1y ago

How can i record bluetooth audio in linux?

Hi all,

I have a USB C headset.

I am setting it up, so it's plugged into my Linux box, so it can listen to music, and make calls, etc from my phone, via bluetooth.

Then I don't have to keep unplugging my headset and plugging it into my phone.

Also so I can record directly to the Linux machine, that is broadcast from my phone.

But, how can I intercept the Bluetooth audio, and record it?

Thank you.

11 comments

I don't totally follow (just woke up) but if I follow what you're asking, the program "Audacity" is very capable and is worth taking a look at for recording audio from a linux device
Hope you're able to find what you need!
- Thank you. So I'll definitely look into something like that. I want to make it scriptable, so that it records drops the files straight into a predefined folder. I guess for me it's getting my head around the idea that it can record the Bluetooth audio.
  I'll just start experimenting to see what I can find. Thanks again.
  
  Wait, it's plugged into the computer, and connected to the phone via Bluetooth, and you want to intercept the bluetooth signal to record the audio to your computer...? Am I understanding right? That kinda negates all of the advice I gave. That's a super convoluted thing to try and do, and well beyond the scope of basic technical advice 😅
  It seems to me like it'd be easier to record the audio via your phone and automatically send it from your computer, rather than intercept the bluetooth signal, but even that would be complicated if you want to do it automatically
  
  If Bluetooth is working properly, you should be able to record bluetooth microphone audio the same way you'd record audio from any mic connected to the computer, wired or wireless. Just make sure you point the recording software to the correct microphone input. Usually the easiest way to do that is to go to the settings of your desktop environment (GNOME, kde, cinnamon) and select the correct microphone (this is assuming you're using a desktop environment for a graphical desktop). A voice recorder app or website should allow you to test whether the Bluetooth mic is working properly if you're unsure.
  After that you'll need something that can record that supports scripting. I can't help you there, I have no idea if audacity has scripting support, but something probably exists. But anything that can record audio should play nicely with Bluetooth if Bluetooth is working properly on your computer
Hmm, I have no idea if that actually works (don't think I ever recorded audio) but I think every program that can use the mic input as an audio source should be able to do that, I'd try OBS Studio, Audacity (or whatever the cooler fork is called), screen recorders. Maybe someone who has actually done this can chime in 😸
- Thank you so much, yes I have tried prtty much everything you have mentioned there.
  If the phone is say playing music or something like that then my computer can record the phone. but it can't hear me talking into the mic, even though I want it to.
  If I am on a phone call, then I can only record myself, and it can't record the person speaking.
  Depending on what I am doing, it won't record the microphone or speaker.
  Of course, I wanted to record both. :-)

11 comments