Automated scheduled audio recording - Mac OS X
freshwa...@yahoo.com
a mic in my backyard for an hour, save the resulting audio to a unique
filename (one made up from the date and time would be fine) and then
shut down.
I have the audio hardware all set up. I can record from the microphone
just fine. I neeed the solution for the automation part. I have
Goldwave and Quicktime Player Pro to record with if they're useful
somehow.
I have the idea that this can be done with Applescript, but I've never
used it and I really don't want to have to learn it to make this
happen.
If possible, I would like to avoid using the Schedule tab of the
Energy Saver preferences applet to wake the machine up, since I'm
already using that to wake it up at a different time of day.
Suggestions on how to do this would be much appreciated!
Jolly Roger
> I have the idea that this can be done with Applescript, but I've never
> used it and I really don't want to have to learn it to make this
> happen.
People will be much more willing to help you if you show you are
putting forth effort on your own part. My advice: put on your thinking
cap and learn a little. AppleScript is easy enough that you can get a
good start on your own, and then ask for help completing it or getting
past problem areas here.
> If possible, I would like to avoid using the Schedule tab of the
> Energy Saver preferences applet to wake the machine up, since I'm
> already using that to wake it up at a different time of day.
Your computer will definitely have to be awake during the time you want
to record. A sleeping computer can't record audio (or do much anything
else, for that matter).
--
JR
Calum
> I have the idea that this can be done with Applescript, but I've never
> used it and I really don't want to have to learn it to make this
> happen.
I've no doubt it probably can, but it may well be quicker and easier to
invest in a copy of something like AudioHijack Pro, which should be able
to do everything you want and more.
gtr
You can hack through the process, Applescript books in hand, and quite
likely do this to your own satisfaction. Certainly it will have to
become a minor hobby for awhile.
My suggestion would be to purchase Audio HiJack Pro, which has the
ability to do scheduled recordingsssssss, in most any audio format, and
can save the files with dates embedded in the title. It seems to be
pretty much what you need. Actually, even their lower dollar version
(sans "Pro") will likely do what you need. Check it out.
http://www.rogueamoeba.com/
--
Thank you and have a nice day.
P. Sture
Calum <com....@scottishwildcat.nospam> wrote:
I'll second that.
--
Paul Sture
Jolly Roger
> You can hack through the process, Applescript books in hand, and quite
> likely do this to your own satisfaction. Certainly it will have to
> become a minor hobby for awhile.
*sigh* Okay fine, I'll do it for you guys this time, but don't expect
me to do it for you every time.
No, reading books is not required. All that is required is a little bit
of interest and patience. And this is a great place to ask if you get
stuck along the way. Now here's how simple it really is:
From the Script Editor menu bar, select File > Open Dictionary, then
select QuickTime Player from the list. Read, explore, discover. You
will find the "new audio recording" command in the dictionary. The
rest is basic AppleScript 101:
-- begin script
property recordingFilename : "my recording.aif"
set saveFile to (the path to the desktop & recordingFilename as text)
as file specification
tell application "QuickTime Player"
new audio recording
start first recording
delay 5 -- record for this many seconds
stop first recording
export movie 1 to saveFile as "AIFF"
end tell
-- end script
Note: An extra file named "Audio.mov" will be created on the desktop
during recording. I don't have time to add to the script to delete that
file once recording is done, but here's a hint, if you are interested:
Look at the Finder's dictionary for commands to move the item to the
trash.
Enjoy.
--
JR
matt neuburg
> I would like to have my system wake up at 5 AM, record birdcalls from
> a mic in my backyard for an hour, save the resulting audio to a unique
> filename (one made up from the date and time would be fine) and then
> shut down.
I'd say don't sleep in the first place and (as others have said) use
Audio Hijack Pro to make the scheduled recording.
m.
