Save rtsp stream into avi file with gstreamer

Question

I have a video server which gives me a video & audio streams over rtsp. I can see it using gstreamer tool gst-launch with command:

 gst-launch-1.0 uridecodebin uri=rtsp://path/to/source ! autovideosink 

Now I need to store that video stream into file for subsequent playback in any popular video player (VLC, Windows Media Player and so on).

I tried simply replace autovideosink with filesink location=file.avi and add -e option like recommended in that answer . File created but I think it's no in correct video format (VLC can't play it).

Also I tried command from recently referenced answer:

 gst-launch-1.0 -e rtspsrc location=rtsp://path/to/source ! decodebin ! x264enc ! mp4mux ! filesink location=file.avi 

It gives me error:

 ERROR: from element /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc0: Internal data flow error. Additional debug info: gstbasesrc.c(2865): gst_base_src_loop (): /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc0: streaming task paused, reason not-linked (-1) 

The reason is (as I think) x264enc ! mp4mux x264enc ! mp4mux is for H.264 codec, but my device works only in MPEG4 part2 mode (MP4V-ES, ie H.263). So I need to replace some elements in pipeline to satisfy abilities of my device . But by looking in gstreamer plugins list I can't found any suitable for MP4V-ES (H.263).

And now my question is: how to modify gst-launch command to save video from my slightly old device into file to further playing?

Full log for command with verbosity:

gst-launch-1.0 -e -v rtspsrc location=rtsp://192.168.101.44/moxa-cgi/multicaststream_ch1_stream1 ! decodebin ! avenc_mpeg4 ! mp4mux ! filesink location=file.mp4

 Setting pipeline to PAUSED ... Pipeline is live and does not need PREROLL ... Progress: (open) Opening Stream Progress: (connect) Connecting to rtsp://192.168.101.44/moxa-cgi/multicaststream_ch1_stream1 Progress: (open) Retrieving server options Progress: (open) Retrieving media info Progress: (request) SETUP stream 0 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager: latency = 2000 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager: ntp-sync = false /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager: use-pipeline-clock = false /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager: drop-on-latency = false /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager: buffer-mode = Slave receiver to sender clock /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc0: timeout = 5000000000 (gst-launch-1.0:9068): GStreamer-WARNING **: gstpad.c:4555:store_sticky_event:<udpsrc1:src> Sticky event misordering, got 'caps' before 'stream-start' /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc1.GstPad:src: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc1.GstPad:src: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc1: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSink:udpsink0: ttl = 128 Progress: (request) SETUP stream 1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc2: timeout = 5000000000 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc3.GstPad:src: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc3: caps = application/x-rtcp (gst-launch-1.0:9068): GStreamer-WARNING **: gstpad.c:4555:store_sticky_event:<udpsrc3:src> Sticky event misordering, got 'caps' before 'stream-start' /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc3.GstPad:src: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:recv_rtcp_sink_1.GstProxyPad:proxypad5: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager/GstRtpSession:rtpsession1.GstPad:sync_src: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager/GstRtpSsrcDemux:rtpssrcdemux1.GstPad:rtcp_sink: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager/GstRtpSession:rtpsession1.GstPad:recv_rtcp_sink: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:recv_rtcp_sink_1: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSink:udpsink2: ttl = 128 Progress: (open) Opened Stream Setting pipeline to PLAYING ... New clock: GstSystemClock Progress: (request) Sending PLAY request Progress: (request) Sending PLAY request Progress: (request) Sent PLAY request /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc0: timeout = 0 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc2: timeout = 0 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager/GstRtpSession:rtpsession0.GstPad:send_rtcp_src: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:send_rtcp_src_0: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSink:udpsink1.GstPad:sink: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:send_rtcp_src_0.GstProxyPad:proxypad3: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager/GstRtpSession:rtpsession1.GstPad:send_rtcp_src: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:send_rtcp_src_1: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSink:udpsink3.GstPad:sink: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:send_rtcp_src_1.GstProxyPad:proxypad6: caps = application/x-rtcp /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_1_109102090_0: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_1_109102090_0: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0.GstGhostPad:sink.GstProxyPad:proxypad0: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0/GstTypeFindElement:typefind.GstPad:src: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0/GstTypeFindElement:typefind.GstPad:sink: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0.GstGhostPad:sink: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_1_109102090_0.GstProxyPad:proxypad8: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_1_109102090_0.GstProxyPad:proxypad7: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0/GstRtpPcmuDepay:rtppcmudepay0.GstPad:src: caps = audio/x-mulaw, channels=(int)1, rate=(int)8000 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0/GstMuLawDec:mulawdec0.GstPad:sink: caps = audio/x-mulaw, channels=(int)1, rate=(int)8000 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0/GstRtpPcmuDepay:rtppcmudepay0.GstPad:sink: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)audio, payload=(int)0, clock-rate=(int)8000, encoding-name=(string)PCMU, encoding-params=(string)1, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)2318609, seqnum-base=(uint)26256, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0/GstMuLawDec:mulawdec0.GstPad:src: caps = audio/x-raw, format=(string)S16LE, layout=(string)interleaved, rate=(int)8000, channels=(int)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstDecodeBin:decodebin0.GstDecodePad:src_0.GstProxyPad:proxypad9: caps = audio/x-raw, format=(string)S16LE, layout=(string)interleaved, rate=(int)8000, channels=(int)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_0_2387976809_96: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)video, payload=(int)96, clock-rate=(int)90000, encoding-name=(string)MP4V-ES, profile-level-id=(string)3, config=(string)000001B003000001B50900000100000001200088400668582120A31F, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)26503772, seqnum-base=(uint)15792, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_0_2387976809_96: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)video, payload=(int)96, clock-rate=(int)90000, encoding-name=(string)MP4V-ES, profile-level-id=(string)3, config=(string)000001B003000001B50900000100000001200088400668582120A31F, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)26503772, seqnum-base=(uint)15792, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_0_2387976809_96.GstProxyPad:proxypad11: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)video, payload=(int)96, clock-rate=(int)90000, encoding-name=(string)MP4V-ES, profile-level-id=(string)3, config=(string)000001B003000001B50900000100000001200088400668582120A31F, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)26503772, seqnum-base=(uint)15792, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstRtpBin:manager.GstGhostPad:recv_rtp_src_0_2387976809_96.GstProxyPad:proxypad10: caps = application/x-rtp, media=(string)video, payload=(int)96, clock-rate=(int)90000, encoding-name=(string)MP4V-ES, profile-level-id=(string)3, config=(string)000001B003000001B50900000100000001200088400668582120A31F, a-tool=(string)"MOXA\\ 4CH\\ Streamming\\ Server\\ V1.0", a-type=(string)broadcast, x-qt-text-nam=(string)"4CH\\ Streaming", x-qt-text-inf=(string)/dev/at2042, clock-base=(uint)26503772, seqnum-base=(uint)15792, npt-start=(guint64)0, play-speed=(double)1, play-scale=(double)1 ERROR: from element /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc0: Internal data flow error. Additional debug info: gstbasesrc.c(2865): gst_base_src_loop (): /GstPipeline:pipeline0/GstRTSPSrc:rtspsrc0/GstUDPSrc:udpsrc0: streaming task paused, reason not-linked (-1) EOS on shutdown enabled -- waiting for EOS after Error Waiting for EOS... 

