Unsolved Jitsi session recording

[timconsidine]

Great to have Jitsi here, thank you @nebulon and @girish and those supporting the packaging.

No issues with meeting session generally, except that Start recording does not work fully.
First :

Then :

This is not critical but is a nice to have.
(I didn't get it working on my self-hosted VPS either)

I didn't test stream to YouTube yet. Maybe later.

[nebulon]

@timconsidine yes, as far as I understand this requires the jibri component, which is not installed or configured within the app package yet.

[luckow]

@timconsidine streaming does not work in this package.

By the way: You can use PeerTube on Cloudron as a streaming endpoint. Use a URL like:

rtmp://peertube.example.org:1935/live/STREAM-KEY

(taken from here -> https://docs.joinpeertube.org/use-create-upload-video?id=with-jitsi-meet)

[timconsidine]

@luckow thank you, that's good to know
I hate YouTube ! And would prefer not to put content there.
So def useful.

Certainly streaming is more important than recording.
I didn't really miss it on my self-hosted docker VPS.

[luckow]

@timconsidine In my tests, the delay on my Peertube instance is almost 28 seconds. There is a potential for performance

[micmc]

@nebulon said in Jitsi session recording:

@timconsidine yes, as far as I understand this requires the jibri component, which is not installed or configured within the app package yet.

Is this something that's planned to be done, or is this a module we can install ourselves, I think the recording module for some specific meetings is something very important.
Thanks

[jdaviescoates]

@micmc said in Jitsi session recording:

I think the recording module for some specific meetings is something very important.

+1

[jdaviescoates]

@luckow said in Jitsi session recording:

streaming does not work in this package.

Be good to sort that too.

[nebulon]

This is currently not working indeed and jibri is not even configured with the current package. The main reason is, that this is essentially done via a chromium instance joining the call and then recording its window. This means we have to install X11 libraries and even audio libs within the app and then this only allows for one recording at the same time. More info here in the Readme

I kinda prefer to support the jibri option, where one can add jibri instances externally (or maybe also as cloudron app instances) Jibri also is only built against Ubuntu 18.04 it seems. So far I wasn't able to set this up yet for testing.

[robi]

@nebulon so it might be better to use a screencast recording type of local sw while doing a jisti call than a server based jibri thing.

Is there a desktop version of jibri where the UI & libs are already there?

[micmc]

@nebulon said in Jitsi session recording:

... we have to install X11 libraries and even audio libs within the app ... More info here in the Readme

Yeah went to check deeper after I posted this and saw that this looks more complicated than said.

I kinda prefer to support the jibri option, where one can add jibri instances externally (or maybe also as cloudron app instances)

If I hear you correctly that means we'd need a jibri server installed besides the jitsi install.
I mean, I also went to explore for the config.js option and there's a section to configure the jibri server indeed.
So this is something to be tested positively, I'll try shortly and report.

Jibri also is only built against Ubuntu 18.04 it seems.

Just like the BBB server, of least the last time I installed one.

[micmc]

@robi said in Jitsi session recording:

@nebulon so it might be better to use a screencast recording type of local sw while doing a jisti call than a server based jibri thing.

Is there a desktop version of jibri where the UI & libs are already there?

This is how zoom works. That should be the best way I think I saw there's a desktop version of jitsi I'm gonna check on this as well.

[micmc]

@robi

I think I saw there's a desktop version of jitsi I'm gonna check on this as well.

Yep, and there's one for all taste apparently
https://desktop.jitsi.org/index.html

[micmc]

Well, all that being said, finally when you think about that, it's very feasible to use OBS to record the meeting session from one's desktop whether using jitsi desktop or jitsi meet through browser.

Yes. Simply add the meeting session as a component of your OBS presentation and poom! you start recording in OBS. Done.

On the other hand, it might more difficult to accomplish from a mobile session and that is where jibri would comes in I guess.

[robi]

@micmc said in Jitsi session recording:

@robi

I think I saw there's a desktop version of jitsi I'm gonna check on this as well.

Yep, and there's one for all taste apparently
https://desktop.jitsi.org/index.html

That's not what you think it is.

It's actually a completely separate SIP client, nothing to do with Jitsi Meet. Unfortunate branding/naming.

And quite outdated: https://desktop.jitsi.org/Main/Features.html

[micmc]

@robi said in Jitsi session recording:

@micmc said in Jitsi session recording:

@robi

I think I saw there's a desktop version of jitsi I'm gonna check on this as well.

Yep, and there's one for all taste apparently
https://desktop.jitsi.org/index.html

That's not what you think it is.

