[Implemented] Call recording for N900

[xyberx]

It would be great if the N900 came with call recording function built-in. Users would only need to click on the "Record" button to record the on going call. It should automatically stop the recording when the user end the call. It should also record in mp3 or aac format for clear recording.

Users then can replay the recording from the gallery application. I think it is an important feature for users for example: Your wife called you to buy the groceries. With this recording function you can simply click on the record button to record the conversation then play back the conversation to listen to the item needed by your wife.

Brainstorm: http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/call_recording/

[joppu]

It will not be in the release software version, but I suspect there will be a 3rd party application developed by maemo.org at some point.

[qgil]

Please follow the instructions at How to use Brainstorm (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=33189) and create a new proposal at http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/

Thanks!

[Jason404]

Isn't this actually illegal in some countries, unless a message clearly states 'this call is being recorded'? I have the feeling that this is the case here in the UK. Even so, I would really like to have this abilty as well, without the warning message. ;)

[claesbas]

Isn't this actually illegal in some countries, unless a message clearly states 'this call is being recorded'? I have the feeling that this is the case here in the UK. Even so, I would really like to have this abilty as well, without the warning message. ;)

I am not sure but I think as long as one part knows it is being recorded it is ok. I'd like this feature too.

[HangLoose]

same goes for me... usually i need to call my parents that are living currently in another country so i use skype for that and recording the skype voice would be cool as well...

dunno how much more work would it be since everything should use the same mic correct?

[ceroberts75]

contact mobisophy...they make an AWESOME product for call handling on the s60v3/5

i have already sent them a message asking about creating the product for maemo.

i have to say, it will be probably the most missed product that i use!

here is the contact link.

http://mobisophy.com/company/contactus.html


oh, and it is worth every cent i paid for it.

[ArnimS]

i wouldn't be surprised if this weren't doable from the command line itself. no i wont help.

[claesbas]

What happened to the Maemo Recorder? is there a maemo 5 version?

[xyberx]

I am really sorry I didn't post this in the correct way because I am used to posting like this. I don't mean to make anyone angry. Sorry.

[xyberx]

I don't know if this is legal or not but I saw this function on a chinese drama from a sonyericsson. I don't remember what is the model but I am sure its a sonyericsson. I really hope the maemo team would consider this. Anyone who support this function please say it hear.

[pelago]

I am really sorry I didn't post this in the correct way because I am used to posting like this. I don't mean to make anyone angry. Sorry.
If you're referring to qgil's post about suggesting this in Brainstorm, I don't think he was being angry, just trying to help point you in the right general direction. In fact, any other community member could make the Brainstorm posting for you if you want, referencing this thread. So don't worry!

[qgil]

No anger. Just create the Brainstorm proposal. Otherwise this thread will be moved to the Maemo 5 forum for free-form discussion.

[koivjann]

There is a software called Load-applet which records also calls. The only difficulty is to turn it on during call.

[cgarvie]

Isn't this actually illegal in some countries, unless a message clearly states 'this call is being recorded'? I have the feeling that this is the case here in the UK. Even so, I would really like to have this abilty as well, without the warning message. ;)

Ive been lead to belive that you need to inform them that your recording it. even if they say no, you can still continue to record. Theyve been informed, They can of course refuse to talk. but your ok to record as long as you say you are.

[Addison]

I posted this before, but currently in the U.S., you can only record incoming calls from what I understand. This is according to the Google Voice website.

If you place a call to someone else and attempt to record them, you will be immediately leg shackled and sent to jail on charges of being "creepy".

[kryptoniankid17]

I posted this before, but currently in the U.S., you can only record incoming calls from what I understand. This is according to the Google Voice website.

If you place a call to someone else and attempt to record them, you will be immediately leg shackled and sent to jail on charges of being "creepy".

are you sure ive done that plenty of times. no shackles.

[RevdKathy]

So what about all those people (I had one this evening) who call me up and then say "This call may be recorded for training purposes"?

I understood that both parties have to assent to the call being recorded, unless you have a warrant or work for MI5 or the News of the World (in which case you can record what the heck you like). Though even so, calls recorded by your n900 are not admissable as evidence in court. (Unless it's a call of your husband to his mistress in a divorce court, I think)

[Cadabena]

Isn't this actually illegal in some countries, unless a message clearly states 'this call is being recorded'? I have the feeling that this is the case here in the UK. Even so, I would really like to have this abilty as well, without the warning message. ;)

If I remember rightly, when you record a call it makes a beeping noise every 15 seconds or so to inform the caller they're being recorded. Whether an unofficial Maemo app does or not... it's their choice.

[Alex Atkin UK]

Bottom line, its perfectly acceptable to write an application that enabled this functionality. Its down to the end-user to decide if they will use it legally or not.

At worst all it would need is to popup a notice the first time you use it saying "please be aware if the local law regarding recording calls before using this software" just like a lot of peer 2 peer software does when you first run it, warning you not to share copyrighted material.

[dalonso]

Hi, I do not know which modules Pulseaudio in Fremantle comes with, but in the desktop there are loopback-kind of modules that allow to save the streams that are being processed by the sound server.

It it was the case in Fremantle's Pulseaudio then it could be easy to save the audio of any conversation.

Look comment #5 in this blog for a solution putting gstreamer and pulseaudio to do the work:

http://www.outflux.net/blog/archives/2009/04/19/recording-from-pulseaudio/

Just an idea.

[baksiidaa]

Isn't this actually illegal in some countries, unless a message clearly states 'this call is being recorded'? I have the feeling that this is the case here in the UK. Even so, I would really like to have this abilty as well, without the warning message. ;)

Here's the info for 5 countries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_recording_laws

[Texrat]

I am really sorry I didn't post this in the correct way because I am used to posting like this. I don't mean to make anyone angry. Sorry.

There is no anger-- Quim (qgil) was simply providing instructions for proper usage of this specific subforum.

I will be happy to guide you through the Brainstorm process. Just let me know what you need.

