I have a question for the developers (im not one):
Though the KF doesnt have a built-in mic, it supports an external one for audio recording. Ive been using Android devices for a little over two years, and have tried a number of audio recoring apps on them.
There are a number of stereo microphones available (from Belkin, Tascam, Blue, etc) that allow high-quality stereo recording on ipods and iphones. There are a number of apps available for recording on Android, but the quality of the recordings is not great. Why is that? Is there something inherent in the Android platform that does not permit hi quality recording?
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
This link might enlighten you a bit. Along with extremely poor audio-latency it would seem that audio recording is also problematic. Strange to find this in an audio device such as a phone eh?
Thanks; I actually used to use the Rehearsal Assistant app. I posed this same question to the developer of J4T, which is a very cool Android multitrack recording app, and I just got his response:
"One reason might be that the best recording quality that is supported by most Android phones is mono, 16-bit pcm, with samplerate 44100. So to make sure a recording app runs on most most android phones, the developer should probably use those numbers and not go any higher.
But it also means it's possible to have android phones that can record at much higher quality, and maybe they are out there. But that capacity may go unused, because the apps are developed for the 'average' phone.
Perhaps on other platforms the 'average phones' have higher bitrates and samplerates.
There are actually 2 ways to do audio recording on Android, but I'm not familiar with the other way (where you can record to AAC or AMR format). Perhaps the quality using those codecs is better than PCM, I don't know.
Please don't take this as a definite answer - this is just a guess from my perspective, maybe a manufacturer (or the Android team) would give a different answer."
I've been using a Belkin Tundtalk stereo microphone with a 3rd-generation ipod nano to make reharsal recordings of my rock band; the quality is actually very good. It records in wav format, stereo, 16-bit pcm, with samplerate 44100. So, outside of the fact that Android records in mono, not stereo, the potential for decent quality is there. The lousy quality must have a lot to do with the cheesy microphones used in the Android phones. If I could find a decent quality mic that would work with my Android phone (or with the Fire), I imagine it would make a big difference.
Yeah, from what I know about Android audio going the other way, the audio-latency issues, Google really managed to screw up on a bunch of levels. The audio app market on the iPhone is pretty big and they just haven't stepped up to the plate for developers from what I can see. I see a few apps coming out like AudioSketch that claim to have custom low-latency audio drivers, but that one isn't available for the Kindle Fire so I really can't say. But, sorry, I am digressing. I'd be curious as to see what results you get from your experiences.
grvthang said:
Perhaps the quality using those codecs is better than PCM, I don't know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This man doesn't now a thing about sound encoding. PCM is uncompressed audio format so it have smallest use of CPU and it has best quality. Only problem is that is space-hungry in comparison with other codec's.
In audio, whole system is good as the weakest thing in it. You need good MIC, you need good MIC input, you need good audio driver and you need good recording app. If one link in this chain is inadequate resulting sound quality is on level of that poor part.
Hey, just a thought but you might be able to turn your question into a free Kindle Fire if you were so inclined.
Buffet_of_Lies said:
Hey, just a thought but you might be able to turn your question into a free Kindle Fire if you were so inclined.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that you've brought it to my attention, I AM so inclined! That's for letting me know.
I posted my question there, and after about an hour it was Closed as "not constructive" lol.
As I said, I'm not a developer. Even before I posted the question here I googled the subject and haven't been able to come up with a definitive answer as to why this is so. I would think there would be a huge market for after-market microphones for people to use on their Android phones (as there is for iphone and ipod). If I was an iphone fanboy, this would be my first argument against Android - crappy audio recording!
Related
Okay, so I know absolutely nothing about ROMs, so this is mostly a question of if this is possible:
Currently, the EVO's 720p video recording is lackluster. I find that the biggest reason for this is the bitrate of the video used. I imagine that the bitrate used on the video was to accommodate the included microSD card's Class 2 write speed.
Is it possible to increase the bitrate used for encoding of this video, to something ~5mbps, to which a Class 6 microSD could handle just fine? Ideally this could even be implemented as an option in the camera app, so that those who don't have/can't afford a class 6 microSD could still use the ROM.
If that is possible, what are the chances of having the video also record using a different audio codec? The current codec used is pretty much impossible to play back in anything except Quicktime (VLC's latest release candidate just added support, but it still sounds awful, like a pack of hyenas on top of the track). I'm really not particular on what audio codec is actually used; be it mp3, ogg, etc, as long as it's more easily played.
The best case scenario, the DREAM EVO ROM for camera capability for me, would be:
1. At least double the bitrate (4-5mbps) for the 720p video with an option to use old settings.
2. A better audio codec using higher quality settings (minimum 64kbps mp3/ogg/similar) that is playable in many more programs.
3. A more compatible container format like mp4/m4v.
Am I dreaming or would this be possible in a custom ROM?