It's actually a completely separate SIP client, nothing to do with Jitsi Meet.

And quite outdated: https://desktop.jitsi.org/Main/Features.html

You're right it's not what I thought, and verily has nothing to do at all with Jitsi Meet at closer look.

Unfortunate branding/naming.

Yeah, wtf ??? lol

[jdaviescoates]

Hey @staff is there any plan to get Jitsi Meet recording working in the Cloudron package?

I really want to start recording some of the calls/ meetings I'm having.

And, in the meantime for now, whilst the package doesn't include recording, what's the best/ easiest way to do a recording?

Thanks!

[luckow]

@jdaviescoates imho for the moment -> https://forum.cloudron.io/post/36376

[jdaviescoates]

@luckow hmz, thanks, that does look very good, but I'd much rather do it on Cloudron so I've got LDAP, backups, updates etc.

I wonder if @Benoit knows if adding Jibri to the Cloudron Jitsi package is already in the pipeline given he (they https://medias-cite.coop/ ) sponsored the package?

[humptydumpty]

@jdaviescoates Maybe you can use a desktop recording software like OBS for now. From there, you can upload it to Youtube if you want.

[nebulon]

@jdaviescoates the jitsi main app would still run on Cloudron, however only the jibri component, which per-instance can only do one recording at a time, will have to be off Cloudron.

[jdaviescoates]

@humptydumpty said in Jitsi session recording:

@jdaviescoates Maybe you can use a desktop recording software like OBS for now. From there, you can upload it to Youtube if you want.

Thanks, I started playing around with OBS whilst testing out the OwnCast app.

I just tried using it to record a jitsi meeting too. Seemed to work but couldn't quickly work out how to stop the audio feedback - do you happen to know?! (I guess using headphones would do it, but there must be another way)

Edit: I resolved my feedback issues by checking the Control audio via OBS box:

[jdaviescoates]

@nebulon said in Jitsi session recording:

@jdaviescoates the jitsi main app would still run on Cloudron, however only the jibri component, which per-instance can only do one recording at a time, will have to be off Cloudron.

I'm a little confused.

Are you saying I could use my Cloudron Jitsi Meet app in conjunction with Jibri set-up using https://github.com/switnet-ltd/quick-jibri-installer as shared by @luckow ?

And/ or something about why it's not possible to add Jibri to the Cloudron Jitsi Meet app?

Thanks!

[nebulon]

I haven't tried this in practice myself, but as far as I understood the setup, the jibri component is standalone and essentially can participate as a silent/hidden user in conferences. It would join via a headless chromium and use that to record the session. This usually requires hardware acceleration to be any good as well as it can only join one session a time, which is why multiple jibri instances are required for multiple recordings in parallel. Given that complexity and also little demand, it makes more sense to use the default upstream install docs for this part and connect it with the Cloudron installed main jitsi-meet instance.

I guess overall we have to set this up once and fully document that in our jitsi docs.

[timconsidine]

I'm no expert (on Jitsi or anything else) but what @nebulon says is correct in my understanding.
There are certainly installation challenges on jibri, and while there are a lot of tutorials and docs from Jitsi, it did my head in when I tried it.
I guess in theory jibri could live in containers and be spawned on demand. But far easier to write that than to do it. Especially in a controlled Cloudron environment.
I worry also that the streaming and performance loads on the Cloudron may be too much for many people, unless the box it is deployed on is generously (over) spec'ed. Especially for cheaper hosts (eg SSDNODEs but others maybe too) network performance can be an issue.
Oh dear, I'm rambling again. Stopping now.

[jdaviescoates]

Ah, yeah, I see now having read a little more about Jibri that is basically works the same way as how recording locally with OBS works: another (OBS or Jibri) user joins the meetings and it gets recorded by that user.

And, yeah, given it can only record one meeting at a time anyway, and hence it takes a whole other Jibri instance per meeting one wants to record, I think for now the easiest option is for me to just record locally using OBS.

[timconsidine]

@jdaviescoates VDO.Ninja (was OBS.Ninja) https://vdo.ninja is a nice system worth checking out.
Although I am not sure it adds much to the Jitsi + OBS mix.
Just alerting people to it in case they haven't met it yet.
Not sure whether that can be packaged easier than Jibri.

[jdaviescoates]

@timconsidine said in Jitsi session recording:

VDO.Ninja (was OBS.Ninja) https://vdo.ninja is a nice system worth checking out.

Looks like another good option/ tool to have on Cloudron! Someone should create an App Wishlist post!

