How can I record a video in my Android app?

Question

Here is a simple video recording example using the MediaRecorder:

public class VideoCapture extends Activity implements OnClickListener, SurfaceHolder.Callback {
    MediaRecorder recorder;
    SurfaceHolder holder;
    boolean recording = false;
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
        getWindow().setFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN);
        setRequestedOrientation(ActivityInfo.SCREEN_ORIENTATION_LANDSCAPE);

        recorder = new MediaRecorder();
        initRecorder();
        setContentView(R.layout.main);

        SurfaceView cameraView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.CameraView);
        holder = cameraView.getHolder();
        holder.addCallback(this);
        holder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);

        cameraView.setClickable(true);
        cameraView.setOnClickListener(this);
    }

    private void initRecorder() {
        recorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.DEFAULT);
        recorder.setVideoSource(MediaRecorder.VideoSource.DEFAULT);

        CamcorderProfile cpHigh = CamcorderProfile
                .get(CamcorderProfile.QUALITY_HIGH);
        recorder.setProfile(cpHigh);
        recorder.setOutputFile("/sdcard/videocapture_example.mp4");
        recorder.setMaxDuration(50000); // 50 seconds
        recorder.setMaxFileSize(5000000); // Approximately 5 megabytes
    }

    private void prepareRecorder() {
        recorder.setPreviewDisplay(holder.getSurface());

        try {
            recorder.prepare();
        } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            finish();
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            finish();
        }
    }

    public void onClick(View v) {
        if (recording) {
            recorder.stop();
            recording = false;

            // Let's initRecorder so we can record again
            initRecorder();
            prepareRecorder();
        } else {
            recording = true;
            recorder.start();
        }
    }

    public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder) {
        prepareRecorder();
    }

    public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width,
            int height) {
    }

    public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) {
        if (recording) {
            recorder.stop();
            recording = false;
        }
        recorder.release();
        finish();
    }
}

It's from my book: Pro Android Media: Developing Graphics, Music, Video, and Rich Media Apps for Smartphones and Tablets

Also, do not forget to include these permissions in manifest:

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

Here is another example which is working

public class EnregistrementVideoStackActivity extends Activity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {
    private SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder;
    private SurfaceView surfaceView;
    public MediaRecorder mrec = new MediaRecorder();
    private Button startRecording = null;

    File video;
    private Camera mCamera;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.camera_surface);
        Log.i(null , "Video starting");
        startRecording = (Button)findViewById(R.id.buttonstart);
        mCamera = Camera.open();
        surfaceView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surface_camera);
        surfaceHolder = surfaceView.getHolder();
        surfaceHolder.addCallback(this);
        surfaceHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu)
    {
        menu.add(0, 0, 0, "StartRecording");
        menu.add(0, 1, 0, "StopRecording");
        return super.onCreateOptionsMenu(menu);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item)
    {
        switch (item.getItemId())
        {
        case 0:
            try {
                startRecording();
            } catch (Exception e) {
                String message = e.getMessage();
                Log.i(null, "Problem Start"+message);
                mrec.release();
            }
            break;

        case 1: //GoToAllNotes
            mrec.stop();
            mrec.release();
            mrec = null;
            break;

        default:
            break;
        }
        return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
    }

    protected void startRecording() throws IOException 
    {
        mrec = new MediaRecorder();  // Works well
        mCamera.unlock();

        mrec.setCamera(mCamera);

        mrec.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder.getSurface());
        mrec.setVideoSource(MediaRecorder.VideoSource.CAMERA);
        mrec.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC); 

        mrec.setProfile(CamcorderProfile.get(CamcorderProfile.QUALITY_HIGH));
        mrec.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder.getSurface());
        mrec.setOutputFile("/sdcard/zzzz.3gp"); 

        mrec.prepare();
        mrec.start();
    }

    protected void stopRecording() {
        mrec.stop();
        mrec.release();
        mCamera.release();
    }

    private void releaseMediaRecorder(){
        if (mrec != null) {
            mrec.reset();   // clear recorder configuration
            mrec.release(); // release the recorder object
            mrec = null;
            mCamera.lock();           // lock camera for later use
        }
    }

    private void releaseCamera(){
        if (mCamera != null){
            mCamera.release();        // release the camera for other applications
            mCamera = null;
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width,
            int height) {
    }