[xn0wh3r3x]

could it be added a "Best CallCheater" like function so that i can put background noise???

[xyberx]

Hi all,

Can someone please help me to post this in the correct manner. I don't know how. Thanks in advance.

[xyberx]

Thank you all for replying to this threat. I just hope the maemo team will consider adding this to the N900. Keeping my fingers cross!

[qgil]

Hi all,

Can someone please help me to post this in the correct manner. I don't know how. Thanks in advance.

It's explained in the sticky thread of this Brainstorm forum: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=33189

Go to http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/ , submit a new proposal explaining the problem you want to solve and then a solution explaining the... solution you propose. Then others can add other solutions and everybody can vote up/down the solutions proposed.

[ysss]

What about a rogue program that record calls in the background without you knowing (then emails the recordings somewhere or whatever). Is this possible too?

Will security concerns such as above be addressed on Maemo 6?

[pelago]

Will security concerns such as above be addressed on Maemo 6?

Yes, I believe that's part of what the secure kernel in Maemo 6 should provide.

[pelago]

I've taken pity on xyberx and created a Brainstorm idea for him (first Brainstorm idea I've created, so I hope I've done it right), see http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/call_recording/. I'm not trying to steal karma from xyberx, so feel free to transfer ownership of this to him. I'll let other people add their potential solutions, as Brainstorm was too slow for me to be bothered.

[xyberx]

Thank you very much pelago.. I don't mind who gets the karma.. I just hope this function will be built in to the N900.. Thanks everyone again..

[pelago]

As requested, I have split the idea into two solutions. Feel free to add your own solutions and vote. See http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/call_recording/

[Cherrypie]

Sounds like one of the useful optional features. I'm definitly looking forward to the point, where I'm being able to record a call & instantly upload it to a filehoster and then send a link to my friend in skypechat to the file and he can hear what I talked about with the other person almost instantly. That's my definition of Online as it happens! :)

[wierdo]

I posted this before, but currently in the U.S., you can only record incoming calls from what I understand. This is according to the Google Voice website.

If you place a call to someone else and attempt to record them, you will be immediately leg shackled and sent to jail on charges of being "creepy".
In the US, the legality depends on the state in which you are located at the time you are on the call. In some states, only one party's consent is required, thus if you are recording the call, there is no notification requirements.

In others, both parties to the call must be notified. This is why many programs and devices that record calls emit a regular beeping noise.

[MountainX]

as Brainstorm was too slow for me to be bothered.

That's been my experience too

[abigael]

So glad were all on the same boat..Any ideas on how to fixed this one? I hope to see replies soon..

Regards,
abigael
Pret voiture (http://http://pretvoiture.org)

[woody14619]

The N6230i had this feature, but for "legal purposes" when it was engaged it would provide a small semi-audible "pulse" tone every 10 seconds. (It was a "beep" similar to most answering machine tones, at slightly above background noise levels.) This was to warn/remind all parties involved that the call was being recorded. Most major call centers that record calls do this, including fraud lines for credit cards and the like.

I do miss this option on the N900, and would love to see it implemented. It's not something I used regularly, but it was a nice feature to have when I was driving and the caller had info I needed to use later, like a customer address or contact info. (It was menu item #5, so a quick menu-5 hit was enough to start/stop it, and it auto-saved with a time-stamp filename.)

And technically, in the US there are two sets of laws in most states. One that determines when it's legal to record conversations (which is almost always when you're part of it), and when that recording can be used as evidence in a court of law.

[louiskkchan]

most of the phone dont' come with it as built-in and i believe it's due to legal issues in some countries. if it's as a feature by add-on, nokia have no liability on this add-on.

[ndi]

Nokia is not liable either way, as recording equipment is not illegal. I could hold a recorder near my phone and still record. It is up to me to obey the law, not the company that sells me the phone.

Ford is not legally responsible for making cars that go 200 Km/h. You are for not slowing down.

Additionally, where I'm from it's legal to record your conversations (recording is OK as long as one party knows the conversation is being recorded).

This feature would be invaluable for "writing down" numbers, addresses, you know, stuff you forget as soon as you press the red button.

So, uhm, +1?

[maya]

symbian 3rd (n95, n82) = use UVR (Ultimate Voice Recorder)
palm os (treo, centro) = use CallRec

>> all with auto recorder/stop calls

[iKneaDough]

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Here is my Holiday gift: A method for recording calls from the device!

note: it will require command line tinkering.

I got the idea and most of the information thanks to the blog link which dalonso posted here (http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=355784&postcount=21).

First you will need to get the pulseaudio-utils package either from here (http://repository.maemo.org/pool/fremantle/free/p/pulseaudio/pulseaudio-utils_0.9.15-1maemo27+0m5_armel.deb) , or you can enable the tools repository and run apt-get install pulseaudio-utils there is a link to a single-click install file to add the tools repo here (http://wiki.maemo.org/Documentation/devtools/maemo5#Installation) .

The pulseaudio-utils package provides two apps which I use in the scripts: 'parec' to record raw audio streams, and 'pacat' to play back raw audio streams.

The streams involved are: 'sink.hw0.monitor' for incoming sounds and 'source.hw0' for outgoing sounds when using the phone handset, and 'sink.hw1.monitor' for incoming and 'source.hw0' for outgoing when using a bluetooth headset.

In my home directory I created a few simple scripts for recording

for recording while using the handset, I have a script 'simpleRec.sh':
NOW=`date +%F-%H-%M-%S`
echo $NOW > simpleDateTime
parec -d "sink.hw0.monitor" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.in.raw &
parec -d "source.hw0" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.out.raw

for recording while using bluetooth, I have a script 'simpleBtRec.sh':
NOW=`date +%F-%H-%M-%S`
echo $NOW > simpleDateTime
parec -d "sink.hw1.monitor" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.in.raw &
parec -d "source.hw1" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.out.raw

To play back the most recent recorded call 'simpleLastPlay.sh' :
LAST=`cat simpleDateTime`
pacat MyDocs/tmp/$LAST.pulse.in.raw &
pacat -v MyDocs/tmp/$LAST.pulse.out.raw

To play back an older call using a unique date or time 'simplePlay.sh' :
pacat MyDocs/tmp/*$1*pulse.in.raw &
pacat -v MyDocs/tmp/*$1*pulse.out.raw
for example if you know you recorded a call on Dec 1 at 12:00 am, you could run ' ./simplePlay.sh 12-01-00-00 ' or any part of the date or time that you can remember, as long as it is unique.