--
matt neuburg, phd = ma...@tidbits.com, http://www.tidbits.com/matt/
Tiger - http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/tiger-customizing.html
AppleScript - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596102119
Read TidBITS! It's free and smart. http://www.tidbits.com
Jolly Roger
> <freshwa...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I would like to have my system wake up at 5 AM, record birdcalls from
>> a mic in my backyard for an hour, save the resulting audio to a unique
>> filename (one made up from the date and time would be fine) and then
>> shut down.
>
> I'd say don't sleep in the first place and (as others have said) use
> Audio Hijack Pro to make the scheduled recording.
But Audio Hijack records the sound output of specified applications,
right? So from which application would you instruct Audio Hijack to
record?
--
JR
Malcolm
<jolly...@R.E.M.O.V.E.pobox.com> said:
Audio Hijack Pro now has built-in access to the Mac's audio devices, so
you don't need another application. Previously you would have used
LineIn (from the same company). Set "Source Type" to "Audio Device",
then "Input Device" to the device where the microphone in connected.
Use "Install Extras" from Audio Hijack Pro's menu to install "Schedule
Helper" to automatically wake the computer in time for the recording.
Jolly Roger
Ah just the Pro version? Okay. I was looking at "Audio Hijack" - the
cheap version.
Still, AppleScript and QT Player will get what the OP wants easily and
for free.
--
JR
gtr
<jolly...@R.E.M.O.V.E.pobox.com> said:
> On 2007-05-23 11:52:16 -0500, gtr <x...@yyy.zzz> said:
>
>> You can hack through the process, Applescript books in hand, and quite
>> likely do this to your own satisfaction. Certainly it will have to
>> become a minor hobby for awhile.
>
> *sigh* Okay fine, I'll do it for you guys this time, but don't expect
> me to do it for you every time.
>
> No, reading books is not required.
Not if you're going to give instuctions and write code, certainly.
> All that is required is a little bit of interest and patience.
> And this is a great place to ask if you get stuck along the way. Now
> here's how simple it really is:
>
> From the Script Editor menu bar, select File > Open Dictionary, then
> select QuickTime Player from the list. Read, explore, discover. You
> will find the "new audio recording" command in the dictionary. The
> rest is basic AppleScript 101:
Which one can learn from a "fine manual", or read in scraps in usenet
discussions.
> -- begin script
> property recordingFilename : "my recording.aif"
>
> set saveFile to (the path to the desktop & recordingFilename as text)
> as file specification
>
> tell application "QuickTime Player"
> new audio recording
> start first recording
> delay 5 -- record for this many seconds
> stop first recording
> export movie 1 to saveFile as "AIFF"
> end tell
> -- end script
>
> Note: An extra file named "Audio.mov" will be created on the desktop
> during recording. I don't have time to add to the script to delete that
> file once recording is done, but here's a hint, if you are interested:
> Look at the Finder's dictionary for commands to move the item to the
> trash.
>
> Enjoy.
--
matt neuburg
It *also* sees all sound inputs that present themselves. So, the answer
would be Line In, or Tascam or Edirol or whatever he's using to get
sound into the computer. I do this all the time. m.
Jolly Roger
>> From the Script Editor menu bar, select File > Open Dictionary, then
>> select QuickTime Player from the list. Read, explore, discover. You
>> will find the "new audio recording" command in the dictionary. The
>> rest is basic AppleScript 101:
>
> Which one can learn from a "fine manual", or read in scraps in usenet
> discussions.
That's funny, because I didn't learn it from a book or any post online.
I learned it by simply looking around at the menu options, and that was
years (a decade or more??) ago. Am I the only one here who still
learns software by exploration?
--
JR
Jolly Roger
> Jolly Roger <jolly...@R.E.M.O.V.E.pobox.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2007-05-23 12:45:51 -0500, ma...@tidbits.com (matt neuburg) said:
>>
>>> <freshwa...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I would like to have my system wake up at 5 AM, record birdcalls from
>>>> a mic in my backyard for an hour, save the resulting audio to a unique
>>>> filename (one made up from the date and time would be fine) and then
>>>> shut down.
