Recording videos on Android with limited duration and low quality

Question

I need to record a video in 8 seconds in my application. I use the MediaStore.ACTION_VIDEO_CAPTURE intention to record video and using these parameters (MediaStore.EXTRA_VIDEO_QUALITY, MediaStore.EXTRA_DURATION_LIMIT) to set a limit on the quality and duration of the video. but I came across a very interesting error, i.e. when I set the duration limit to 8 seconds and the video quality is 1, it works fine and records the video for 8 seconds, but as soon as I change the video quality to 0 and keep it the same, the video is now recorded for 21 seconds. I use a Sony Xperia phone for testing, but when I switch to HTC , the duration limit does not work in any case, neither when setting the video quality to 1, nor when setting it to 0.

Therefore, I do not know what is happening now. In dire need. please help. Thanks in advance.

Here is the code I'm using.

private void recordVideo() { Intent intent = new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_VIDEO_CAPTURE); File f = null; try { f = setUpVideoFile(); filePath = f.getAbsolutePath(); intent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT, Uri.fromFile(f)); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); f = null; filePath = null; } objectGlobal.setFilepath(filePath); intent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_VIDEO_QUALITY, 1); intent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_DURATION_LIMIT, 8); startActivityForResult(intent, CAMERA_CAPTURE_VIDEO); } 

Answer 1

I know that he was a little late to answer this question, but I think that I need that if others encounter this problem, they can easily handle it.

Actually the problem is that you are reducing the quality of the video with this

  intent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_VIDEO_QUALITY, 0); 

Camera Intent no longer works as a VCR. It really creates a millimeter when we try to reduce quality. Regarding time, I don't know if this is a bug in Android or there might be some memory limitations. Therefore, the decision I made is to create a custom video recording class using SurfaceView. So I am embedding a video code from one of my projects. Also, the recorded video is practically played on all Android and iOS devices that I have tested so far. Here is my video class

