigate/output/output.py b/frigate/output/output.py
index 38b1ddc52..1036a5eba 100644
--- a/frigate/output/output.py
+++ b/frigate/output/output.py
@@ -100,7 +100,9 @@ class OutputProcess(FrigateProcess):
         jsmpeg_cameras[camera] = JsmpegCamera(
             camera_config, self.stop_event, websocket_server
         )
-        preview_recorders[camera] = PreviewRecorder(camera_config)
+        preview_recorders[camera] = PreviewRecorder(
+            camera_config, self.config.get_camera_recordings_path(camera)
+        )
         preview_write_times[camera] = 0
 
         if (
diff --git a/frigate/output/preview.py b/frigate/output/preview.py
index b66c1298a..f49fc61c9 100644
--- a/frigate/output/preview.py
+++ b/frigate/output/preview.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import numpy as np
 
 from frigate.comms.inter_process import InterProcessRequestor
 from frigate.config import CameraConfig, RecordQualityEnum
-from frigate.const import CACHE_DIR, CLIPS_DIR, INSERT_PREVIEW, PREVIEW_FRAME_TYPE
+from frigate.const import CACHE_DIR, INSERT_PREVIEW, PREVIEW_FRAME_TYPE
 from frigate.ffmpeg_presets import (
     FPS_VFR_PARAM,
     EncodeTypeEnum,
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ PREVIEW_QMAX_PARAM = {
 }
 
 
+def get_preview_dir(recordings_root: str, camera: str) -> str:
+    """Get the output directory for generated preview mp4 files."""
+    return os.path.join(recordings_root, "preview", camera)
+
+
 def get_cache_image_name(camera: str, frame_time: float) -> str:
     """Get the image name in cache."""
     return os.path.join(
@@ -119,14 +124,15 @@ class FFMpegConverter(threading.Thread):
         config: CameraConfig,
         frame_times: list[float],
         requestor: InterProcessRequestor,
+        preview_dir: str,
     ):
         super().__init__(name=f"{config.name}_preview_converter")
         self.config = config
         self.frame_times = frame_times
         self.requestor = requestor
         self.path = os.path.join(
-            CLIPS_DIR,
-            f"previews/{self.config.name}/{self.frame_times[0]}-{self.frame_times[-1]}.mp4",
+            preview_dir,
+            f"{self.frame_times[0]}-{self.frame_times[-1]}.mp4",
         )
 
         # write a PREVIEW at fps and 1 key frame per clip
@@ -203,12 +209,13 @@ class FFMpegConverter(threading.Thread):
 
 
 class PreviewRecorder:
-    def __init__(self, config: CameraConfig) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, config: CameraConfig, recordings_root: str) -> None:
         self.config = config
         self.start_time = 0
         self.last_output_time = 0
         self.offline = False
         self.output_frames = []
+        self.preview_dir = get_preview_dir(recordings_root, config.name)
 
         if config.detect.width > config.detect.height:
             self.out_height = PREVIEW_HEIGHT
@@ -254,9 +261,7 @@ class PreviewRecorder:
         )
 
         Path(PREVIEW_CACHE_DIR).mkdir(exist_ok=True)
-        Path(os.path.join(CLIPS_DIR, f"previews/{config.name}")).mkdir(
-            parents=True, exist_ok=True
-        )
+        Path(self.preview_dir).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
         # check for existing items in cache
         start_ts = (
@@ -393,6 +398,7 @@ class PreviewRecorder:
                     self.config,
                     self.output_frames,
                     self.requestor,
+                    self.preview_dir,
                 ).start()
             else:
                 logger.debug(
@@ -442,6 +448,7 @@ class PreviewRecorder:
                 self.config,
                 self.output_frames,
                 self.requestor,
+                self.preview_dir,
             ).start()
 
             self.reset_frame_cache(frame_time)
diff --git a/frigate/test/test_preview_loader.py b/frigate/test/test_preview_loader.py
index e2062fce1..932788bd8 100644
--- a/frigate/test/test_preview_loader.py
+++ b/frigate/test/test_preview_loader.py
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
 import os
 import shutil
 import unittest
+import sys
+import types
+
+# Allow importing preview module in environments without opencv installed
+sys.modules.setdefault("cv2", types.SimpleNamespace())
+sys.modules.setdefault("numpy", types.SimpleNamespace(ndarray=object))
 
 from frigate.output.preview import (
     PREVIEW_CACHE_DIR,
     PREVIEW_FRAME_TYPE,
     get_most_recent_preview_frame,
+    get_preview_dir,
 )
 
 
@@ -78,3 +85,15 @@ class TestPreviewLoader(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_get_most_recent_preview_frame_no_directory(self):
         shutil.rmtree(PREVIEW_CACHE_DIR)
         self.assertIsNone(get_most_recent_preview_frame("test_camera"))
+
+    def test_get_preview_dir_with_explicit_camera_path(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            get_preview_dir("/video2", "front"),
+            "/video2/preview/front",
+        )
+
+    def test_get_preview_dir_with_default_recordings_path(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            get_preview_dir("/media/frigate/recordings", "front"),
+            "/media/frigate/recordings/preview/front",
+        )