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https://i.postimg.cc/bv4tfHk9/milkcrate-config-cover-zoom.gif

In this final part of the project, I set up the software that I use to record and live stream the Solitary Bees through their life cycle. I start off by updating the Ubuntu operating system and the applications currently installed. Using apt-get update and apt-get upgrade I pull any changes made to Ubuntu since its release. I make sure to install all my applications before doing the update/upgrade so they will be updated as well.

> https://ubuntu.com/

Once all up to date, I launch OBS also known as Open Broadcaster Software. I use this to set up my livestream  appearance and to stream to the platforms I plant on sharing the content on. I used 3speak and VIMM, for some reason 3speak discontinued my stream for unknown reasons and could not tell me why or resolve the issue. So I plan on using VIMM next year, maybe even Youtube if need be. Though I would rather stay off centralized platforms.

> https://obsproject.com/

As for configuring this system as a live streaming machine. It would run 24 / 7 and thats the reason I built a machine just for this purpose. I plug in my USB action camera and an old dash camera. Make sure they both work at the same time. I found out I cannot run two of the same kinds of cameras. So if I try to plug in two SJCAMs of the same model, which is all I have. It will not work on both. But I realized using a second camera of a different make works fine. Maybe it has to do with the driver can only work with one device at a time. And when I use a second brand that is different it has different drivers and no need to share the same files on the operating system. Just my thought, maybe its something else like using the same IRQs with the same devices... idk *shrugs*

I realized live streaming actually does quite a bit of processing. When I just run OBS with the cameras displaying the feeds the system does not work that hard. But when I start streaming at a decent bit rate the system has to work pretty hard. Makes sense, its processing the video into a format that is stream-able. 

A microphone is also set up by the bee boards, I ran a wire back to the computer to pick up their sound. My SJCAM and dashcam cannot use the built in microphones when in "webcam" mode. So I had to supply a dedicated microphone, and honestly I think the sound is much better that way. What is built into the cameras is quite small and not very good compared to a standalone microphone. I bought a very basic one on amazon as its out in the elements and id hate to break a good one keeping it outside all the time.

I decide to set up the cameras and do some test live streaming to see how the computer fares. I run an application called Htop that shows me my CPU usage. I make sure it does not max out when live streaming as that will cause dropped frames.

> https://htop.dev/

After testing the machine was ready, but the Bees were not at the time. But glad I got it all done before they were hatched. A few weeks later the weather warmed up and they started to come out. For a month I streamed them making homes inside of the bee boards I built for them. And really glad I did, many people enjoyed the stream and I plan on doing it again next year.

https://i.postimg.cc/FHC4RTP3/vlcsnap-2020-09-20-08h43m58s681.png

> Above is a capture from the stream, I displayed two cameras, had a microphone sound feed and included the current pollen count at the time of recording. Higher the pollen the more active the Bees are usually. Temperature has alot to do with it as well.

Hoping I have more female Mason Bees this time around. As the homes they used this year were better for a higher female to male ratio. The females are the ones that do all the work, males die off within a few weeks.

So if things goto plan and I get many females next year I should have quite a busy bee box container to stream. 

## [LBRY Video Link](https://open.lbry.com/@Solominer:e/milkcrate-config:4)


### Previous parts to this project:

> https://peakd.com/hive-163521/@solominer/milk-crate-computer-project-setting-up-the-container-for-hardware

> https://peakd.com/hive-163521/@solominer/milk-crate-computer-project-adding-the-components-and-testing

> https://peakd.com/hive-163521/@solominer/milk-crate-computer-project-lots-of-zip-ties

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Addresses below to help me buy better camera equipment and support me to travel to locations to do photo and video and overall great blogs in new places.


Coin| Address
-|-
https://i.postimg.cc/dVBF2MCM/btc1.png BTC:  |bc1qhfmvd2gywg4fvrgy2kkkkyqta0g86whkt7j8r7|
https://i.postimg.cc/JhYWFbKP/ltc.png LTC: |ltc1qdyzm5cwgt8e2373prx67yye6y9ewk0l8jf3ys9|
https://i.postimg.cc/R0ZBGP1W/dash.png DASH: |XkSqR5DxQL3wy4kNbjqDbgbMYNih3a7ZcM|
https://i.postimg.cc/76CyrfWD/eth.png ETH: |0x045f409dAe14338669730078201888636B047DC3|
https://i.postimg.cc/Y9JBrM5F/doge.png DOGE: |DSoekC21AKSZHAcV9vqR8yYefrh8XcX92Z|
https://i.postimg.cc/WzgLtxVH/zen.png ZEN: |znW9mh62WDSCeBXxnVLCETMx59Ho446HJgq|


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