Asynchronous audio player with java for Android

Question

I have created an Java application that runs in Android. Sounds are prepared and played only with a synchronous MediaPlayer class, involving a latency from 50 to 80 ms, that is too big for a real time product.

So, for improving performance of a sound player in Java for Android (by minimizing its latency), I am looking for an asynchronous audio player or media player.

Asynchronous because that avoids latency when loading (preparing) or playing a sound

Do you know an Android native library or something else that can be imported in a java application?

For instance, I have seen that URL but I don't know how to do for "plugging" it in a Java application?

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/media/AsyncPlayer.html

Thanks

Answer 1

I wrote a pretty complere chapter about Android Audio in my book. Here is the flowchart I use to decide which API to use. The old AsyncPlayer you referenced is deprecatated and would not really solve your latency issue in my opinion. Media Player is the worse for start up latency. SoundPool is probably the best choice based on the info you have provided. AudioTrack gives you the most flexibility.

Hope this helps. Here is a code excerpt for playing sounds using the soundPool API:

private void playSoundPool(int soundID) {
    int MAX_STREAMS = 20;
    int REPEAT = 0;
    SoundPool soundPool = new SoundPool(MAX_STREAMS, AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC, REPEAT);
    soundPool.setOnLoadCompleteListener(new OnLoadCompleteListener() {
        @Override
        public void onLoadComplete(SoundPool soundPool, int soundId, int status) {
            int priority = 0;
            int repeat = 0;
            float rate = 1.f; // Frequency Rate can be from .5 to 2.0
            // Set volume
            AudioManager mgr = (AudioManager)getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE);
            float streamVolumeCurrent =
            mgr.getStreamVolume(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC);
            float streamVolumeMax =
            mgr.getStreamMaxVolume(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC);
            float volume = streamVolumeCurrent / streamVolumeMax;
            // Play it
            soundPool.play(soundId, volume, volume, priority, repeat, rate);
        }
    });
    soundPool.load(this, soundID, 1);
}