ZoneMinder Forums

What is the status of audio integration for ZM?

We build small headless, outdoor video recorders using ZM. ZM is the perfect solution for these kind of applications.
We recently got a customer request for outdoor audio monitoring. We are working on a network-based audio solution and would like to see/ integrate audio control, capturing, playback and recording in ZM.

Here is a preliminary features description of what we have in mind:
Hardware: net4801/4511 or equivalent board, sound-card with ACS4000 chip (mic in, line in, speaker out), 8GB/40GB/100GB storage unit
OS: Linux (MagicWave Systems Distro) 2.6.18 kernel
Driver: Alsa sound architecture
Features: Suitable for outdoor applications, size 7x6x2.5", power supply: 12VDC POE or 110-240VAC, operating temp <=120deg F

Unit control via network (primary interface) or console
Audio capturing via sound card and network
Audio playback (real-time and replay) via sound card and network
Audio recording on local storage unit
Audio detection based recording
Audio file format transformations

Control and configuration via browser-based gui

Consider integration with Zoneminder, a php/perl based video recorder.

Development priorities:
1. Playback (real-time) of "Mic In" audio capture via Network using multi-platform, main-stream audio streaming formats and technologies (streaming protocol: RTP? SIP?, compression formats: G.711?, G.723?, G.726?, MP3?) so that audio can be listened to with mainstream browsers/ browser plugins
2. GUI-based Control of "Mic In" Settings
3. Recording of "Mic In" audio capture and GUI-based searching, sorting, filtering, deleting; audio file storage format: MP3, maybe PCM (.WAV)
4. Replay of recorded audio via network (see 1.) with GUI-based searching, sorting, filtering, selecting
5. Continuous as well as audio detection based recording
6. Downloading of of audio files via network and USB interface
7. Capturing and recording of audio streams from audio-enabled network cameras (i.e. AXIS211A) via network.
8. GUI to convert audio files: wav->mp3, mp3->wav, others
9. Local audio announcements through "Speaker Out" on sound card (i.e. saydate)
10. Send audio announcements from the network to the "Speaker Out" of the sound card.
11. Integrate duplex capability for conversations between two audio-modules over the network or between audio module and audio enabled browser

We just started this project and are trying to catch up with and absorb current audio processing and streaming technologies as well as learning what Linux tools are available.

Nevertheless, we were wondering whether there are any additional suggestions and/or whether we could start making contributions towards the current efforts.

Maybe you can use some of my findings :

http://www.zoneminder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10607

I want to use icecast and liquidsoap.

I have found this software, maybe someone found usefull
http://www.vanheusden.com/listener/

Bye

dimiz wrote:I have found this software, maybe someone found usefull
http://www.vanheusden.com/listener/

Bye

That don't go anywhere.

dimiz wrote:

I have found this software, maybe someone found usefull
http://www.vanheusden.com/listener/

Bye

This can be achieved as well with liquidsoap (savonet).
Savonet has even a programming language on its own.

I use this ffmpeg script to capture a flash video directly from the Axis Video Servers or the Axis 207 Camera.

ffmpeg -y -i rtsp://<ip>/mpeg4/media.amp -ab 32k -ac 2 -ar 44100 -b 1000k -r 40 -s cif -qdiff 4 -padcolor 000000 -padtop 0 -padbottom 0 -padleft 0 -padright 0 -subq 6 -me umh -partitions parti4x4+parti8x8+partp4x4+partp8x8+partb8x8 -flags2 +wpred+mixed_refs+brdo+8x8dct -trellis 1 -qmin 10 -qmax 51 -qdiff 4 <outputfilename>.flv

It works perfect and the quality is very good. Can also stream these videos on the internet with good quality.

Do anyone have any idea how I can implement this into ZoneMinder tocapture the streams in 5 minute intervals with the current mjpeg streams. I have 40 cams that we want to capture permently and then stream the videos on the internet.

Please this is very urgent.

No there is no easy way to implement this, it would require a almost complete rewrite of the front and back ends. Also capturing mpeg is lossy especially compared to jpeg and in some places not admissible as evidence. If you need audio, then you might supplement ZM with an external program. You might even be able to hook in to ZM so that the recording is sectioned at the same time as the monitor if you create the hook for it. That would be the simplest solution.

The only other thing would be to create a bounty for it.