To stop recording or playback just press ctrl+c.

Another script I made to stop any recording or playback if you can't get back to its original terminal window 'simpleStop.sh' :
killall parec
killall pacat


Final note: Please use it only where it is legal to do so, and please do not use it for any nefarious purpose. Enjoy!

[JuhS]

Excellent work iKneaDough!

[Texrat]

I've taken pity on xyberx and created a Brainstorm idea for him (first Brainstorm idea I've created, so I hope I've done it right), see http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/call_recording/. I'm not trying to steal karma from xyberx, so feel free to transfer ownership of this to him. I'll let other people add their potential solutions, as Brainstorm was too slow for me to be bothered.

The process is still new and under constant refinement. Acceleration suggestions welcome. ;)

EDIT: ah, you were probably referring to the server response issues. Progress being made there, too.

[maya]

some progress?

[omeriko9]

iKneaDough, Thank you very much for the scripts! :)

Someone knows how this raw sound file can be converted to a known type, like wav or ogg?

[chemist]

xyberx, would you mind adding the brainstorm-link to the starting post (please)...

[ukbill69]

Ive used this on my N82 as it is the best app on my old phone. So good for recalling back what someone has said.

Email the developer (support@fingertip-access.com) and ask for it, I know I have.

http://www.fingertip-access.com/product_ver_1.html

[Cris]

The main reason why I'm not changing my N95 is precisely the fact that I have a very good call recording app on it (Total Recall from Killer mobile). Until the n900 gets one, I won't change my phone.

I would like to buy either a n900 or a nexus one. Depending on which one gets a call recorder first.

[fatalsaint]

Well.. now that the underlying hard work is done.. shouldn't be too hard to wrap those scripts into a deb file and create shortcuts/menu.desktop items for them.

All that's really left is for a UI designer to create a good looking UI for people and a deb build to put it all together. Being that you can see the actual commands being used in the scripts (obviously) - then it can be directly coded into a QT app with system calls.

[zaheerm]

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Here is my Holiday gift: A method for recording calls from the device!

note: it will require command line tinkering.

I got the idea and most of the information thanks to the blog link which dalonso posted here (http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=355784&postcount=21).

First you will need to get the pulseaudio-utils package either from here (http://repository.maemo.org/pool/fremantle/free/p/pulseaudio/pulseaudio-utils_0.9.15-1maemo27+0m5_armel.deb) , or you can enable the tools repository and run apt-get install pulseaudio-utils there is a link to a single-click install file to add the tools repo here (http://wiki.maemo.org/Documentation/devtools/maemo5#Installation) .

The pulseaudio-utils package provides two apps which I use in the scripts: 'parec' to record raw audio streams, and 'pacat' to play back raw audio streams.

The streams involved are: 'sink.hw0.monitor' for incoming sounds and 'source.hw0' for outgoing sounds when using the phone handset, and 'sink.hw1.monitor' for incoming and 'source.hw0' for outgoing when using a bluetooth headset.

In my home directory I created a few simple scripts for recording

for recording while using the handset, I have a script 'simpleRec.sh':
NOW=`date +%F-%H-%M-%S`
echo $NOW > simpleDateTime
parec -d "sink.hw0.monitor" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.in.raw &
parec -d "source.hw0" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.out.raw

for recording while using bluetooth, I have a script 'simpleBtRec.sh':
NOW=`date +%F-%H-%M-%S`
echo $NOW > simpleDateTime
parec -d "sink.hw1.monitor" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.in.raw &
parec -d "source.hw1" > MyDocs/tmp/$NOW.pulse.out.raw

To play back the most recent recorded call 'simpleLastPlay.sh' :
LAST=`cat simpleDateTime`
pacat MyDocs/tmp/$LAST.pulse.in.raw &
pacat -v MyDocs/tmp/$LAST.pulse.out.raw

To play back an older call using a unique date or time 'simplePlay.sh' :
pacat MyDocs/tmp/*$1*pulse.in.raw &
pacat -v MyDocs/tmp/*$1*pulse.out.raw
for example if you know you recorded a call on Dec 1 at 12:00 am, you could run ' ./simplePlay.sh 12-01-00-00 ' or any part of the date or time that you can remember, as long as it is unique.

To stop recording or playback just press ctrl+c.

Another script I made to stop any recording or playback if you can't get back to its original terminal window 'simpleStop.sh' :
killall parec
killall pacat


Final note: Please use it only where it is legal to do so, and please do not use it for any nefarious purpose. Enjoy!

For recording, you can do:

gst-launch adder name=a ! wavenc ! filesink location=blah.wav pulsesrc device=sink.hw0.monitor ! queue ! a. pulsesrc device=source.hw0 ! queue ! a

[dneary]

Here is my Holiday gift: A method for recording calls from the device!
...
Enjoy!

Thanks iKneaDough!

I just came across this, and copied this to the wiki to the page "Recording phonecalls (http://wiki.maemo.org/Recording_phonecalls)" - this also would be a very good start for someone who wishes to write a graphical phone call recording application.

Thanks!
Dave.

[twaelti]

I've got a prototype call recording widget up and running on my N900 now. Will fine tune it over the next few days, you should have a solution in your hands very soon.
(All credits to Zaheer for his great gstreamer work and pipeline example!)

[gviterbo]

I'm looking forward to this twaelti. I must admit that I'm excited for this one. :)

[Kxer]

I've got a prototype call recording widget up and running on my N900 now. Will fine tune it over the next few days, you should have a solution in your hands very soon.
(All credits to Zaheer for his great gstreamer work and pipeline example!)