[eganonoa]

@jdaviescoates said in Jitsi session recording:

Ah, yeah, I see now having read a little more about Jibri that is basically works the same way as how recording locally with OBS works: another (OBS or Jibri) user joins the meetings and it gets recorded by that user.
And, yeah, given it can only record one meeting at a time anyway, and hence it takes a whole other Jibri instance per meeting one wants to record, I think for now the easiest option is for me to just record locally using OBS.

You've landed on the right solution if you ask me. Over the last few years I've occasionally tried to add Jibri for recording on our Jitsi and found it not at all worth the hassle. Far better to use OBS for general recording (or indeed live streaming as you have more options), which we do regularly.

If you really want a service that has good recording in-built I would suggest BigBlueButton. For conferences and webinars where you want to have a really useful record, the recording feature in BigBlueButton is stellar. You can start and stop as you wish and it will seamlessly put it together into one stream. It records the chat and slides (if any) and in playback you can manipulate to focus on what you want. And you can immediately forward to a particular slide and the discussion around that. There's also a failsafe if you forget to actually press record, which allows you to resurrect the whole thing if you catch it in time (i think 24 hours). It's really an unbelievably good recording solution and one that is properly built into the server, as a major feature, rather than an add on.

[jdaviescoates]

@eganonoa said in Jitsi session recording:

If you really want a service that has good recording in-built I would suggest BigBlueButton. For conferences and webinars where you want to have a really useful record, the recording feature in BigBlueButton is stellar. You can start and stop as you wish and it will seamlessly put it together into one stream. It records the chat and slides (if any) and in playback you can manipulate to focus on what you want. And you can immediately forward to a particular slide and the discussion around that. There's also a failsafe if you forget to actually press record, which allows you to resurrect the whole thing if you catch it in time (i think 24 hours). It's really an unbelievably good recording solution and one that is properly built into the server, as a major feature, rather than an add on.

That's all true, the recording and playback experience on BigBlueButton is exceptional.

But it's also true that BigBlueButton doesn't spit out a nice simple downloadable .mp4 video that you can just upload wherever (like Zoom does)

The great BigBlueButton recording and playback separately records and then syncs and mixes the webcams, presentation, audio and chat and allows people watching the playback to scroll back and forth and toggle the views on/ off. But you can only do that on the server via Greenlight (the BigBlueButton front end) not on YouTube or whatever.

I'm a member of https://meet.coop which is a co-op offering BigBlueButton

[eganonoa]

@jdaviescoates Cool. Yeah definitely re the neat mp4 and then upload, though for that we just use OBS to record the recording on playback, and then upload. A good process also because simply uploading a recording is difficult in terms of wanting to make sure that things that get posted are curated a little before they go up.

[jdaviescoates]

@eganonoa said in Jitsi session recording:

Yeah definitely re the neat mp4 and then upload, though for that we just use OBS to record the recording on playback, and then upload.

To be clear, you record using BBB, and then record the mixed together BBB playback using OBS?

Sounds like a good flow.

[humptydumpty]

I don't have any experience with this but a streaming capture card that gamers use could work, like this one. It's OBS-certified too.

[eganonoa]

@jdaviescoates said in Jitsi session recording:

To be clear, you record using BBB, and then record the mixed together BBB playback using OBS?

Exactly. Takes additional time, of course. But gives you complete control over what you are posting online. It allows you to manipulate the BBB recording session in playback to emphasise the things that you want emphasised. Ensures that you can cut out anything that a participant wouldn't have wanted posted. And, I think most importantly, gives you a period of pause and reflection to think about whether actually the thing you are posting should be posted at all.

[LoudLemur]

@luckow said in Jitsi session recording:

@timconsidine streaming does not work in this package.

By the way: You can use PeerTube on Cloudron as a streaming endpoint. Use a URL like:

rtmp://peertube.example.org:1935/live/STREAM-KEY

(taken from here -> https://docs.joinpeertube.org/use-create-upload-video?id=with-jitsi-meet)

Thanks! That is cool information to know.
Have you tried using Piped yet? There is an instance here:
https://piped.kavin.rocks
It is essentially a Youtube frontend/proxy, and some say better than invidious.

[micmc]

@humptydumpty Nice suggestion!

However, this is mainly used to make your digital video camera or DSLR the camera for streaming instead of using a typical webcam.

[LoudLemur]

@jdaviescoates I am also interested in recording Jitsi conferences.

If you use the jitsi.org service on the main website for conferencing, there is a tool in the menu allowing people to record. Unfortunately (and rather strangely!) it prompts you to login to DropBox (proprietary software) in order to do so, without any option for a custom alternative...