---
name: "ossrecord"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "oss4-base"
version: "4.2-build2010-2"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ossrecord"
---

# ossrecord(1)

Open Sound System recording program.

## NAME

**ossrecord** - Open Sound System recording program.

## SYNOPSIS

```
ossrecord [-ORhlv] [-F cntname | ? ] [ -c channels ] [ -d devname ]
        [ -f fmtname | ? ] [ -g gain ] [ -i recsource | ? ] [ -m nfiles ]
        [ -r command ] [ -s rate ] [ -t maxsecs ] filename | - ...
```

## DESCRIPTION

**The ossrecord program records audio in Microsoft RIFF (wav) format. It** **will record from any input that's currently set as the recording source** **by the ossxmix/ossmix mixer programs. With the -l option, you also get** **a level meter that will display VU levels in a character mode.**

**The** *filename* **parameter is name of the (.wav) file to be produced. Output can be** **sent to stdout by giving - as the file name.**

## OPTIONS

- **-s\<*rate*\>**

  **Select the recording** *rate* **for raw PCM audio (eg -s48000).**

- **-c\<*channels*\>**

  **Select the number of** *channels* **1=mono 2=stereo, 4, 6, 8, etc.**

- **-d\<*devname*\>**

  **Select \<***devname***\> as the device (eg -d/dev/dsp2).**

- **-f\<fmt\>**

  **Select the input sample format (eg -fS32\_LE or -fMU\_LAW)**

- **-f?**

  **Prints the list of supported format names.**

- **-F\<cnt\>**

  **Select the container format (eg WAV or AU). Default is WAV.**

- **-F?**

  **Prints the list of supported container formats.**

- **-R**

  **Open audio device in raw mode to disable virtual mixing and** **sample** *rate***/format conversions. Can be used when recording** **from a digital source (S/PDIF input).**

- **-v**

  **Verbose output.**

- **-l**

  **Display level meters (character based).**

- **-i\<recsrc\|?\>**

  **Select the recording source or display available recording**  **sources if '?' is supplied.** **e.g. ossrecord -i? may display:** **vol** **line (currently selected)** **mic** **cd** **aux1** **phone** **mono** **video**

- **-m\<*nfiles*\>**

  **Repeat the recording operation \<***nfiles***\> times. The** *filename* **argument must have %d (or %02d) somewhere in the file to** **guarantee unique filenames. If no %d is given then subsequent** **recordings will overwrite the previous one(s). This option is** **useful only with loopback audio devices or if the -t option** **is used.**

- **-r\<*command*\>**

  **This option launches the \<***command***\> in background after**  **recording the file has completed. The name of the recorded file** **will be given as the (only)** *command* **line argument. When the -m**  **option is used the script will run in parallel while recording** **the next file. See the COMMAND SCRIPT section (below) for more** **info.**

- **-g\<*gain*\>**

  **Amplify recorded samples by percentage given as argument.** **100 (default) means normal signal level, 200 means double level.** **Only supported in 16 and 32 bit modes.**

- **-t\<*maxsecs*\>**

  **Do not record more than \<***maxsecs***\> seconds in a single recording** **operation.**

- **-L\<level\>**

  **Set the recording level to \<level\>.**

- **-O**

  **Do not allow ossrecord to overwrite the output file.**

- **-h**

  **Display usage instructions.**

## COMMAND SCRIPT

**The -r** *command* **line argument makes it possible to execute a** **script or program after recording of the wave file is finished.** **Below is a simple scell script that does MP3 encoding using** **lame.**

**#!/bin/sh**

**WAVENAME=$1**

**MP3NAME=$1.mp3**

**lame -m s -h --preset studio $WAVENAME $MP3NAME**

**exit 0**

**Another example script for ossrecord is a simple CGI script for live MP3** **streaming (from /dev/dsp).**

**#!/bin/sh**

**echo Content-Type: audio/mp3**

**echo**

**ossrecord -S -b16 -s48 - \| lame -m j - -**

**exit 0**

## NOTES

**The ossrecord executable is the same as the ossplay executable.** **Behaviour is decided by the name used to invoke the program.**

**Some file formats allocate only 32 bits to record the file length,** **which may prevent some programs from reading a too large file properly.** **If a recording may pass the 4GB limit (a bit more then 6 hours and 10 minutes** **of sound assuming \[48Khz/16bit/stereo\] quality), it's best to have ossrecord** **use the AU or RAW containers (via -F switch) which do not have this restriction.**

## SEE ALSO

**[ossplay(1)](/ossplay/1.md), [ossmix(1)](/ossmix/1.md), [ossxmix(1)](/ossxmix/1.md)**

## FILES

**/usr/bin/ossrecord**

## AUTHOR

**4Front Technologies**