Looking forward to see the finished product!

[twaelti]

OK, the "recaller" widget is now available from extras-devel (CAUTION!). From the description:

A simple widget to record the current phone conversation (AAC, 1 MB/min). Please be aware of local laws guiding the recording of telephone conversations!

Can also be used as a normal voice recorder.
Press 'REC' to start recording, make your call or record anything else using the in-built mic, press 'REC' again to stop.
Recordings are saved to MyDocs and can be played back through e.g. the File Manager.



Roadmap/ToDo (might get done someday):
- Make it look better
- Allow recording of bluetooth conversations
- Add option to choose saving location
- Add beeping option

Wishlist (no idea if possible or interest in doing it)
- Autostart
- Include contact info / phone number in filename

[colin.stephane]

OK, the "recaller" widget is now available from extras-devel (CAUTION!). From the description:

A simple widget to record the current phone conversation (AAC, 1 MB/min). Please be aware of local laws guiding the recording of telephone conversations!

Can also be used as a normal voice recorder.
Press 'REC' to start recording, make your call or record anything else using the in-built mic, press 'REC' again to stop.
Recordings are saved to MyDocs and can be played back through e.g. the File Manager.



Roadmap/ToDo (might get done someday):
- Make it look better
- Allow recording of bluetooth conversations
- Add option to choose saving location
- Add beeping option

Wishlist (no idea if possible or interest in doing it)
- Autostart
- Include contact info / phone number in filename

Hi,

I'm thinking about another idea for the last part :

- recording as mp3, and add mp3tag about contact info / phone number if available ...

A++

[abbie]

Thanks, was looking for this app a long time!
I would like mp3 support too.

[twaelti]

There will not be MP3 support as there isn't a native encoder on the device.
(AAC is the future, native/accelerated/more efficient, works with the inbuilt media player and has players for all desktop platforms.)

[lancewex]

Great application, thanks.
Was wondering: would it also be able to record radio clips? That ability is one major reason I still use my Cowon D2. If the N900 could do that I would finally be a 1 device guy.

[farheinheigt]

Super boulot TWAELTI !
Great Job !

Possibilty to add this feature :
* automatic record thanks a detection of incoming/outcoming call ?

[davidecr]

Awesome!!!!! tnx for this app :cool:

As a wish list, what about contacts & conversations integrations?, so I can display the recorded conversation from contact options.

[twaelti]

Great application, thanks.
Was wondering: would it also be able to record radio clips? That ability is one major reason I still use my Cowon D2.
I will try to improve that - it already works, but you still get an echo when recording from the FM radio. But "recaller" already records all kinds of audio, including internet radio and flash tv :-)
(of course including your mic noises...)

[lancewex]

I will try to improve that - it already works, but you still get an echo when recording from the FM radio. But "recaller" already records all kinds of audio, including internet radio and flash tv :-)
(of course including your mic noises...)

Sweet! That'd be great. However, I don't know how to get Python-dbus to get Recaller to install.

[go1dfish]

OK, the "recaller" widget is now available from extras-devel (CAUTION!). From the description:

A simple widget to record the current phone conversation (AAC, 1 MB/min). Please be aware of local laws guiding the recording of telephone conversations!

Can also be used as a normal voice recorder.
Press 'REC' to start recording, make your call or record anything else using the in-built mic, press 'REC' again to stop.
Recordings are saved to MyDocs and can be played back through e.g. the File Manager.



Roadmap/ToDo (might get done someday):
- Make it look better
- Allow recording of bluetooth conversations
- Add option to choose saving location
- Add beeping option

Wishlist (no idea if possible or interest in doing it)
- Autostart
- Include contact info / phone number in filename

Thanks for the app, however there is an issue in that the recorded files are not playable by anything other than the n900's built in media player.

mplayer on the device wont play them, neither will mplayer, vlc or totem on my ubuntu box.

Attempting to convert the file to something else with ffmpeg fails as well claiming unknown format.

I believe this may be due to them missing required aac metadata?

[efidr]

contact mobisophy...they make an AWESOME product for call handling on the s60v3/5

i have already sent them a message asking about creating the product for maemo.

i have to say, it will be probably the most missed product that i use!

here is the contact link.

http://mobisophy.com/company/contactus.html


oh, and it is worth every cent i paid for it.

I would have to agree whole heartedly!! Best call handling utility I've ever used, there is nearly nothing it can't do and everything carried out on your phone, controlled totally by yourself. Would support a Maemo version for the N900.

[fraaaaanka]

Hey twaelti,
nice one for creating this app .... always wanted this sort of thing on my phone!
Not installed it though as I am a 'noob' and am to scared to install from dev .... how long until this gets to testing so i can install it with confidence???

cheers

[twaelti]

the recorded files are not playable by anything other than the n900's built in media player.
It works with Windows Media Player :D
As this covers 90% of the possible endusers I leave that as it is for now. Perhaps I might need to mux the AAC stream into some container before saving for other players to work.

[twaelti]

I don't know how to get Python-dbus to get Recaller to install.
There is an update available that will fix your problem (and features this NICE icon* instead of a boring REC button :D)
http://static.maemo.org/static/a/a15c6f6004de11dfa3eafbb37bd36dd86dd8_recaller_icon
*Greetings, underlings, from the king of Cairo-upon-pygtk-widget

[arkanoid]

Intergrating with Conversations and Contacts would make it dream app!

[VRe]

Intergrating with Conversations and Contacts would make it dream app!

I don't know if direct integration would be possible without rewriting those closed component. What I was thinking, that there could be some faked integration..

1) The recall would always record phone call and after the call has finished, it would ask that shall this record be saved.
2) Record calls automatically from certain people, unknown numbers etc. Do not record from other numbers.
3) When on call and the camera button is pressed, start recording (could be also some other button)

[karim0028]

Very cool little app! Thanks!