Don't forget it will also be limited to how fast the hardware can encode the video. Someone with the right skills will have to push the hardware encoder to see how high they can push the bitrate without exceeding real time.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
gbm85 said:
Don't forget it will also be limited to how fast the hardware can encode the video. Someone with the right skills will have to push the hardware encoder to see how high they can push the bitrate without exceeding real time.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there might be hardware limitations, that's sort of what I'm asking; if this is something that can be "fixed" in a ROM or if we're stuck.
I think as long as it can handle the bandwidth though, I don't see why the chip would be incapable of higher bitrates. I'm not an expert on the matter, but I thought that the less compression/higher bitrate something is, the less power was required to make it happen.
well im pretty sure this is possible, if a dev puts the time and effort into such a large project. i only say this cause the nexus one recently got 720p video recording, something it didnt have from the start. and i think its known that htc made the video recording compressed, so i think theoretically if we lift this compression and use a different form of compression, we can get higher bitrates from the video.
Yeah, I'm hoping a developer can investigate this thoroughly. Even if it takes a while, it'd be nice to know someone is at least looking into it.
And to make it worth their while, I'd be more than willing to pitch some donation funds towards such a project when it becomes successful. I doubt I'd be the only one as well.
I was wondering this also. I'm not up on the technical aspects of this, but I was also wondering if the 720p could be improved through software fix/ROM development? I agree also that I'm sure a lot would be willing to donate for such a fix.
I'm sure eventually we will get a better cam, i mean look at the how the nexus got 720p video
You can easily get 720p at 60FPS... The snapdragon can support it.
i would most certainly donate for this improvment
yup i would donate as well
we just dont have as lively a development community as the nexus yet, but we will in time - we;re gaining momentum fast
EtherealRemnant said:
You can easily get 720p at 60FPS... The snapdragon can support it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that encoding or decoding? And at what bitrate?
gbm85 said:
Is that encoding or decoding? And at what bitrate?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go look at the Nexus One forum... They've got up to 1080p capture.
Realistically though, it seems silly to rely on our phones to capture HD video. I have a G9 that does that task quite handily.
All I could find was 720p capture at 20fps and a max bitrate of 12Mb, which is plenty.
This is interesting, I'd like to see this happen as well.
I'll do what I can in terms of research.
Better low-light pictures too, if at all possible
All the video samples from the G2 I have seen on Youtube so far have not been impressive. Most disturbing about these videos is the sound quality, it is pretty bad. I have a Nexus One (hacked with Cyanogenmod's 720p recording feature) and it also isn't that great so I'm guessing this is a 'feature' of HTC phones. Compared to the Galaxy S (from Samsung) the HTC phones (G2, N1 and even the EVO) seem to suck in the video / audio department.
In a recent post I read that the audio codec for a HD recording off the G2 is this:
AMR (samr), Mono, 8k, 32 bits per sample
Could this be the problem and can this be changed?
AMR == Adaptive Multi-Rate Audio Codec. Dunno what the "s" in "samr" is all about tho.
I see a comparison with the nokia 8 and there is a definite sound quality difference. (Be sure to watch this in 720p)
Wonder if the sample rate is adjustable by firmware/settings or if it's set in hardware. Strangely wikipedia lists 14 modes, none of which are at the "8k" (rate?) you reported... I see AMR_7.95 tho.
Anyway, my g2 is on the way....
W
cowmixtoo said:
AMR (samr), Mono, 8k, 32 bits per sample
Could this be the problem and can this be changed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, yeah that's pretty bad.. 8k.
ericc191 said:
Wow, yeah that's pretty bad.. 8k.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, my watch can do better..
I just confirmed that my N1 encodes audio in the exact same format.
cowmixtoo said:
I just confirmed that my N1 encodes audio in the exact same format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Idle thought- I wonder if the codec is set to a low bandwidth to accommodate slower SD card speeds. I think the g2 comes with a class 2, and this thread suggests that there is stuttering when playing back at the HD setting.
This is just idle speculation.
http://vimeo.com/15487989
Done a couple days ago, not so much about the audio, but the video couldnt keep up.
Yup, I noticed a lot of stuttering when playing videos back too.
ericc191 said:
Yup, I noticed a lot of stuttering when playing videos back too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What SD card?
Agreed. Audio isn't stellar and playback has stuttering. In fact, I've already experienced a weird situation where the video wouldn't actually play - just showed a blank screen with the audio playing.
I love this phone, but the video / audio / picture quality on my Sprint Epic is far superior.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
VValdo said:
What SD card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
8GB Class 6 Transcend. It usually transfers up to 7mb/ps, so definitely not the issue.
ericc191 said:
8GB Class 6 Transcend. It usually transfers up to 7mb/ps, so definitely not the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn thought it might be it... well what else causes stuttering? Not buffering enough... or maybe cpu being pulled to do something else..?
Is there any message from logcat when it's stuttering?
Meanwhile, I'm looking at the video camera source to see if there's any way to change the audio bitrate...
