Why does MediaPlayer not prepare?

Question

I'm using MediaPlayer to load an mp3 file and play it online. I am using this code:

try{
    Log.i("tag1", "try");
    mediaPlayer.setDataSource(activity.this, Uri.parse("link"));
    mediaPlayer.prepareAsync();
    mediaPlayer.setOnPreparedListener(new MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListener() {
        @Override
        public void onPrepared(MediaPlayer mediaPlayer) {
            Log.i("tag2", "" + mediaPlayer.getDuration());
        }
    });
    } catch(IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

Most of the times nothing is prepared, so I have the log.i results as below:

tag1 = try

tag2 is never executed

If, sometimes only, mediaPlayer is prepared, I get these logs:

tag1 = try

tag2 = 0 _ which is neither acceptable nor usable

Also, when I call mediaPlayer.setOnErrorListener, I get errors 1,-1004 or 1,-2147483648. Additionally, mediaPlayer.setOnInfoListener gives nothing; I think it's never called...

What could be the problem?

It is not unnecessary to mention that in the log folder of the server's file manager, I found this: "stagefright/1.2 (Linux; Android 4.4.4)". I think this could help to solve the problem. Also, related to this, can the problem be caused by PHP extensions? if yes, activating which extension solves this issue?

---

Any help is really appreciated.

Answer 1

You have a MEDIA_ERROR_IO. As the documentation says it's for File or network related operation errors.

In most cases the problem is in the implementation of the MediaPlayer class or maybe in android 4 as mentioned here

I would recommend you ExoPlayer, instead.

Answer 2

You are missing mediaPlayer.start() in your MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListener(). See attached kotlin code for an extending class with example http request

Error 1004: Source not found (f.e. wrong path or no stream at url)

Error 2147483648: Media format not supported at your device

Another mention: keeping references for audiofiles on device system needs persistable uri permission

Here's stripped down code for starting a radio stream in kotlin with OkHttp

class MyPlayer: MediaPlayer(), MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListener {

  fun playStream() {
    try {
        val uri = Uri.parse( [URL] )

        //check if url valid
        val client = OkHttpClient()
        val request = Request.Builder().url( [URL] ).build()
        val newCall = client.newCall(request).execute()
        if (newCall.code() != 200) {
            //handle error for stream, stream not broadcasting
            return
        }

        val headers = HashMap<String, String>()
        headers.put("User-Agent", " [SOME AGENT] ")
        setDataSource(context, uri, headers)

        prepareAsync()

    } catch (e: Exception) {
        L.e("Url Parsing failed for ${e.message}")
        setInternalState(State.Error, StreamErrorMapping.ShoutCastError)
    }
  }
}

override fun onPrepared(player: MediaPlayer) {
    player.start()  //<-- this call is missing in your code
}

By the way, like Ezaldeenn sahb already mentioned, I would also recommend using ExoPlayer, since it's way more faster than MediaPlayer! In my projects buffering went down from 2-4seconds (MediaPlayer) to 200ms (Exoplayer). Happy coding

Answer 3

It seems your problem is because of using http links instead of https. Add android:usesCleartextTraffic="true" to your manifest application tag like so:

<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:usesCleartextTraffic="true"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme"
    >
      ...

</application>

Also, don't forget to use internet permission.

Answer 4

Of course, I thank all my friends who put their most effort to answer this problem of mine, but none of them solved the main issue.

How I came to find a way to get rid of this situation:

I tried another Host for my files and it worked. So I decided to move all my data and databases to another Host.