[go1dfish]

It works with Windows Media Player :D
As this covers 90% of the possible endusers I leave that as it is for now. Perhaps I might need to mux the AAC stream into some container before saving for other players to work.

Good luck in ever getting your applet out of extras-testing then.

Most of the hard-core maemo community members (read the people who vote) are linux desktop users.

If VLC wont play files you're generating then you're doing something horribly wrong.

Lacking a container format might be the cause.

[geneven]

Dumb question, but --

I presume this would work with Skype calls also?

[jakiman]

Regarding recaller widget...

I noticed that I can place multiple recaller widget instances.
ie. 1 on all 4 virtual desktops.

How is this possible? Can other widgets be made to do this also?

[ndi]

Nice, very nice.

I'm anxiously waiting for auto-record. Until then, could the button be a little bigger? It's hard to press sometimes. However, once it self-records I'm golden.

[spawn]

very nice app thanks.

i found it hard to go back to desktop while call was active and search that record button, so i made my own version based on this program and added that to be run from power menu, works like a charm. :cool:

[gviterbo]

Regarding recaller widget...

I noticed that I can place multiple recaller widget instances.
ie. 1 on all 4 virtual desktops.

How is this possible? Can other widgets be made to do this also?

Apparently it does place several recaller widgets. I proved this very valuable because if you only put one widget in one desktop, you will have to swipe back to that desktop if you wish to record a call. With one widget per desktop, you will simply have to go back to any desktop and start recording a conversation.

This is really a cool application. Keep on developing more apps Tom! :D

[addee]

Hmm, have added http://repository.maemo.org/extras-testing/ as Applications directory but still can not find it. Running latest Maemo FW release.

Can you make a quickguide for finding and installing it please?

[twaelti]

Hmm, have added http://repository.maemo.org/extras-testing/ as Applications directory but still can not find it. Running latest Maemo FW release.
Can you make a quickguide for finding and installing it please?
I plan to promote the latest versionj to extras-testing tomorrow. Unfortunately, the servers are still a bit slow - I've built 0.3.0 fours hours ago and still can't see it in the package viewer :mad:

[twaelti]

I'm anxiously waiting for auto-record. Until then, could the button be a little bigger? It's hard to press sometimes. However, once it self-records I'm golden.
The button IS bigger than it appears, the problem was more that the feedback you got when pressing it was a bit delayed. Upcoming 0.3.0 should be more responsive.

[addee]

Ok, downloaded and tried to install the deb-file but despite the fact that i installed Python 2.5 it still complains over some Python Packages which i can not find...

Should i wait or any ideas?

python-hildondesktop
hildon-desktop-python-loader
python-gtk2
python-dbus
python-gst0.10

[twaelti]

Ok, downloaded and tried to install the deb-file
Please use the Application Manager

[twaelti]

Good luck in ever getting your applet out of extras-testing then.

Most of the hard-core maemo community members (read the people who vote) are linux desktop users.

If VLC wont play files you're generating then you're doing something horribly wrong.

Lacking a container format might be the cause.
Bla-di-blabla or constructive feedback? It might be more helpful if you could tell me how to properly stop a recording in gstreamer/pygst :D
Try 0.3.0, it should be better in closing the stream after recording it. It still won't play on my Win7 x64 VLC, but perhaps it does on Ubuntu now?

[go1dfish]

Bla-di-blabla or constructive feedback? It might be more helpful if you could tell me how to properly stop a recording in gstreamer/pygst :D
Try 0.3.0, it should be better in closing the stream after recording it. It still won't play on my Win7 x64 VLC, but perhaps it does on Ubuntu now?

Tried out 0.3.0 the new icon is nice, but the file still fails to play in mplayer, totem (which uses gstreamer on ubuntu) vlc, audacity etc...

Also, the recorded files fail to load/play on QuickTime/iTunes on OSX which is an even bigger blocker.

Wish I was able to provide more help, but I am not very familiar with gstreamer or aac from a development perspective.

The faad command line utility (linux) is able to read the aac files your generating, this seems to reinforce that the problem is the lack of a container for the aac stream.

[daperl]

Bla-di-blabla or constructive feedback? It might be more helpful if you could tell me how to properly stop a recording in gstreamer/pygst :D
Try 0.3.0, it should be better in closing the stream after recording it. It still won't play on my Win7 x64 VLC, but perhaps it does on Ubuntu now?

Maybe just try a simple wav encoding. The following code produces a wav file that works in vlc on my Mac. If you run this, you'll notice that first buffer spewed in the probe callback is the 44 byte wav header. Also, if you want do more stuff with audio files and buffers, I recommend checking out the following standard Python packages:

wave
audioop

Love your work!

#! /usr/bin/env python

import platform
import gtk
import gst

class RecordMe:
def __init__(self):
window = gtk.Window(gtk.WINDOW_TOPLEVEL)
window.set_title('A Recorder')
window.connect('destroy', gtk.main_quit)
vbox = gtk.VBox()
window.add(vbox)
self.movie_window = gtk.DrawingArea()
vbox.add(self.movie_window)
hbox = gtk.HBox()
vbox.pack_start(hbox, False)
hbox.set_border_width(10)
hbox.pack_start(gtk.Label())
self.button = gtk.Button('Record')
self.button.connect('clicked', self.start_stop)
hbox.pack_start(self.button, False)
self.button2 = gtk.Button('Quit')
self.button2.connect('clicked', self.exit)
hbox.pack_start(self.button2, False)
hbox.add(gtk.Label())
window.show_all()
self.machine = platform.uname()[4]

sampleRate = 22050

if self.machine == 'armv7l':
self.player = gst.Pipeline('ThePipe')
src = gst.element_factory_make('pulsesrc','src')
self.player.add(src)
caps = gst.element_factory_make('capsfilter', 'caps')
caps.set_property('caps', gst.caps_from_string(
'audio/x-raw-int,width=16,depth=16,\
rate=%d,channels=1'%sampleRate))
self.player.add(caps)
enc = gst.element_factory_make('wavenc','enc')
self.player.add(enc)
sink = gst.element_factory_make('filesink', 'sink')
sink.set_property('location','testme.wav')
self.player.add(sink)
pad = sink.get_pad('sink')
pad.add_buffer_probe(self.doBuffer)
src.link(caps)
caps.link(enc)
enc.link(sink)

