Sounds - Files and Recording

Sound File Locations

Asterisk searches a default sound file path of /var/lib/asterisk/sounds unless a path name is specified with the name of the sound file.

Asterisk/app_rpt stores its sound files in /var/lib/asterisk/sounds/rpt.

Custom 'NODE NAME' messages are stored in /var/lib/asterisk/sounds/rpt/nodenames. Those files are equivalent to whatever you wish to replace Allison's saying the node number.

If a sound file exists there for the node number, it will play, otherwise, Allison will speak the node# when required on connect and disconnect messaging.

Sound File Formats

Asterisk supports many common sound file formats, but we use these 3 universally- ulaw, pcm, and gsm.

All sound files should be recorded at 8KHz in one of these formats.

All files should be headerless.

Sound File Naming Convention

Sound files can have any valid file name, but the extension must identify one of the supported formats (i.e. gsm, pcm, or ulaw)

Note: When specifying an ID message file in rpt.conf, you might omit the extension and just supply the file name. Asterisk will accept known formats to it, looking in particular order.

It is better to specify the path and extension to know exactly what file is to be played when debugging. Especially as your system expands and search paths change.

A final note to check/change file ownership and permissions appropriately for files you create.

Sound File Recording and Manipulation

There are many utility programs to allow you to convert or manipulate your sound files.

SoX. MPEG123 are 2 of those. It had been somewhat a standard within our group to use 'audicity' for editing sound files, but there are others out there that do just as well and a bit skinnier.