LockIn Recorder

A Flask-based web application that allows you to record videos from your camera at a specified frame rate and optionally convert them to exactly 1 minute duration.

Exmaple of usage: https://x.com/kaiostephens/status/1895316070199672837

Features

• Live camera preview in the browser
• Record video at customizable FPS (default: 2fps)
• Select from multiple resolution options
• Set custom output directory for recordings
• Videos are saved with timestamp in the format "lockin-{time}.avi"
• Option to automatically convert videos to exactly 1-minute duration
• Modern, responsive web interface
• Real-time recording status and timer
• Recent recordings list

Requirements

• Python 3.6+
• OpenCV
• Flask
• FFmpeg (for video conversion)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/lockInRecorder.git
cd lockInRecorder

2. Install the required dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Install FFmpeg (if not already installed):
   • On macOS: brew install ffmpeg
   • On Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt-get install ffmpeg
   • On Windows: Download from FFmpeg website

Usage

Web UI Mode

1. Run the application in web UI mode:

python app.py --web

2. Open your web browser and navigate to:

http://127.0.0.1:5000

3. Configure your recording settings:

   • FPS: Adjust the frames per second (1-30)
   • Resolution: Select from predefined options (640x480, 1280x720, 1920x1080)
   • Output Directory: Specify where recordings should be saved
   • Convert to 1 Minute: Toggle whether to automatically convert recordings to exactly 1 minute

4. Click "Apply Settings" to save your configuration

5. Click "Start Recording" to begin recording from your camera

6. Click "Stop Recording" when finished

Standalone Mode (No Web UI)

1. Run the application in standalone mode (default):

python app.py

2. The application will open a camera window with time displayed in the bottom left

3. Controls:

   • Press Space in the camera window to start/stop recording
   • Press ESC in the camera window to exit the application
   • In the terminal, enter r to start recording
   • Type s to access settings menu
   • Press Enter to stop recording when prompted
   • Type q to quit the application

4. Command-line options:

python app.py [options]

Options:
  --web              Run in web UI mode
  --headless         Run without GUI (useful for servers or remote environments)
  --fps FPS          Frames per second for recording
  --resolution RES   Resolution in format WIDTHxHEIGHT (e.g., 1920x1080)
  --convert BOOL     Convert recordings to 1 minute (True/False)
  --output DIR       Output directory for recordings

Examples:

# Run with web UI
python app.py --web

# Run in headless mode (no GUI)
python app.py --headless

# Run with custom settings
python app.py --fps 5 --resolution 1280x720 --output my_recordings

Headless Mode

For environments without display support (like servers or remote terminals), you can use headless mode:

python app.py --headless

In headless mode:

• No camera window is displayed
• All interaction happens through the terminal
• Recording status updates are printed periodically
• All functionality works the same as regular standalone mode

How It Works

• The application captures frames at the specified FPS during recording
• When recording is stopped:
  • If "Convert to 1 Minute" is enabled, the application calculates the speed multiplier needed to make the video exactly 1 minute
  • FFmpeg is used for the video conversion process
  • Both the original and the converted video are saved (if conversion is enabled)

Troubleshooting

• If the camera doesn't work, ensure your browser has permission to access your camera
• If video conversion fails, ensure FFmpeg is properly installed and accessible in your system PATH
• Check the console output for any error messages

License

MIT License