Android MediaRecorder - "start failed: -19"

Question

I'm trying to create a video recorder on Android, and I've prepared my code which is supposed to be working - but I constantly get an error message start failed: -19.

Here's my code:

public boolean startRecording() {
    try {
        camera.unlock();
        mediaRecorder = new MediaRecorder();
        mediaRecorder.setOnErrorListener(new MediaRecorder.OnErrorListener() {

                @Override
                public void onError(MediaRecorder mr, int what, int extra) {
                Log.i(TAG, "Error");
            }
        });

        mediaRecorder.setCamera(camera);
        mediaRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);
        mediaRecorder.setVideoSource(MediaRecorder.VideoSource.CAMERA);
        Log.i(TAG, "a");

        mediaRecorder.setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.THREE_GPP);
        mediaRecorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.DEFAULT);
        mediaRecorder.setVideoEncoder(MediaRecorder.VideoEncoder.H263);
        Log.i(TAG, "b");

        mediaRecorder.setMaxDuration(maxDurationInMs); // set to 20000

        String uniqueOutFile = OUTPUT_FILE + System.currentTimeMillis() + ".3gp";
        File outFile = new File(uniqueOutFile);
        if (outFile.exists()) {
            outFile.delete();
        }
        mediaRecorder.setOutputFile(uniqueOutFile);
        mediaRecorder.setVideoFrameRate(videoFramesPerSecond); // set to 20
        mediaRecorder.setVideoSize(sView.getWidth(), sView.getHeight());
        Log.i(TAG, "c");

        mediaRecorder.setPreviewDisplay(holder.getSurface());
        mediaRecorder.setMaxFileSize(maxFileSizeInBytes); // set to 50000
        mediaRecorder.prepare();
        Log.i(TAG, "d");

        mediaRecorder.start();
        Log.i(TAG, "e");

        return true;
        } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
            Log.i(TAG, "f");
            Log.e(TAG, e.getMessage());
            e.printStackTrace();
            camera.lock();
            return false;
        } catch (IOException e) {
            Log.i(TAG, "g");
            Log.e(TAG, e.getMessage());
            e.printStackTrace();
            camera.lock();
            return false;
        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
            Log.i(TAG, "h");
            Log.e(TAG, e.getMessage());
            camera.lock();
            return false;
        }
    }

All the debug logs (from "a" through "d") are printed in log, so it seems that all the steps upto mediaRecorder.prepare() are properly done. Then it catches a RuntimeException with message start failed: -19. There is a similar question, but that doesn't solve my problem.

Is there any other reason to get such an error?

Answer 1

Just found out the bug, in this line:

mediaRecorder.setVideoSize(sView.getWidth(), sView.getHeight());

after commenting out this line, the code runs perfectly!

Answer 2

I solved my problem once i added this for video recording

/**
 * Start video recording by cleaning the old camera preview
 */
private void startVideoRecorder() {
    // THIS IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE GLASS CURRENTLY THROWS AN ERROR OF
    // "MediaRecorder start failed: -19"
    // THIS WONT BE NEEDED INCASE OF PHONE AND TABLET
    // This causes crash in glass kitkat version so remove it
    // try {
    // mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(null);
    // } catch (java.io.IOException ioe) {
    // Log.d(TAG,
    // "IOException nullifying preview display: "
    // + ioe.getMessage());
    // }
    // mCamera.stopPreview();
    // mCamera.unlock();
    recorder = new MediaRecorder();
    // Let's initRecorder so we can record again
    initRecorder();
}

/**
 * Initialize video recorder to record video
 */
private void initRecorder() {
    try {
        File dir = new File(folderPath);
        if (!dir.exists()) {
            dir.mkdirs();
        }
        mCamera.stopPreview();
        mCamera.unlock();
        videofile = new File(dir, fileName + ".mp4");
        recorder.setCamera(mCamera);

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

        // Step 3: Set a CamcorderProfile (requires API Level 8 or higher)
        recorder.setProfile(CamcorderProfile
                .get(CamcorderProfile.QUALITY_HIGH));

        // Step 4: Set output file
        recorder.setOutputFile(videofile.getAbsolutePath());
        // Step 5: Set the preview output
        recorder.setPreviewDisplay(mPreview.getHolder().getSurface());
        // Step 6: Prepare configured MediaRecorder
        recorder.setMaxDuration(video_duration * 1000);
        recorder.setOnInfoListener(new OnInfoListener() {

            @Override
            public void onInfo(MediaRecorder mr, int what, int extra) {
                if (what == MediaRecorder.MEDIA_RECORDER_INFO_MAX_DURATION_REACHED) {

                    mCamera.stopPreview();
                    releaseMediaRecorder();

                    /*
                     * initiate media scan and put the new things into the
                     * path array to make the scanner aware of the location
                     * and the files you want to see
                     */MediaScannerConnection.scanFile(
                            CuxtomCamActivity.this,
                            new String[] { videofile.getPath() }, null,
                            null);

                    Intent intent = new Intent();
                    intent.putExtra(CuxtomIntent.FILE_PATH,
                            videofile.getPath());
                    intent.putExtra(CuxtomIntent.FILE_TYPE, FILE_TYPE.VIDEO);
                    setResult(RESULT_OK, intent);
                    finish();
                }

            }
        });
        recorder.prepare();
        recorder.start();
    } catch (Exception e) {
        Log.e("Error Stating CuXtom Camera", e.getMessage());
    }
}
private void releaseMediaRecorder() {
    if (recorder != null) {
        recorder.reset(); // clear recorder configuration
        recorder.release(); // release the recorder object
        recorder = null;
    }
}

For detailed guide refer to this Open Source Cuxtom Cam