>>>
>>> I'd say don't sleep in the first place and (as others have said) use
>>> Audio Hijack Pro to make the scheduled recording.
>>
>> But Audio Hijack records the sound output of specified applications,
>> right? So from which application would you instruct Audio Hijack to
>> record?
>
> It *also* sees all sound inputs that present themselves. So, the answer
> would be Line In, or Tascam or Edirol or whatever he's using to get
> sound into the computer. I do this all the time. m.
It doesn't seem to see my iSight's microphone here. Though I am not
running the "Pro" version. Maybe that's the difference?
--
JR
Mike Rosenberg
> Am I the only one here who still learns software by exploration?
There's at least one more.
--
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<http://designsbymike.biz/musings.shtml> Humorous/muckraking T-shirts
<http://designsbymike.biz/prius.shtml> Prius shirts & bumper stickers
<http://cafepress.com/comedancing> Ballroom dance-themed shirts & gift
Leonard Blaisdell
Jolly Roger <jolly...@R.E.M.O.V.E.pobox.com> wrote:
> Am I the only one here who still learns software by exploration?
Nah. I get serious about exploring menus and options when I use my
software in a new way and just know that there has to be an option that
will help me. On the other hand, I don't even know what iCal, iDVD or
iSync do since I use my computer the way I always have. They seem to be
important though. Someday...
leo the neo-Luddite
P. Sture
Jolly Roger <jolly...@R.E.M.O.V.E.pobox.com> wrote:
Here's the comparison chart between the vanilla and Pro versions:
http://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/compare.php
The prices are:
Vanilla version 16 USD
Pro version 32 USD
One thing not said there is that for the "Hijack Audio From Any
Application (Instant Hijack)" option, you need a Haxie, so those not
comfortable with that should ignore it as a reason to go for the Pro
version.
The unregistered versions of both products will allow 10 minutes
recording. after which white noise is put into the recording. This is
IMO far superior to x days free trial found in other products, as you
can explore the product in your own time scale before buying.
--
Paul Sture
gtr
<jolly...@R.E.M.O.V.E.pobox.com> said:
Surely not. I think most of us (here) learn by a certain measure of
hacking around. The only other option is to ENDlessly read what are
usualy terrible manuals and help files.
There are some good books on applescript, though, that can make the
process more direct.
Jolly Roger
wrote:
> On 2007-05-23 11:52:16 -0500, gtr <x...@yyy.zzz> said:
>
> > You can hack through the process, Applescript books in hand, and quite
> > likely do this to your own satisfaction. Certainly it will have to
> > become a minor hobby for awhile.
>
> *sigh* Okay fine, I'll do it for you guys this time, but don't expect
> me to do it for you every time.
>
> No, reading books is not required. All that is required is a little bit
> of interest and patience. And this is a great place to ask if you get
> stuck along the way. Now here's how simple it really is:
>
> From the Script Editor menu bar, select File > Open Dictionary, then
> select QuickTime Player from the list. Read, explore, discover. You
> will find the "new audio recording" command in the dictionary. The
> rest is basic AppleScript 101:
>
>
> Note: An extra file named "Audio.mov" will be created on the desktop
> during recording. I don't have time to add to the script to delete that
> file once recording is done, but here's a hint, if you are interested:
> Look at the Finder's dictionary for commands to move the item to the
> trash.
There's an error in the script I posted that prevents it from
compiling - sorry about that. Here's the corrected version:
-- begin script
property recordingFilename : "my recording.aif"
set saveFile to (((the path to the desktop) as text) &
recordingFilename) as file specification
gtr
You're a generous person.
freshwa...@yahoo.com
arrogance, took the time to understand the task I outlined in my
original post, and provided useful and practical advice well-suited to
the task. To those who did not, well, you know who you are.
Jolly Roger
Will you share with us what you came up with as a solution?
--
JR