I'm looking to rewrite our old (activex-based) dictation system to make it
cross platform and was wondering if flash media server could do what we need?
One of the requirements is that the user be able to record, stop, rewind and
append/insert/overwrite audio. Would it be possible to do such operations
using FMS and could anyone point me towards any examples, tutorials, or books
that might help?

Don't know of any tutorials on that but, I would recommended this book:

<b><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge
href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596005040/hasanotuome-20/002-83280
01-7621609?%5Fencoding=UTF8&camp=1789&link%5Fcode=xm2">Programming Flash
Communication Server</a></b>

And, you can try googling for this topic or try the boards @ flashcomguru.com.
HTH...:)

yes, It's possible, you can use the Class NetStream and the method publish with
the differnt options "record", "append", "false"...
But before you must instantiate the Class Microphone...

you can get all iformation here <a target=_blank
class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge
href="http://livedocs.macromedia.com/fms/2/docs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.ht
m
">http://livedocs.macromedia.com/fms/2/docs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm
</a>

<blockquote>quote:<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b><b>zd_khaled</b></b></i>
yes, It's possible, you can use the Class NetStream and the method publish
with the differnt options "record", "append", "false"...
But before you must instantiate the Class Microphone...

you can get all iformation here <a target=_blank
class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge
href="http://livedocs.macromedia.com/fms/2/docs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.ht
m">http://livedocs.macromedia.com/fms/2/docs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm</
a>
<hr></blockquote>

I know how to record audio. The question I'm asking is if it's possible to
insert or overwrite parts of the audio stream? It appears you can only record
or append to the end, not insert in the middle?

I think that there are no API for this fonctionallity, but you can try to write
a function that do this:
you can for exemple, separate your existing flv file into two streams (you
can use NetStream.time to choose where you want make separation), then you
append the new stream to the first party and finally append the second party
to them...

<blockquote>quote:<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b><b>zd_khaled</b></b></i>
I think that there are no API for this fonctionallity, but you can try to
write a function that do this:
you can for exemple, separate your existing flv file into two streams (you
can use NetStream.time to choose where you want make separation), then you
append the new stream to the first party and finally append the second party
to them...<hr></blockquote>

What function can be used to split an flv into two streams?

Tony, could you please tell me what I'm doing wrong? I'm merely trying to
record audio, no video involved. I can monitor FMS to verify that data is being
sent when I talk in the microphone, and an .flv file is created in the right
directory. However, when I try to play that .flv file, nothing happens...and I
the Play button in the Control menu is disabled. Here's my code so far:

var connected = false;
var my_nc:NetConnection;
var my_ns:NetStream;
var audio_sound:Sound;
var active_mic:Microphone;

this.record_btn.onRelease = function() {
if(connected)
pause_voiceover();
else
record_voiceover();
}

this.stop_btn.onRelease = function() {
if(connected)
stop();
}

function record_voiceover() {
my_nc = new NetConnection();
my_nc.connect("rtmp://localhost/ccast/instance1");
my_ns = new NetStream(my_nc);
active_mic = Microphone.get();
my_ns.attachAudio(active_mic);
my_ns.publish("voice_over", "record");
//my_video = new FLVPlayback();
//my_video.play("cafe_townsend_chef.flv");

connected = true;
}

function stop() {
my_ns.close();
}

[q][i]Originally posted by: [b][b]Tony Buser[/b][/b][/i]
I'm looking to rewrite our old (activex-based) dictation system to make it
cross platform and was wondering if flash media server could do what we need?
One of the requirements is that the user be able to record, stop, rewind and
append/insert/overwrite audio. Would it be possible to do such operations
using FMS and could anyone point me towards any examples, tutorials, or books
that might help?[/q]

it all probably is possible but you'll get 0wned when it comes to deciphering
the .FLV audio data. since it's encoded in this real mean codec, which goes by
the name NellyMoser, and there's no converter available to convert .FLV into a
more sane format (i.e. .WAV/.MP3).

[q][i]Originally posted by: [b][b]ichidan[/b][/b][/i]
it all probably is possible but you'll get 0wned when it comes to deciphering
the .FLV audio data. since it's encoded in this real mean codec, which goes by
the name NellyMoser, and there's no converter available to convert .FLV into a
more sane format (i.e. .WAV/.MP3).[/q]

Acutally, there is a server side program to convert Asao (Nellymoser's audio
codec) encoded flv audio to WAV. Nellymoser sells a product named Crispa, which
does exactly that. It's expensive, but it exists.