MediaRecorder, recording audio and video has very low volume

Question

Im using MediaRecorder on an android project, to record video and audio files. it records correctly but the sound volume on both files is very very low.

I use this to configure MediaRecorder to record audio

String timeStamp = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd_HHmmss").format(new Date());
                    File folder = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + ConfigApp.RECORDINGS_FOLDER);
                    if (!folder.exists())
                        success = folder.mkdir();
                    if (success) {
                        mFileName = folder + timeStamp + ".m4a";
                        currentFile = mFileName;
                        chrono.setBase(SystemClock.elapsedRealtime());
                        chrono.start();
                        mRecorder = new MediaRecorder();
                        mRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.CAMCORDER);
                        mRecorder.setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.MPEG_4);
                        mRecorder.setOutputFile(mFileName);
                        mRecorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_NB);


                        try {
                            mRecorder.prepare();
                        } catch (IOException e) {
                            Log.e(TAG, "prepare() failed");
                        }
                        mRecorder.start();
                        handler.post(updateVisualizer);
                    }

and this when i record video

// BEGIN_INCLUDE (configure_preview)
    mCamera = CameraHelper.getDefaultCameraInstance();
    // We need to make sure that our preview and recording video size are supported by the
    // camera. Query camera to find all the sizes and choose the optimal size given the
    // dimensions of our preview surface.
    Camera.Parameters parameters = mCamera.getParameters();
    List<Camera.Size> mSupportedPreviewSizes = parameters.getSupportedPreviewSizes();
    Camera.Size optimalSize = CameraHelper.getOptimalPreviewSize(mSupportedPreviewSizes,
            mSurfaceView.getWidth(), mSurfaceView.getHeight());

    // Use the same size for recording profile.
    CamcorderProfile profile = CamcorderProfile.get(CamcorderProfile.QUALITY_HIGH);
    profile.videoFrameWidth = optimalSize.width;
    profile.videoFrameHeight = optimalSize.height;

    // likewise for the camera object itself.
    parameters.setPreviewSize(profile.videoFrameWidth, profile.videoFrameHeight);
    mCamera.setParameters(parameters);
    try {
        // Requires API level 11+, For backward compatibility use {@link setPreviewDisplay}
        // with {@link SurfaceView}
        mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(mSurfaceView.getHolder());
        mCamera.setDisplayOrientation(90);

    } catch (IOException e) {
        Log.e(TAG, "Surface texture is unavailable or unsuitable" + e.getMessage());
        return false;
    }
    // END_INCLUDE (configure_preview)


    // BEGIN_INCLUDE (configure_media_recorder)
    mMediaRecorder = new MediaRecorder();

    // Step 1: Unlock and set camera to MediaRecorder
    mCamera.unlock();
    mMediaRecorder.setCamera(mCamera);

    // Step 2: Set sources
    mMediaRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.CAMCORDER );
    mMediaRecorder.setVideoSource(MediaRecorder.VideoSource.CAMERA);

    // Step 3: Set a CamcorderProfile (requires API Level 8 or higher)
    mMediaRecorder.setProfile(profile);

    // Step 4: Set output file
    String path  = getVideoFile(MediaStore.Files.FileColumns.MEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO).getAbsolutePath();
    currentFile = path;
    mMediaRecorder.setOutputFile(path);
    mMediaRecorder.setOrientationHint(270);

    // END_INCLUDE (configure_media_recorder)

    // Step 5: Prepare configured MediaRecorder
    try {
        mMediaRecorder.prepare();
    } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
        Log.d(TAG, "IllegalStateException preparing MediaRecorder: " + e.getMessage());
        releaseMediaRecorder();
        return false;
    } catch (IOException e) {
        Log.d(TAG, "IOException preparing MediaRecorder: " + e.getMessage());
        releaseMediaRecorder();
        return false;
    }
    return true;

i tried other options on setAudioSource besides the AudioSource.CAMCORDER but i always get low volume

do i need to configure any extra parameters?

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 03 '19 at 08:51

I had the same problem while using MediaRecorder and finally figured out the correct working solution. Here are few modifications you need to do for good quality audio recordings: mRecorder.setAudioEncodingBitRate(16*44100); mRecorder.setAudioSamplingRate(44100); Many solutions on stackoverflow would suggest .setAudioEncodingBiteRate(16) but 16 is too low to be considered meaningless .

Source: @Grant answer on stackoverflow very poor quality of audio recorded on my droidx using MediaRecorder, why?

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 02 '16 at 14:37

0

Try to

mMediaRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);

then, Your AudioSource set to MIC.

answered May 02 '16 at 14:37

Koo SungMin

1

The original recording voice app or camcoder app is fine? – Koo SungMin May 03 '16 at 00:33
sorry, but i just sharing my experience. And need to say do check the hardware. i was developed voice tracking app. so i was had same difficult. And try change setAudioSource option is ok. – Koo SungMin May 03 '16 at 00:47

MediaRecorder, recording audio and video has very low volume

2 Answers2