Ctrl+C pressed here.

 handling interrupt. Interrupt: Stopping pipeline ... Interrupt while waiting for EOS - stopping pipeline... Execution ended after 0:00:12.942466327 Setting pipeline to PAUSED ... Setting pipeline to READY ... Setting pipeline to NULL ... Freeing pipeline ... 

Also you can look at diff for "good" (save to file works) with "bad" (error occured) on this link .

Answer 1

Using avenc_mpeg4 instead of x264enc works for me. The final command is:

gst-launch-1.0 -e rtspsrc location=rtsp://path/to/source ! decodebin ! avenc_mpeg4 ! mp4mux ! filesink location=file.avi

It works. But only 1 time of ~10. Other 9 times I got same error as in the question:

streaming task paused, reason not-linked (-1)

I don't know what is the real reason for it. But I think it's device feature.

However, command like:

gst-play-1.0 rtsp://path/to/source

works stable, ie without errors.

Answer 2

The camera you have seems to be producing MPEG4 Type 2 streams which you are trying to wrap up in a mp4 container. So the x264_enc attempt will not work as the stream type is incompatible. Secondly you cannot use a MP4 mux with an AVI file type as with your other attempt though you can try avimux for that. Breaking down the stream which works well from the caps negotiation we can construct it as:

gst-launch-1.0 -v -e rtspsrc location=rtsp://path/to/source ! rtpmp4vdepay ! mpeg4videoparse ! mp4mux ! filesink location=test.mp4

The rtpmp4vdepay , mpeg4videoparse and the mp4mux are typically wrapped up in the decodebin element itself but just to make our life easier and to see what is going wrong it is always good to lay the elements out. It gives you control over the pipeline you are constructing rather than leaving it to the caps negotiation to figure that out which I would not recommend for IP Cameras.

I would also recommend trying out the pipeline (avoid the decodebin for IP cameras though):

gst-launch-1.0 -e rtspsrc location=rtsp://path/to/source ! decodebin ! avenc_mpeg4 ! mp4mux ! filesink location=file.mp4

Having said that this link posted in the original question, shows the different negotiation formats when trying to play the stream. For example the one which 'works' trys to add elements in the order mentioned in the working pipline above and the non-working one try's to negotiate a different format by adding rtppcmudepay element. I think it would be down to the camera which is making the decodebin think that there is more than one type of stream available and the decodebin aims to resolve those caps by adding additonal elements which are not required.