    @Override
    public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder) {
        if (mCamera != null){
            Parameters params = mCamera.getParameters();
            mCamera.setParameters(params);
        }
        else {
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Camera not available!", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            finish();
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) {
        mCamera.stopPreview();
        mCamera.release();
    }
}

camera_surface.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >

<SurfaceView
    android:id="@+id/surface_camera"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_weight="1" />

<Button
    android:id="@+id/buttonstart"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:background="@drawable/record_start" />

</RelativeLayout>

And of course include these permission in manifest:

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

You record audio and video using the same MediaRecorder class. It's pretty simple. Here's an example.

This demo will helpful for you....

video.xml

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >

<ToggleButton
    android:id="@+id/toggleRecordingButton"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_alignParentTop="true" />

<SurfaceView
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:id="@+id/surface_camera"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:layout_centerInParent="true"
    android:layout_weight="1" >
</SurfaceView>

Your Main Activity: Video.java

 public class Video extends Activity implements OnClickListener,
    SurfaceHolder.Callback {

private static final String TAG = "CAMERA_TUTORIAL";

private SurfaceView mSurfaceView;
private SurfaceHolder mHolder;
private Camera mCamera;
private boolean previewRunning;
private MediaRecorder mMediaRecorder;
private final int maxDurationInMs = 20000;
private final long maxFileSizeInBytes = 500000;
private final int videoFramesPerSecond = 20;
Button btn_record;
boolean mInitSuccesful = false;
File file;
ToggleButton mToggleButton;

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.video);

    setRequestedOrientation(ActivityInfo.SCREEN_ORIENTATION_LANDSCAPE);

    mSurfaceView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surface_camera);
    mHolder = mSurfaceView.getHolder();
    mHolder.addCallback(this);
    mHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);

    mToggleButton = (ToggleButton) findViewById(R.id.toggleRecordingButton);
    mToggleButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
        @Override
        // toggle video recording
        public void onClick(View v) {
            if (((ToggleButton) v).isChecked())
                mMediaRecorder.start();
            else {
                mMediaRecorder.stop();
                mMediaRecorder.reset();
                try {
                    initRecorder(mHolder.getSurface());
                } catch (IOException e) {
                    e.printStackTrace();
                }
            }
        }
    });
}

private void initRecorder(Surface surface) throws IOException {
    // It is very important to unlock the camera before doing setCamera
    // or it will results in a black preview
    if (mCamera == null) 
    {
        mCamera = Camera.open();
        mCamera.unlock();
    }

    if (mMediaRecorder == null)
        mMediaRecorder = new MediaRecorder();

    mMediaRecorder.setPreviewDisplay(surface);
    mMediaRecorder.setCamera(mCamera);

    mMediaRecorder.setVideoSource(MediaRecorder.VideoSource.CAMERA);

    mMediaRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.DEFAULT);

    mMediaRecorder.setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.DEFAULT);

    mMediaRecorder.setOutputFile(this.initFile().getAbsolutePath());

    // No limit. Don't forget to check the space on disk.
    mMediaRecorder.setMaxDuration(50000);
    mMediaRecorder.setVideoFrameRate(24);
    mMediaRecorder.setVideoSize(1280, 720);
    mMediaRecorder.setVideoEncodingBitRate(3000000);
    mMediaRecorder.setAudioEncodingBitRate(8000);

    mMediaRecorder.setVideoEncoder(MediaRecorder.VideoEncoder.DEFAULT);
    mMediaRecorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_NB);

    try {
        mMediaRecorder.prepare();
    } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
        // This is thrown if the previous calls are not called with the
        // proper order
        e.printStackTrace();
    }

    mInitSuccesful = true;
}

private File initFile() {
    // File dir = new
    // File(Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_MOVIES),
    // this
    File dir = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(), this
            .getClass().getPackage().getName());


    if (!dir.exists() && !dir.mkdirs()) {
        Log.wtf(TAG,
                "Failed to create storage directory: "
                        + dir.getAbsolutePath());
        Toast.makeText(Video.this, "not record", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT);
        file = null;
    } else {
        file = new File(dir.getAbsolutePath(), new SimpleDateFormat(
                "'IMG_'yyyyMMddHHmmss'.mp4'").format(new Date()));
    }
    return file;
}

