This tool is a python 3.0 script that invokes gstreamer-1.0, reads from the webcam (or other valid video source), encodes the video stream in either H264 or VP8, and sends it to the desired host through RTP/UDP.
Playing the stream is quite simple since it also creates a valid SDP file (session.sdp) that can be used with VLC
| plugin name | package |
|---|---|
| autovideosrc | gst-plugins-good |
| videoconvert | gst-plugins-base |
| vp8enc | gst-plugins-good |
| rtpvp8pay | gst-plugins-good |
| x264enc | gst-plugins-ugly |
| rtph264pay | gst-plugins-good |
| openh264enc | gst-plugins-bad |
Plugin x264enc is only required if encoding H264 using libx264.
$ python gstreamcam.py -h
usage: gstreamcam.py [-h] [--sdp] [--debug] [--port PORT]
[--codec {vp8,h264,openh264}] [--camera CAMERA]
hostname
positional arguments:
hostname hostname or IP address of the destination
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
--sdp generates SDP file for the stream (defaults to false)
--debug shows command line in use to call gstreamer
--port PORT, -p PORT port (defaults to 5000)
--codec {vp8,h264,openh264}
chooses encoder (defaults to openh264)
--camera CAMERA Device id (defaults to 0)
Streaming from the default webcam to localhost
python gstreamcam.py 127.0.0.1
Streaming from the second webcam to localhost
python gstreamcam.py --camera 1 127.0.0.1
Streaming and creating an SDP file
python gstreamcam.py 127.0.0.1 --sdp
gst-launch-1.0 udpsrc port=5000 caps="application/x-rtp, clock-rate=(int)90000, packetization-mode=(string)1, payload=(int)96, a-framerate=(string)30" ! rtph264depay ! decodebin ! videoconvert ! autovideosink
Note that the command line above requires other plugins.
gst-launch-1.0 udpsrc port=9001 caps = "application/x-rtp, clock-rate=(int)90000, payload=(int)96, a-framerate=(string)30" ! rtpvp8depay ! vp8dec ! videoconvert ! autovideosink