bus = self.player.get_bus()
bus.add_signal_watch()
bus.enable_sync_message_emission()
bus.connect('message', self.on_message)

def doBuffer(self, pad, buffer):
n = len(buffer)
if n == 44:
print 'found WAV header'
elif n > 0:
self.totalAudioBytes = self.totalAudioBytes + n
return True

def start_stop(self, w):
if self.button.get_label() == 'Record':
self.totalAudioBytes = 0
self.button.set_label('Stop')
self.player.set_state(gst.STATE_PLAYING)
else:
print 'total audio bytes',self.totalAudioBytes
self.player.set_state(gst.STATE_NULL)
self.button.set_label('Record')

def exit(self, widget, data=None):
gtk.main_quit()

def on_message(self, bus, message):
t = message.type
if t == gst.MESSAGE_EOS:
self.player.set_state(gst.STATE_NULL)
self.button.set_label('Record')
elif t == gst.MESSAGE_ERROR:
err, debug = message.parse_error()
print 'Error: %s' % err, debug
self.player.set_state(gst.STATE_NULL)
self.button.set_label('Record')

if __name__ == '__main__':
RecordMe()
gtk.main()

[spawn]

i changed my version of recorder to encode files to flac format and added possibility to listen / delete recording after it's done.

if anyone is interested recording using power button menu i could share
this mod.

few images attached.

http://vorlon.org/n900/png/Screenshot-20100122-101111.png
http://vorlon.org/n900/png/Screenshot-20100122-101204.png
http://vorlon.org/n900/png/Screenshot-20100122-101210.png

[twaelti]

Maybe just try a simple wav encoding. Also, if you want do more stuff with audio files and buffers, I recommend checking out the following standard Python packages:
wave
audioop

Been there done that :D WAV is how I started, but the files became way too big. It is a much simpler file format, that's probably why it worked without problems.

[twaelti]

i changed my version of recorder to encode files to flac format and added possibility to listen / delete recording after it's done.
if anyone is interested recording using power button menu i could share this mod.

.me raises hand ;)

[anapospastos]

Definitely grat work. Well done!

[twaelti]

the file still fails to play in mplayer, totem (which uses gstreamer on ubuntu) vlc, audacity etc...
Also, the recorded files fail to load/play on QuickTime/iTunes on OSX which is an even bigger blocker.
The faad command line utility (linux) is able to read the aac files your generating, this seems to reinforce that the problem is the lack of a container for the aac stream.
But then it might well be a problem of these players expecting AAC in a container (which is not mandatory). The AAC files written by recaller (using Gstreamer/nokiaaacenc) are currently in ADIF format, which is a more basic format. And verifying the headers for some example files in a HEX editor looked good, so they are correct ADIF files. However, ADIF is only considered informative by MPEG-4, so an MPEG-4 decoder does not need to support either format.
I will try to do 2 things:

Check what happens when encoding in ADTS instead
Mux the AAC into a MP4 or 3GP container.

[gviterbo]

i changed my version of recorder to encode files to flac format and added possibility to listen / delete recording after it's done.

if anyone is interested recording using power button menu i could share
this mod.

+1 I want one too! Big thanks!:D

[spawn]

here comes, requires some manual work & root privileges

first creation of dirs

mkdir -p /usr/local/phone_recorder/bin
mkdir /usr/local/phone_recorder/python


then adding wrapper file:

/usr/local/phone_recorder/bin/phone_recorder

#!/bin/sh
exec python /usr/local/phone_recorder/python/phone_recorder.py

and exec priv
chmod 755 /usr/local/phone_recorder/bin/phone_recorder

python file
/usr/local/phone_recoder/python/phone_recoder.py

import gtk
import hildon
import time
import pygst
pygst.require("0.10")
import gst
import os


class Recorder(hildon.Program):
def __init__(self):
self.done=0
if self.done>1:
gtk.main_quit

hildon.Program.__init__(self)
gtk.set_application_name("Phone call record")
self.program = hildon.Program.get_instance()

self.window=hildon.StackableWindow()
self.window.set_title("recorder")
self.program.add_window(self.window)

self.start=time.time()
button=hildon.Button(gtk.HILDON_SIZE_AUTO, hildon.BUTTON_ARRANGEMENT_VERTICAL,"Recording...\nClick to stop")
ts = time.strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
self.fileName = "/home/user/MyDocs/record/Rec_%s.flac" % time.strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
self.player = gst.parse_launch ("adder name=theAdder ! flacenc ! filesink location=%s. pulsesrc device=sink.hw0.monitor ! queue ! theAdder. pulsesrc device=source.hw0 ! queue ! theAdder." % self.fileName)
self.player.set_state(gst.STATE_PLAYING)
button.connect("clicked", self.do_stop)
self.window.add(button)
self.done+1

def select_event(self,tool,val):
if val==0:
gtk.main_quit()
elif val==1:
os.unlink(self.fileName)
elif val==2:
player = gst.parse_launch ("filesrc location=%s ! flacdec ! pulsesink" % self.fileName)
player.set_state(gst.STATE_PLAYING)
return 1

gtk.main_quit()


def do_stop(self,widget):
self.done=1
self.player.set_state(gst.STATE_NULL)
now=time.time()
window=hildon.StackableWindow()

label=gtk.Label("Recording complete\nCreated file: %(fn)s\nrecorded total: %(sec)d sec" % {"fn": self.fileName,"sec" : (now-self.start)})
window.add(label)
label.show()