@Override
public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder) {
    try {
        if (!mInitSuccesful)
            initRecorder(mHolder.getSurface());
    } catch (IOException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

private void shutdown() {
    // Release MediaRecorder and especially the Camera as it's a shared
    // object that can be used by other applications
    mMediaRecorder.reset();
    mMediaRecorder.release();
    mCamera.release();

    // once the objects have been released they can't be reused
    mMediaRecorder = null;
    mCamera = null;
}

@Override
public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) {
    shutdown();
}

@Override
public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width,
        int height) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

}

@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

}

}

MediaMetadataRetriever Class

public class MediaMetadataRetriever {

 static {
        System.loadLibrary("media_jni");
        native_init();
    }

    // The field below is accessed by native methods
    @SuppressWarnings("unused")
    private int mNativeContext;

    public MediaMetadataRetriever() {
        native_setup();
    }

    /**
     * Call this method before setDataSource() so that the mode becomes
     * effective for subsequent operations. This method can be called only once
     * at the beginning if the intended mode of operation for a
     * MediaMetadataRetriever object remains the same for its whole lifetime,
     * and thus it is unnecessary to call this method each time setDataSource()
     * is called. If this is not never called (which is allowed), by default the
     * intended mode of operation is to both capture frame and retrieve meta
     * data (i.e., MODE_GET_METADATA_ONLY | MODE_CAPTURE_FRAME_ONLY).
     * Often, this may not be what one wants, since doing this has negative
     * performance impact on execution time of a call to setDataSource(), since
     * both types of operations may be time consuming.
     * 
     * @param mode The intended mode of operation. Can be any combination of 
     * MODE_GET_METADATA_ONLY and MODE_CAPTURE_FRAME_ONLY:
     * 1. MODE_GET_METADATA_ONLY & MODE_CAPTURE_FRAME_ONLY: 
     *    For neither frame capture nor meta data retrieval
     * 2. MODE_GET_METADATA_ONLY: For meta data retrieval only
     * 3. MODE_CAPTURE_FRAME_ONLY: For frame capture only
     * 4. MODE_GET_METADATA_ONLY | MODE_CAPTURE_FRAME_ONLY: 
     *    For both frame capture and meta data retrieval
     */
    public native void setMode(int mode);

    /**
     * @return the current mode of operation. A negative return value indicates
     * some runtime error has occurred.
     */
    public native int getMode();

    /**
     * Sets the data source (file pathname) to use. Call this
     * method before the rest of the methods in this class. This method may be
     * time-consuming.
     * 
     * @param path The path of the input media file.
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If the path is invalid.
     */
    public native void setDataSource(String path) throws IllegalArgumentException;

    /**
     * Sets the data source (FileDescriptor) to use.  It is the caller's
     * responsibility to close the file descriptor. It is safe to do so as soon
     * as this call returns. Call this method before the rest of the methods in
     * this class. This method may be time-consuming.
     * 
     * @param fd the FileDescriptor for the file you want to play
     * @param offset the offset into the file where the data to be played starts,
     * in bytes. It must be non-negative
     * @param length the length in bytes of the data to be played. It must be
     * non-negative.
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the arguments are invalid
     */
    public native void setDataSource(FileDescriptor fd, long offset, long length)
            throws IllegalArgumentException;

    /**
     * Sets the data source (FileDescriptor) to use. It is the caller's
     * responsibility to close the file descriptor. It is safe to do so as soon
     * as this call returns. Call this method before the rest of the methods in
     * this class. This method may be time-consuming.
     * 
     * @param fd the FileDescriptor for the file you want to play
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the FileDescriptor is invalid
     */
    public void setDataSource(FileDescriptor fd)
            throws IllegalArgumentException {
        // intentionally less than LONG_MAX
        setDataSource(fd, 0, 0x7ffffffffffffffL);
    }

