---
name: "evemu-record"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "evemu"
version: "2.7.0-13"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/evemu-describe"
---

# evemu-record(1)

print information and events from an input device

Part of [evemu-describe(1)](/evemu-describe/1.md).

## NAME

evemu-describe, evemu-record - print information and events from an input device

## SYNOPSIS

```
evemu-describe [/dev/input/eventX] [output file]
```

```
evemu-record [--autorestart=s] [/dev/input/eventX] [output file]
```

## DESCRIPTION

evemu-describe gathers information about the input device and prints it to stdout. This information can be parsed by [evemu-device(1)](/evemu-device/1.md) to create a virtual input device with the same properties.

evemu-record captures events from the input device and prints them to stdout. The events can be parsed by [evemu-play(1)](/evemu-play/1.md) to let a virtual input device created with [evemu-device(1)](/evemu-device/1.md) emit the exact same event sequence.

evemu-describe and evemu-record need to be able to read from the device; in most cases this means they must be run as root.

If an event node is provided, evemu-describe and evemu-record use that event node. Otherwise, the user must interactively choose from a list of detected devices.

If no output file is given, stdout is used.

## OPTIONS

```
--autorestart=<s>
      Terminate the current recording after <s> seconds of device
      inactivity. This option requires an output, the file is suffixed
      with the date and time of the recording's start.
      The timeout must be greater than 0.
```

## DIAGNOSTICS

If evtest-record does not see any events even though the device is being used, the device may be grabbed by a process (EVIOCGRAB). This is usually the case when debugging a synaptics or wacom device from within X. VT switching to a TTY or shutting down the X server terminates this grab and the devices can be recorded. For most X drivers, disabling the device also removes the grab.

The following command shows the processes with an open file descriptor on the device.

```
fuser -v /dev/input/eventX
```

## SEE ALSO

[evemu-device(1)](/evemu-device/1.md) [evemu-play(1)](/evemu-play/1.md)

## AUTHOR

evemu was written by Henrik Rydberg \<**rydberg@euromail.se**\[1\]\>

## NOTES

- 1\.

  rydberg@euromail.se

  mailto:rydberg@euromail.se