A/V Data Collection Using Linux?

Simon D. Levy asks: "I am consulting in a biology lab that collects data on fruit-fly mating behavior, and we would like to migrate our data collection to a Linux box. Our primary concern is being able to digitize incoming audio signals (at 8kHz sampling rate), but we would also ideally like to be able to monitor the flies' behavior using a digital camera connected directly to the computer. Crucially, we need to be able to isolate the audio component of the signal, as well as having access to an API (C/C++ would be nice) that allowed us to start and stop the recording. Any experience that anyone has had with this sort of problem would be much appreciated. We haven't bought anything yet, and are looking to build this system (CPU, video camera, A/D cards) from the bottom up. Thanks!"

Comments

Look within...

[bscott]

If you're part of a university, this project sounds tailor-made for a senior project by some EE whizkid. Just draft some geek and bribe him with promises of interships, and give him an unrealistically short deadline.

If you're in the private sector, it's a totally different story. You must summon the civic-minded core of your being and seize the opportunity to help the next generation. Give some deserving, hardworking American student the real-world experience that will provide them with an edge in the competitive job market of tomorrow. In return for the design and construction of your whole system, you will provide an invaluable internship opportunity that will give a real shot in the arm to their resume! And you'll hardly charge them anything.

Either way, you get your gadgetry, and everyone's happy.

When is a troll not really a troll?

[Anonymous Coward]

When it tells the truth.

An XP machine would actually have better support available for all the types of devices and functionality that you need for your data collection.

This is the problem.

[SuiteSisterMary]

"Hi, we do something. We're probably already doing it. We've made a decision to switch platforms. Now that we've decided to do that, we should figure out if the platform we've chosen can actually do what we need it to do."