toolbar = gtk.Toolbar()
toolitem = gtk.ToolButton(gtk.image_new_from_stock(gtk.STOCK_ CLOSE,gtk.ICON_SIZE_LARGE_TOOLBAR),"Exit")
toolitem.connect("clicked", self.select_event, 0)
toolbar.insert(toolitem, 0)
toolitem = gtk.ToolButton(gtk.image_new_from_stock(gtk.STOCK_ DELETE,gtk.ICON_SIZE_LARGE_TOOLBAR),"Delete")
toolitem.connect("clicked", self.select_event, 1)
toolbar.insert(toolitem, 1)
toolitem = gtk.ToolButton(gtk.image_new_from_stock(gtk.STOCK_ MEDIA_PLAY,gtk.ICON_SIZE_LARGE_TOOLBAR),"Play")
toolitem.connect("clicked", self.select_event, 2)
toolbar.insert(toolitem, 2)
window.add_toolbar(toolbar)

window.connect("delete_event", gtk.main_quit, None)
window.show_all()

def run(self):
self.window.show_all()
gtk.main()

prog=Recorder()
prog.run()


adding dbus service
/usr/share/dbus-1/services/phone_recorder.service

[D-BUS Service]
Name=com.misc.phone_recorder
Exec=/usr/local/phone_recorder/bin/phone_recorder


and finally editing of systemui.xml
/etc/systemui/systemui.xml

add this inside powerkeymeny tags.

<menuitem priority="750" name="Record">
<callback service="com.misc.phone_recorder" path="/com/misc/phone_recorder"
interface="com.misc.phone_recorder" method="record" bus="session"
autostart="true">
<argument type="boolean">true</argument>
</callback>
</menuitem>


and reboot.

ps. my very first python code ever, so most likely quite bad code

pss. also create dir /home/user/MyDocs/record/
with write privs to user or modify that file location.

[qwerty12]

here comes, requires some manual work & root privileges

first creation of dirs


then adding wrapper file:

/usr/local/phone_recorder/bin/phone_recorder

and exec priv
chmod 755 /usr/local/phone_recorder/bin/phone_recorder

python file
/usr/local/phone_recoder/python/phone_recoder.py


adding dbus service
/usr/share/dbus-1/services/phone_recorder.service


and finally editing of systemui.xml
/etc/systemui/systemui.xml

add this inside powerkeymeny tags.


and reboot.

ps. my very first python code ever, so most likely quite bad code

FWIW, if you create an osso.Context within the app, add the customary "#! /usr/bin/env python2.5" to the top and mark it as executable, then you don't need the script to start it.

[sxg75]

i changed my version of recorder to encode files to flac format and added possibility to listen / delete recording after it's done.

Great! Would it be possible to share ideas with original author? The approach using Power button and lossless audio has great appeal!

[spawn]

FWIW, if you create an osso.Context within the app, add the customary "#! /usr/bin/env python2.5" to the top and mark it as executable, then you don't need the script to start it.

thanks, i'll make a not of that, so it works like a perl :cool:

[addee]

I dont get it. I just saw and installed it from Application manager. But after installation there was no shortcut to it in menu.

So unisntalled Python 2.5 that i installed yesterday, uninstalled Recaller. Now i can not find it in Application manager, even with a search?!?!?

[addee]

I click add Recaller Widget shortcut, but nothing happends. I only have one panel visible. Bugg?

Tried making all panels visible but no change. It refuses to create the Widget/shortcut on the panel.

[twaelti]

I click add Recaller Widget shortcut, but nothing happends. I only have one panel visible. Bugg?
Reboot, then try again.

[twaelti]

Great! Would it be possible to share ideas with original author? The approach using Power button and lossless audio has great appeal!
Of course, I'm reading :) It looks to me like the FLAC encoder is new since PR1.1, at least I didn't see it before.

[daperl]

Then when we're done, we can throw some lipstick on that pig.

6219

[twaelti]

Then when we're done, we can throw some lipstick on that pig.

Looks slightly copyrighted maybe ;)

[addee]

Reboot, then try again.


Done that, no change.

Still not visible for me in Applications Manager either....

[That One Guy]

OK, the "recaller" widget is now available from extras-devel (CAUTION!). From the description:

- Add beeping option


Please, make it an OPTION, and not mandatory.

It is NOT illegal to record calls in the US, so long as at least one party in the conversation is aware that recording is taking place.

http://www.callcorder.com/phone-recording-law-america.htm

Other countries may be different, I know the N900 is not an exclusive, "Only the yanks can get it" kinda phone.

Now, I understand you may be concerned about liability, and I respect that. But I humbly point you to recording applications for other Operating Systems. Most do not have the beeping, or have the option to turn off the beeping.

Thank you for creating this app. I've got it installed on my N900, but as of yet have not needed it.

PayPal donation on it's way shortly.

[daperl]

Looks slightly copyrighted maybe ;)

In my case, I'm not sure. I own the product that the image is lifted from and currently I'm repurposing it for personal use. But it does make me wonder, at least two of the images on that background seem like prior physical art that Apple rearranged on a page. No doubt the arrangement is all Apple's, but what about the pieces themselves?

Anyway, I have zero abilities in the graphic art department and I'm working on my screen rendering skills. This was just a quick-and-dirty starting point. And I can always slap something else up there:

6224

[addee]

Done that, no change.

Still not visible for me in Applications Manager either....

Sorry, but can anyone else see it under Applications Manager for download????

[chrget]

First of all, twaelti ... plenty of kudos and thank you for your hard work. It is much appreciated.

A minor gripe with the later versions: personally, I think the change in the button when recording is way too subtle now. The old, admittedly less sleek button with the clearly visible change in color was probably better from a usability point of view.

In addition, a question/suggestion: with the N900 being a 3G capable (ahem :D ) phone, I would expect it to be capable of doing the AMR family of codecs out of the box as well. Does anybody know if this is so? If it is, having the option of recording in AMR might be nice, not only for more mass storage efficiency, but also to allow for quick reasonable length voice MMS in conjunction with frals' excellent fMMS effort.

Regards,

Chris.