  package com.mukesh.videorecordingsample; import android.app.Activity; import android.app.AlertDialog; import android.content.DialogInterface; import android.content.Intent; import android.hardware.Camera; import android.hardware.Camera.Size; import android.media.CamcorderProfile; import android.media.MediaRecorder; import android.os.Build; import android.os.Bundle; import android.os.Environment; import android.os.Handler; import android.os.Message; import android.util.Log; import android.view.KeyEvent; import android.view.Surface; import android.view.SurfaceHolder; import android.view.SurfaceView; import android.view.View; import android.view.View.OnClickListener; import android.view.Window; import android.widget.ImageView; import android.widget.TextView; import android.widget.Toast; import java.io.File; import java.io.IOException; import java.util.ArrayList; import java.util.Collections; import java.util.Comparator; import java.util.List; public class RecordVideoPostsActivity extends Activity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback, OnClickListener { protected static final int RESULT_ERROR = 0x00000001; private static final int MAX_VIDEO_DURATION = 8 * 1000; private static final int ID_TIME_COUNT = 0x1006; private SurfaceView mSurfaceView; private ImageView iv_cancel, iv_ok, iv_record; private TextView tv_counter; private SurfaceHolder mSurfaceHolder; private MediaRecorder mMediaRecorder; private Camera mCamera; private List<Size> mSupportVideoSizes; private String filePath; private boolean mIsRecording = false; @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); this.requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE); setContentView(R.layout.activity_recordvideo); initView(); } private void initView() { mSurfaceView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surfaceView); iv_record = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.iv_record); iv_cancel = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.iv_cancel); iv_ok = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.iv_ok); iv_record.setImageResource(R.drawable.btn_video_start); tv_counter = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.timer); tv_counter.setVisibility(View.GONE); iv_cancel.setOnClickListener(this); iv_ok.setOnClickListener(this); iv_record.setOnClickListener(this); mSurfaceHolder = mSurfaceView.getHolder(); mSurfaceHolder.addCallback(this); } private void exit(final int resultCode, final Intent data) { if (mIsRecording) { new AlertDialog.Builder(RecordVideoPostsActivity.this) .setTitle("Video Recorder") .setMessage("Do you want to exit?") .setPositiveButton("yes", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() { @Override public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) { stopRecord(); if (resultCode == RESULT_CANCELED) { if (filePath != null) deleteFile(new File(filePath)); } setResult(resultCode, data); finish(); } }) .setNegativeButton("no", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() { @Override public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) { } }).show(); return; } if (resultCode == RESULT_CANCELED) { if (filePath != null) deleteFile(new File(filePath)); } setResult(resultCode, data); finish(); } private void deleteFile(File delFile) { if (delFile == null) { return; } final File file = new File(delFile.getAbsolutePath()); delFile = null; new Thread() { @Override public void run() { super.run(); if (file.exists()) { file.delete(); } } }.start(); } private Handler mHandler = new Handler() { @Override public void handleMessage(android.os.Message msg) { switch (msg.what) { case ID_TIME_COUNT: if (mIsRecording) { if (msg.arg1 > msg.arg2) { // mTvTimeCount.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE); tv_counter.setText("00:00"); stopRecord(); } else { tv_counter.setText("00:0" + (msg.arg2 - msg.arg1)); Message msg2 = mHandler.obtainMessage(ID_TIME_COUNT, msg.arg1 + 1, msg.arg2); mHandler.sendMessageDelayed(msg2, 1000); } } break; default: break; } } ; }; private void openCamera() { try { this.mCamera = Camera.open(); Camera.Parameters parameters = mCamera.getParameters(); parameters.setRotation(90); System.out.println(parameters.flatten()); parameters.set("orientation", "portrait"); mCamera.setParameters(parameters); mCamera.lock(); if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.FROYO) { try { mCamera.setDisplayOrientation(90); } catch (NoSuchMethodError e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } mSupportVideoSizes = parameters.getSupportedVideoSizes(); if (mSupportVideoSizes == null || mSupportVideoSizes.isEmpty()) { String videoSize = parameters.get("video-size"); Log.i(EmBazaarConstants.APP_NAME, videoSize); mSupportVideoSizes = new ArrayList<Camera.Size>(); if (!RecordVideoPostsActivity.isEmpty(videoSize)) { String[] size = videoSize.split("x"); if (size.length > 1) { try { int width = Integer.parseInt(size[0]); int height = Integer.parseInt(size[1]); mSupportVideoSizes.add(mCamera.new Size(width, height)); } catch (Exception e) { Log.e(EmBazaarConstants.APP_NAME, e.toString()); } } } } for (Size size : mSupportVideoSizes) { Log.i(EmBazaarConstants.APP_NAME, size.width + "<>" + size.height); } } catch (Exception e) { Log.e(EmBazaarConstants.APP_NAME, "Open Camera error\n" + e.toString()); } } private boolean initVideoRecorder() { if (mCamera == null) { mCamera = Camera.open(); mCamera.unlock(); } else { mCamera.unlock(); } mMediaRecorder = new MediaRecorder(); mMediaRecorder.setCamera(mCamera); try { mMediaRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC); mMediaRecorder.setVideoSource(MediaRecorder.VideoSource.CAMERA); } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); } try { CamcorderProfile lowProfile = CamcorderProfile .get(CamcorderProfile.QUALITY_LOW); CamcorderProfile hightProfile = CamcorderProfile .get(CamcorderProfile.QUALITY_HIGH); if (lowProfile != null && hightProfile != null) { lowProfile.audioCodec = MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AAC; lowProfile.duration = hightProfile.duration; lowProfile.videoCodec = MediaRecorder.VideoEncoder.H264; lowProfile.videoFrameRate = hightProfile.videoFrameRate; lowProfile.videoBitRate = 1500000 > hightProfile.videoBitRate ? hightProfile.videoBitRate : 1500000; if (mSupportVideoSizes != null && !mSupportVideoSizes.isEmpty()) { int width = 640; int height = 480; Collections.sort(mSupportVideoSizes, new SizeComparator()); int lwd = mSupportVideoSizes.get(0).width; for (Size size : mSupportVideoSizes) { int wd = Math.abs(size.width - 640); if (wd < lwd) { width = size.width; height = size.height; lwd = wd; } else { break; } } lowProfile.videoFrameWidth = width; lowProfile.videoFrameHeight = height; } mMediaRecorder.setProfile(lowProfile); } } catch (Exception e) { try { mMediaRecorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AAC); } catch (Exception ex) { ex.printStackTrace(); } try { mMediaRecorder.setVideoEncoder(MediaRecorder.VideoEncoder.H264); } catch (Exception ex) { ex.printStackTrace(); } if (mSupportVideoSizes != null && !mSupportVideoSizes.isEmpty()) { Collections.sort(mSupportVideoSizes, new SizeComparator()); Size size = mSupportVideoSizes.get(0); try { mMediaRecorder.setVideoSize(size.width, size.height); } catch (Exception ex) { ex.printStackTrace(); } } else { try { mMediaRecorder.setVideoSize(640, 480); } catch (Exception ex) { ex.printStackTrace(); } } e.printStackTrace(); } File f = null; try { f = setUpVideoFile(); filePath = f.getAbsolutePath(); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); f = null; filePath = null; } mMediaRecorder.setOutputFile(filePath); mMediaRecorder.setPreviewDisplay(mSurfaceHolder.getSurface()); if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.GINGERBREAD) { try { mMediaRecorder.setOrientationHint(90); } catch (NoSuchMethodError e) { e.printStackTrace(); } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } try { mMediaRecorder.prepare(); } catch (IllegalStateException e) { Log.d("VideoPreview", "IllegalStateException preparing MediaRecorder: " + e.getMessage()); releaseMediaRecorder(); return false; } catch (IOException e) { Log.d("VideoPreview", "IOException preparing MediaRecorder: " + e.getMessage()); releaseMediaRecorder(); return false; } catch (Exception e) { releaseMediaRecorder(); e.printStackTrace(); } return true; } private void releaseMediaRecorder() { if (mMediaRecorder != null) { mMediaRecorder.reset(); mMediaRecorder.release(); mMediaRecorder = null; mCamera.lock(); } } private void releaseCamera() { if (mCamera != null) { mCamera.release(); mCamera = null; } } private void startRecord() { try { if (initVideoRecorder()) { mMediaRecorder.start(); iv_record.setImageResource(R.drawable.btn_video_stop); } else { releaseMediaRecorder(); iv_record.setImageResource(R.drawable.btn_video_start); } tv_counter.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE); tv_counter.setText("00:0" + (MAX_VIDEO_DURATION / 1000)); Message msg = mHandler.obtainMessage(ID_TIME_COUNT, 1, MAX_VIDEO_DURATION / 1000); mHandler.sendMessage(msg); mIsRecording = true; } catch (Exception e) { showShortToast("problem while capturing video"); e.printStackTrace(); exit(RESULT_ERROR, null); } } private void stopRecord() { try { mMediaRecorder.stop(); } catch (Exception e) { if (new File(filePath) != null && new File(filePath).exists()) { new File(filePath).delete(); } } releaseMediaRecorder(); mCamera.lock(); iv_record.setImageResource(R.drawable.btn_video_start); mIsRecording = false; iv_record.setVisibility(View.GONE); iv_cancel.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE); iv_ok.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE); } public static void setCameraDisplayOrientation(Activity activity, int cameraId, Camera camera) { Camera.CameraInfo info = new Camera.CameraInfo(); // Since API level 9 Camera.getCameraInfo(cameraId, info); int rotation = activity.getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay() .getRotation(); int degrees = 0; switch (rotation) { case Surface.ROTATION_0: degrees = 0; break; case Surface.ROTATION_90: degrees = 90; break; case Surface.ROTATION_180: degrees = 180; break; case Surface.ROTATION_270: degrees = 270; break; } int result; if (info.facing == Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT) { result = (info.orientation + degrees) % 360; result = (360 - result) % 360; } else { result = (info.orientation - degrees + 360) % 360; } camera.setDisplayOrientation(result); } @Override protected void onResume() { super.onResume(); openCamera(); } @Override protected void onPause() { super.onPause(); releaseCamera(); } @Override public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder) { if (mCamera != null) { try { mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(holder); mCamera.startPreview(); } catch (Exception e) { } } } @Override public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width, int height) { } @Override public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) { if (mCamera != null) { try { mCamera.stopPreview(); } catch (Exception e) { } } } @Override public boolean onKeyDown(int keyCode, KeyEvent event) { if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_BACK) { exit(RESULT_CANCELED, null); return true; } return super.onKeyDown(keyCode, event); } @Override public void onClick(View arg0) { switch (arg0.getId()) { case R.id.iv_ok: Intent data = new Intent(); if (filePath != null) { data.putExtra("videopath", filePath); } exit(RESULT_OK, data); break; case R.id.iv_cancel: exit(RESULT_CANCELED, null); break; case R.id.iv_record: if (mIsRecording) { stopRecord(); } else { startRecord(); } break; default: break; } } protected void showShortToast(String text) { Toast.makeText(this, text, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } private File setUpVideoFile() throws IOException { File videoFile = null; if (Environment.MEDIA_MOUNTED.equals(Environment .getExternalStorageState())) { File storageDir = new File( EmBazaarConstants.LOCAL_STORAGE_BASE_PATH_FOR_POSTED_VIDEOS) .getParentFile(); if (storageDir != null) { if (!storageDir.mkdirs()) { if (!storageDir.exists()) { Log.d("CameraSample", "failed to create directory"); return null; } } } videoFile = File.createTempFile(EmBazaarConstants.MP4_FILE_PREFIX + System.currentTimeMillis() + "_", EmBazaarConstants.MP4_FILE_SUFIX, storageDir); } else { Log.v(getString(R.string.app_name), "External storage is not mounted READ/WRITE."); } return videoFile; } private class SizeComparator implements Comparator<Size> { @Override public int compare(Size lhs, Size rhs) { return rhs.width - lhs.width; } } public static boolean isEmpty(String str) { return str == null || "".equals(str.trim()); } } 

and you can just call this class in your activity, like this

 if (isDeviceSupportCamera()) { startActivityForResult(new Intent(PostStatusActivity.this, yourActivity.class), EmBazaarConstants.CAMERA_CAPTURE_VIDEO); } else { Toast.makeText(this, "Your device doesn't support camera", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show(); } 

and here isDeviceSupportCamera () function

  private boolean isDeviceSupportCamera() { if (getApplicationContext().getPackageManager().hasSystemFeature( PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA)) { return true; } else { return false; } } 

In your onActivityResult you need to write this code

  @Override protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) { super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data); if (requestCode == EmBazaarConstants.CAMERA_CAPTURE_VIDEO && resultCode == RESULT_OK) { if (data != null && data.getStringExtra("videopath") != null) videoFilePath= data.getStringExtra("videopath"); } } 

Hope this helps.

** Although we have the new Camera2 APIs in android lollipop, but this code still works in android lollipop. But still, you can upgrade to the new Camera2 APIs if you want.