3

I am searching for some Ubuntu software for using webcam. It needs to be able to record video with motion detection with the option of saving it to disk. I have tried ZoneMinder and found it way too complex to use. I am looking for something simple, preferably something with a GUI. Everyone keeps mentioning 'Motion' however It seems VERY complicated.

If Motion is the best way to go, could someone please take the time to instruct me on how to set it up to capture video?

I have read THIS tutorial on setting it up, but there is no mention of capturing video files. I also have read this FFMPG article, but have no clue how to set it up (I do have it installed).

I am running UBUNTU 12.04.

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

If you're looking for a simple program to do motion detection, I would choose a script using OpenCV like this one.

Or just download the first script and install python-opencv:

sudo apt-get install python-opencv

To run the script, just type in a terminal:

python ./MotionDetector.py

You will need Python 2 installed.

2
  • Ok so i see it launching some app called RES which seems to be doing something. It says RECORDING, but where do the files go?
    – Kalamalka Kid
    Commented Apr 5, 2014 at 5:47
  • Ok I found the folder which is just the USER folder. THank you!
    – Kalamalka Kid
    Commented Apr 5, 2014 at 6:30
1

Maybe it was too complicated back in 2014. Now is pretty simple:

  1. Install it, sudo apt install motion
  2. Run sudo sh -c "mkdir /var/log/motion && chown motion /var/log/motion" and restart motion service (always after any config change). This seems a bug.
  3. By default all the Matroska videos (mkv, movie_codec) will be on /var/lib/motion/.
  4. On /etc/motion/motion.conf you might be interested in tweaking things like event_gap, movie_filename or movie_max_time.

You can also remove the old files with a cron job, merge videos with mencoder, or set areas with a PGM file on mask_file.

More info on this related answer.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .