6.1.2.49. Monitor (dialplan application)
1. Monitor - this application allows you to record a conversation.
NOTE: This application is valid for Asterisk version 1.0.9 and above.
Syntax:
List with the possible options
Purpose and usage
Prerequisites
Asterisk PBX configurations
2. Screenshots of what you can see on the CLI of the Asterisk PBX
3. Additional information
NOTE: This application is valid for Asterisk version 1.0.9 and above.
Syntax:
Monitor([file_format|[fname_base]|[options]]) ; by default the file format is .wav
List with the possible options
1) m - with this option the input and output audio files will be mixed automatically into one file.
When you are using the "m" option you dispose of three variations. The first one is: just to use the option "m" without changing anything else. This will cause the Asterisk PBX to mix up the input and output files in one joint file. The two separate files(input and output) will be deleted. The file which will remain is the joint file. The mixing up process will be handled by the UNIX program soxmix.
The second option is to set the "m" option and to set the variable MONITOR_EXEC. This variable is responsible for the program which will mix up the input and output files. You can set here another program, different from soxmix, for mixing up. However, if you use another program, there is a possibility the input and output not to be deleted after the mix process is over. This depends on the used program.
Soxmix and MONITOR_EXEC can take three arguments. The first one is the name of the input file, the next one is the name of the output file and the last one is the desired name for the mixed file. You can skip only the last parameter. In this case, the name of the mixed file will be the same as the input and output files, without the in/out suffixes.
The third option is to use the variable MONITOR_EXEC_ARGS. When it is set, the contents will be passed on as additional arguments to MONITOR_EXEC
The second option is to set the "m" option and to set the variable MONITOR_EXEC. This variable is responsible for the program which will mix up the input and output files. You can set here another program, different from soxmix, for mixing up. However, if you use another program, there is a possibility the input and output not to be deleted after the mix process is over. This depends on the used program.
Soxmix and MONITOR_EXEC can take three arguments. The first one is the name of the input file, the next one is the name of the output file and the last one is the desired name for the mixed file. You can skip only the last parameter. In this case, the name of the mixed file will be the same as the input and output files, without the in/out suffixes.
The third option is to use the variable MONITOR_EXEC_ARGS. When it is set, the contents will be passed on as additional arguments to MONITOR_EXEC
2) b - with this option the call won’t be connected until it is bridged to another channel.
Purpose and usage
By the help of this application you can record your conversations. They will be recorded in two separated files. The output audio will be recorded in one file and the input audio in the separate one.
One of the best features of this application is that it can mix up the two separate files into one joint file automatically. You have only to set the special option. You also need an installed soxmix application.
It will record the input and output sounds and if you want it can even mix up them in one joint file.
One of the best features of this application is that it can mix up the two separate files into one joint file automatically. You have only to set the special option. You also need an installed soxmix application.
It will record the input and output sounds and if you want it can even mix up them in one joint file.
Prerequisites
To use this application you need a working Asterisk PBX with registered users in iax.conf, sip.conf or mgcp.conf(It depends on which protocol you would like to use) and made extensions.
To see how the application works we recommend to use our IAX softphone Idefisk. You can download it from here. Please also read our tutorial to learn how to configure it to work with Asterisk PBX.
To see how the application works we recommend to use our IAX softphone Idefisk. You can download it from here. Please also read our tutorial to learn how to configure it to work with Asterisk PBX.
Asterisk PBX configurations
NOTE: This is only an example of what for you can use this application. Of course you can use it and for other things.
We need two registered user in iax.conf file. This is because we are going to use the IAX2 protocol. If you want to use other protocol such as SIP or MGCP, you have to do the configurations below respectively in sip.conf or mgcp.conf.
We need two registered user in iax.conf file. This is because we are going to use the IAX2 protocol. If you want to use other protocol such as SIP or MGCP, you have to do the configurations below respectively in sip.conf or mgcp.conf.
So, we have registered the user anatoliy and ivan
Type=friend means that this user can make and receive calls. Host=dynamic means that the IP is not static but dynamic through a DHCP server. Allow=all means that the line which this user will use, could support all audio codecs. Context=test - this shows that this user is working with the extensions in this context of the configuration file extensions.conf.
Type=friend means that this user can make and receive calls. Host=dynamic means that the IP is not static but dynamic through a DHCP server. Allow=all means that the line which this user will use, could support all audio codecs. Context=test - this shows that this user is working with the extensions in this context of the configuration file extensions.conf.
On the picture above you can see our extensions.conf file.
So, in our example when somebody dials 12345, the call will be answered by the Answer application. The next executed extension will be the one which contains the Monitor application. We want the format of the audio files to be .wav. So, as first argument we will set wav. The next argument is for the name of the file. We have set it to proba. Finally, we want our input and output audio files to be mixed up in one joint file. So, we have set, as last argument, the option m. The system will use the soxmix UNIX program to perform the task. When the process finishes, the input and output files will be deleted and the only file, which will remain, is the joint file. The directory, where the file will be put by default is /var/spool/asterisk/monitor. You can change it in the asterisk.conf file.
If your system does not have installed soxmix, you can install it by typing apt-get install sox.
The next executed extension will be the one with the Dial application. Thanks to it, the call will be connected with the user ivan through the IAX2 channel. Remember that the channel is monitored and the conversation will be recorded. The monitoring of the channel will continue until either the StopMonitor application is executed or the line is hung up.
In order to be sure, that the Asterisk PBX will hang up the line after the conversation is over, it is always a good idea to make an extension for hanging up.
So, in our example when somebody dials 12345, the call will be answered by the Answer application. The next executed extension will be the one which contains the Monitor application. We want the format of the audio files to be .wav. So, as first argument we will set wav. The next argument is for the name of the file. We have set it to proba. Finally, we want our input and output audio files to be mixed up in one joint file. So, we have set, as last argument, the option m. The system will use the soxmix UNIX program to perform the task. When the process finishes, the input and output files will be deleted and the only file, which will remain, is the joint file. The directory, where the file will be put by default is /var/spool/asterisk/monitor. You can change it in the asterisk.conf file.
If your system does not have installed soxmix, you can install it by typing apt-get install sox.
The next executed extension will be the one with the Dial application. Thanks to it, the call will be connected with the user ivan through the IAX2 channel. Remember that the channel is monitored and the conversation will be recorded. The monitoring of the channel will continue until either the StopMonitor application is executed or the line is hung up.
In order to be sure, that the Asterisk PBX will hang up the line after the conversation is over, it is always a good idea to make an extension for hanging up.
2. Screenshots of what you can see on the CLI of the Asterisk PBX
3. Additional information
For more information about extensions.conf you can check here.
For more information about iax.conf you can check here.
This application is tested with our IAX softphone Idefisk. You can download it from here. For more information about this softphone please read our tutorial.
If you would like to test this application with the SIP channel you can read our tutorials about the SIP Softphones to learn how to configure them to work with Asterisk PBX
For more information about iax.conf you can check here.
This application is tested with our IAX softphone Idefisk. You can download it from here. For more information about this softphone please read our tutorial.
If you would like to test this application with the SIP channel you can read our tutorials about the SIP Softphones to learn how to configure them to work with Asterisk PBX
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