Why does the start() method of MediaRecorder throw an IllegalStateException?

ram picture ram · Mar 3, 2011 · Viewed 16.3k times · Source

I am trying to record audio but the start() method of MediaRecorder class throws an IllegalStateException. I use the following code:

MediaRecorder recorder = new MediaRecorder();
recorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);
recorder.setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.THREE_GPP);
recorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_NB);
recorder.setOutputFile("/sdcard/");
try {
    recorder.prepare();
} catch (IllegalStateException e) {

// TODO Auto-generated catch block
    e.printStackTrace();
} catch (IOException e) {
    // TODO Auto-generated catch block
    e.printStackTrace();
}
Log.i("Try","Exception");
recorder.start(); 

And following permission

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />

Answer

DJC picture DJC · Mar 3, 2011

Vijay, recorder.setOutputFile("/sdcard/"); is setting a directory, not a file. Replace that with:

mFileName = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath();
mFileName += "/youraudiofile.3gp";

Using "/sdcard" hard codes a path which is fragile, so use the above

Also, for this to work you must add

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

to your AndroidManifext.xml