    /**
     * Sets the data source as a content Uri. Call this method before 
     * the rest of the methods in this class. This method may be time-consuming.
     * 
     * @param context the Context to use when resolving the Uri
     * @param uri the Content URI of the data you want to play
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the Uri is invalid
     * @throws SecurityException if the Uri cannot be used due to lack of
     * permission.
     */
    public void setDataSource(Context context, Uri uri)
        throws IllegalArgumentException, SecurityException {
        if (uri == null) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException();
        }

        String scheme = uri.getScheme();
        if(scheme == null || scheme.equals("file")) {
            setDataSource(uri.getPath());
            return;
        }

        AssetFileDescriptor fd = null;
        try {
            ContentResolver resolver = context.getContentResolver();
            try {
                fd = resolver.openAssetFileDescriptor(uri, "r");
            } catch(FileNotFoundException e) {
                throw new IllegalArgumentException();
            }
            if (fd == null) {
                throw new IllegalArgumentException();
            }
            FileDescriptor descriptor = fd.getFileDescriptor();
            if (!descriptor.valid()) {
                throw new IllegalArgumentException();
            }
            // Note: using getDeclaredLength so that our behavior is the same
            // as previous versions when the content provider is returning
            // a full file.
            if (fd.getDeclaredLength() < 0) {
                setDataSource(descriptor);
            } else {
                setDataSource(descriptor, fd.getStartOffset(), fd.getDeclaredLength());
            }
            return;
        } catch (SecurityException ex) {
        } finally {
            try {
                if (fd != null) {
                    fd.close();
                }
            } catch(IOException ioEx) {
            }
        }
        setDataSource(uri.toString());
    }

    /**
     * Call this method after setDataSource(). This method retrieves the 
     * meta data value associated with the keyCode.
     * 
     * The keyCode currently supported is listed below as METADATA_XXX
     * constants. With any other value, it returns a null pointer.
     * 
     * @param keyCode One of the constants listed below at the end of the class.
     * @return The meta data value associate with the given keyCode on success; 
     * null on failure.
     */
    public native String extractMetadata(int keyCode);

    /**
     * Call this method after setDataSource(). This method finds a
     * representative frame if successful and returns it as a bitmap. This is
     * useful for generating a thumbnail for an input media source.
     * 
     * @return A Bitmap containing a representative video frame, which 
     *         can be null, if such a frame cannot be retrieved.
     */
    public native Bitmap captureFrame();

    /**
     * Call this method after setDataSource(). This method finds the optional
     * graphic or album art associated (embedded or external url linked) the 
     * related data source.
     * 
     * @return null if no such graphic is found.
     */
    public native byte[] extractAlbumArt();

    /**
     * Call it when one is done with the object. This method releases the memory
     * allocated internally.
     */
    public native void release();
    private native void native_setup();
    private static native void native_init();

    private native final void native_finalize();

    @Override
    protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
        try {
            native_finalize();
        } finally {
            super.finalize();
        }
    }

    public static final int MODE_GET_METADATA_ONLY  = 0x01;
    public static final int MODE_CAPTURE_FRAME_ONLY = 0x02;

    /*
     * Do not change these values without updating their counterparts
     * in include/media/mediametadataretriever.h!
     */
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_CD_TRACK_NUMBER = 0;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_ALBUM           = 1;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_ARTIST          = 2;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_AUTHOR          = 3;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_COMPOSER        = 4;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_DATE            = 5;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_GENRE           = 6;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_TITLE           = 7;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_YEAR            = 8;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_DURATION        = 9;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_NUM_TRACKS      = 10;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_IS_DRM_CRIPPLED = 11;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_CODEC           = 12;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_RATING          = 13;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_COMMENT         = 14;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_COPYRIGHT       = 15;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_BIT_RATE        = 16;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_FRAME_RATE      = 17;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_VIDEO_FORMAT    = 18;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_VIDEO_HEIGHT    = 19;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_VIDEO_WIDTH     = 20;
    public static final int METADATA_KEY_WRITER          = 21;
    // Add more here...
}