Requesting Audio permission at Runtime

Posted on June 20, 2017 in Development

Requesting Audio permission at Runtime

This recipe will show how to request run-time permissions to enable audio recording.

As you may know already that adding <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" /> permission in AndroidManifest.xml is not enough on devices running Android 6.0 and greater. This permission has to be requested dynamically at the run-time when user uses your app's recording/mic feature for first time (in addition to declaring this permission in AndroidManifest.xml).

Sample App

This sample has two buttons: * Start/Stop Recording Toggle button : Click this button to start or stop recording. * Play: You can listen to recorded audio by clicking on this button.

Sample App

AndroidManifest.xml

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

Requesting Permissions in Run time

Here's the code that's responsible for handling runtime permissions. I've added the inline comments to explain what's going on with code.

    //Requesting run-time permissions

    //Create placeholder for user's consent to record_audio permission.
    //This will be used in handling callback
    private final int MY_PERMISSIONS_RECORD_AUDIO = 1;

    private void requestAudioPermissions() {
        if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this,
                Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO)
                != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {

            //When permission is not granted by user, show them message why this permission is needed.
            if (ActivityCompat.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(this,
                    Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO)) {
                Toast.makeText(this, "Please grant permissions to record audio", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

                //Give user option to still opt-in the permissions
                ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this,
                        new String[]{Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO},
                        MY_PERMISSIONS_RECORD_AUDIO);

            } else {
                // Show user dialog to grant permission to record audio
                ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this,
                        new String[]{Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO},
                        MY_PERMISSIONS_RECORD_AUDIO);
            }
        }
        //If permission is granted, then go ahead recording audio
        else if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this,
                Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO)
                == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {

            //Go ahead with recording audio now
            recordAudio();
        }
    }

    //Handling callback
    @Override
    public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode,
                                           String permissions[], int[] grantResults) {
        switch (requestCode) {
            case MY_PERMISSIONS_RECORD_AUDIO: {
                if (grantResults.length > 0
                        && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                    // permission was granted, yay!
                    recordAudio();
                } else {
                    // permission denied, boo! Disable the
                    // functionality that depends on this permission.
                    Toast.makeText(this, "Permissions Denied to record audio", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
                }
                return;
            }
        }
    }

App shows user a permission dialog box to either allow or not the given permission.

Runtime Audio Permission

Recording Audio

First, a file needs to be created to store audio data in it. Here's how I'm creating a file when app launches.

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        try {
            mAudioFile = createAudioFile(this, "demo");
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    private static File createAudioFile(Context context, String audioName) throws IOException {
        File storageDir = context.getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PODCASTS);
        File audio = File.createTempFile(
                audioName,  /* prefix */
                ".3gp",         /* suffix */
                storageDir      /* directory */
        );

        return audio;
    }

Once file is created, it can be used to store audio data in it:

    private void recordAudio() {
        if (mRecorder == null) {
            mRecorder = new MediaRecorder();
            mRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);
            mRecorder.setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.THREE_GPP);
            mRecorder.setOutputFile(mAudioFile.getAbsolutePath());
            mRecorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_NB);
        }

        if (!isRecording) {
            try {
                mRecorder.prepare();
                mRecorder.start();
                isRecording = true;
            } catch (IOException e) {
                Log.e("Audio", "prepare() failed");
            }
        } else if (isRecording) {
            isRecording = false;
            stopRecording();
        }
    }

At this point, you've a working Audio recorder app, that can record audio and replay it.

Checkout the source code at Github