[go1dfish]

i changed my version of recorder to encode files to flac format and added possibility to listen / delete recording after it's done.


Thanks for this mod, the code doesn't look bad either.

FLAC format opens up much more options for this as a general recorder (the mic is pretty decent).

I will attempt to use this to record a small concert tonight.

I try to add an option to normalize the recording and perhaps other post processing.

[spawn]

Thanks for this mod, the code doesn't look bad either.

FLAC format opens up much more options for this as a general recorder (the mic is pretty decent).

I will attempt to use this to record a small concert tonight.

I try to add an option to normalize the recording and perhaps other post processing.

go for it and tell me the results :)

[twaelti]

A short report on minor progress:
I've prepared a new version of recaller that now uses AAC ADTS instead of ADIF. Recordings now play well using VLC, so this should take care of the compatibility issues mentioned by others. Unfortunately, the Maemo Autobuilder is down once again, so I can't yet build the new version for you. Hopefully tomorrow

I plan to add FLAC support as an option.
I might well change to (or add) a statusmenu function like the one in the example code, might be handier for some. AA full app might be another project.

However, for now it works well as a general purpose recorder, as this example cleary shows: I went skiing with wife and kids today. In the afternoon, Forgetful, I put the N900 in my pocket in unlocked state, touching the recaller widget by coincidence... 1.5 hours after, when checking the time, I saw the recording reminder popup! Therefore, I'm currently listening to a 90 minute live recording of my family's skiing adventures :D. The sound is extremely clear, I can hear all conversations we had on the slopes, probably up to 10 meters away, while the phone was in a trouser pocket.

[maya]

oh, very good. but what about the autostart option will be added?
I used the "CallPlayer" on the Treo, and it really was fantastic!

http://mytreo.net/downloads/callrec,913.html

[qgil]

http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/call_recording/ moved to Implemented, selecting "Solution #2: Write a separate utility to record calls"

[puiradu]

without autostart I don't see any use af this aplication! It's rely so hard to add it? And a menu with settings will be welcomed! Thanks!

[twaelti]

without autostart I don't see any use af this aplication! It's rely so hard to add it? And a menu with settings will be welcomed! Thanks!

a) Outgoing: You can always start it before calling someone
b) Incoming: After you answered a call, say "Hold on, one moment please", go to the desktop, turn on the recording
c) I'm working on a configurable version

Autostart might be difficult.

[jaguilar]

a) Outgoing: You can always start it before calling someone
b) Incoming: After you answered a call, say "Hold on, one moment please", go to the desktop, turn on the recording
c) I'm working on a configurable version

Autostart might be difficult.

It is possible to connect to dbus and receive the messages of incoming and outgoing calls. And if configured for that, the call record could start automatically.

The problem is find the correct dbus message....even using dbus-monitor!

[Venomrush]

a) Outgoing: You can always start it before calling someone
b) Incoming: After you answered a call, say "Hold on, one moment please", go to the desktop, turn on the recording
c) I'm working on a configurable version

Autostart might be difficult.

Rather than going back to Desktop, could we place it as an option on the actual Phone UI? ie next to Mute or when ringing, option to Answer + Record (start recaller).

At the moment, I have the soft-camera key hack which takes me back decently quick.

[pelago]

Rather than going back to Desktop, could we place it as an option on the actual Phone UI? ie next to Mute or when ringing, option to Answer + Record (start recaller).


I'm pretty sure the phone UI isn't open-source, or extendable by third-parties, so only Nokia could implement that.

[twaelti]

It is possible to connect to dbus and receive the messages of incoming and outgoing calls. And if configured for that, the call record could start automatically.
The problem is find the correct dbus message....even using dbus-monitor!
I know about D-Bus, don't worry :D And you wouldn't listen to incoming call mesages, but to call-accepted messages. However, one should better use telepathy (once the API becomes available) - but then I might neeed python bindings, too....
OTOH, doing it with D-Bus I might have to tackle the problem that com.nokia.csd seemingly only communciates over the system d-bus, not the session one. So I probably need to change the security settings to get access to that.
Well, one thing after the other, fileformats, audiosources and savefolder first :D

[stefanmohl]

Well, one thing after the other, fileformats, audiosources and savefolder first :D

Hmmm, I have a suggestion that you could prepare for when doing those things. Once auto-recording works (I assume it will, at some point), a nice feature would be if it simply always records and then just keeps the log around for, say a week (or some configurable period). Every time the app starts recording, all recordings older than a week are automatically deleted. To save them, (1) you could manually copy them out before time is up, (2) the app might let you "save" a recording to an external file (i.e. make the copy for you), or (3) you could tag files to keep around indefinitely.

The point is that call recording works fully automatically and you never have to think about it. You just always have a full log of all calls you made the last week.

[muppis]

http://maemocentral.com/2010/02/22/how-to-block-unwanted-callers-on-the-n900/

Could this trick be used to automate to enable recording?

[aman18narang]

hi..i had a probem with the recaller this morning..whenever i use to open file manager or application manager, recaller used to start by itself..i tried disabling the widget etc but was no good..finally i decided to remove the application from the phone but even after that it did not uninstall properly and recaller kept starting again ...finally i reboot the phone and saw that recaller was uninstalled and have no problems since..any body faced the same issue?

[cipper]

In my case recaller works quite well, but recorded calls present very weak volume of the remote speaker. My voice is instead clear and loud. Anyone with the same problem? How to adjust the rec volumes?

[StOoZ]

yes I'm having the exact same problem

[kavekave]

i use recaller but i don't see my recordings on my specified folder..what's wrong?

[cipper]

i use recaller but i don't see my recordings on my specified folder..what's wrong?

have you tried to use a simple folder, for example the "Nokia 900/"?

[kavekave]

have you tried to use a simple folder, for example the "Nokia 900/"?

yea i tried everythin..i should see my recordings when i go to file manager right?

[chemist]

Please proceed the discussion/bug-tracing in Applications.

I reported some threads to be merged already.

One of them is

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=43979

Brainstorm closed.