<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 07:17, Jay Ashworth <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jra@baylink.com">jra@baylink.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
Clearly, though, my actual problem is just that I need to locate "V4L 101";<br>
it must be out there somewhere...<br></blockquote><div><br>I'd also suggest at least auditing "gstreamer 101", so to speak -- and also that you follow their mailing lists for a while (which are busy, but very knowledge-packed).<br>
<br>Gstreamer can assemble and run video pipelines with seemingly innumerable combinations of source elements (e.g. v4l/v4l2, static files, and numerous encodings), processing and filtering elements, and "sink" elements (which can render to your choice of xv, opengl, etc, or can even pick one automatically) right from the command line. (Although, a potentially long command line, that you'll surely want to script for actual deployment.)<br>
<br>In the surveillance biz, generally speaking, we've got a lot of those old analog 4x4 muxers laying around, too. I used to regularly do cleaning and focus in the field on fixed cameras using just a crappy hand monitor and a ladder, so I would agree that pristine video isn't necessary.<br>
<br>Creating a better muxer with your desired layout in software using a gstreamer pipeline is certainly do-able, and actually should be pretty straightforward -- although you'll definitely need some patience to experimentally get the elements identified and all configured right for your available sources and desired outputs. (I actually did it once, with timestamps and camera info on OSD for each feed too, but didn't save the gstreamer pipeline command; sorry. The "suits" wanted to pay more and get less from a vendor who wined and dined them.)<br>
<br>Whichever route you go, as already suggested, starting simple makes for best satisfaction in my experience. Good luck! I'd be personally interested in hearing how you make out.<br> <br>$0.02,<br>Eric<br></div></div>