Lines ~230:
Code:
for (AudioEncoderCap encoder : EncoderCapabilities.getAudioEncoders()) {
switch (encoder.mCodec) {
case MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_NB:
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.put("amrnb", MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_NB);
break;
case MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AAC:
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.put("aac", MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AAC);
break;
}
}
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.putDefault(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.DEFAULT);
/*
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.put("amrwb", MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_WB);
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.put("qcelp", MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.QCELP);
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.put("evrc", MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.EVRC);
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.put("aacplus", MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AAC_PLUS);
AUDIO_ENCODER_TABLE.put("eaacplus", MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.EAAC_PLUS);
*/
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.put("1280x720", 6000000);
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.put("720x480", 3000000);
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.put("800x480", 3000000);
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.put("640x480", 1600000);
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.put("352x288", 360000);
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.put("320x240", 320000);
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.put("176x144", 192000);
VIDEOQUALITY_BITRATE_TABLE.putDefault(320000);
}
The video bitrate is right there.. how do you change the audio I wonder....? And what's up with the commented-out bits...
Maybe I'll try to get this running... I have no g2 yet to try it on but will soon.
W
One more thought... This is an old issue. If you doubt the potential the video camera COULD have, take a look at this audio comparison linked from the thread. At least on the n1, the microphone is capable of way better sound than the camera app currently offers. The g2 has a faster processor-- it should be able to encode better sound.. AAC? Ogg?
Update: It's not the camera app's fault. It's Android's. There is an open issue for this. It looks like Android itself doesn't support anything better. The good news is this isn't a hardware limitation. As someone suggested, a WebM encoder seems like an obvious thing to add.
VValdo said:
One more thought... This is an old issue. If you doubt the potential the video camera COULD have, take a look at this audio comparison linked from the thread. At least on the n1, the microphone is capable of way better sound than the camera app currently offers. The g2 has a faster processor-- it should be able to encode better sound.. AAC? Ogg?
Update: It's not the camera app's fault. It's Android's. There is an open issue for this. It looks like Android itself doesn't support anything better. The good news is this isn't a hardware limitation. As someone suggested, a WebM encoder seems like an obvious thing to add.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's a plus.
VValdo said:
One more thought... This is an old issue. If you doubt the potential the video camera COULD have, take a look at this audio comparison linked from the thread. At least on the n1, the microphone is capable of way better sound than the camera app currently offers. The g2 has a faster processor-- it should be able to encode better sound.. AAC? Ogg?
Update: It's not the camera app's fault. It's Android's. There is an open issue for this. It looks like Android itself doesn't support anything better. The good news is this isn't a hardware limitation. As someone suggested, a WebM encoder seems like an obvious thing to add.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow amazing! i really hope we can fix this issue
I just starred the issue (they look at that don't they?)... I recorded some video at a concert last night and while the video wasn't terrible, the sound is absolutely unbearable. Makes the videos pretty much worthless
I keep wondering if it's possible to stuff our own codec in there. I mean, some of the android phones have higher quality audio, right? If so, how do they do it? Why are those codecs commented out in the video camera code for...?
Doesn't cyanogenmod have FLAC support? Couldn't other codecs be added to the phone app, even if they're in java?
You're right, the current audio situation sucks.
I heard that WP7 didn't support WMA Lossless... Is that true?
Here you have a list of supported codecs:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff462087(v=VS.92).aspx
Thank you very much~ Not easy to understand...
Strange that it supports WMA-10Pro for video audio but not music audio.
Hey
i've just tried it in the WP7 Emulator (sadly i don't have a WP7 yet :-( ). I encoded a CD with the WMA lossless optione, and streamed it via a local webserver to the emulator... Worked like a charm
TL;DR: WMA Lossless should work on WP7
Regards
Chris
ChrisKringel said:
Hey
i've just tried it in the WP7 Emulator (sadly i don't have a WP7 yet :-( ). I encoded a CD with the WMA lossless optione, and streamed it via a local webserver to the emulator... Worked like a charm
TL;DR: WMA Lossless should work on WP7
Regards
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! But if you drag a WMA Lossless via Zune, it will be transcoded to a lossy WMA...
BoomerCE said:
Thank you very much! But if you drag a WMA Lossless via Zune, it will be transcoded to a lossy WMA...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case you haven't done this yet, with your phone connected, go into phone settings > conversion settings and select "Only convert media files that aren't supported by this device".
If it converts them then, they aren't compatible.
Even if it supports lossless, which gets rid of the small and perhaps inaudible differences resulting from lossy compression, it will insert very audible gaps between tracks.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...k/d87ef8f3-d528-4d3b-bbcb-58e2d5934bb1?page=1
I think there is no chance for Zune on WP7 to be suitable for serious music playback. It just doesn't cater to this market. Only by allowing other software access to music files (via file system access) will WP7 be usable for music-lovers.
i just found out that the zune software was converting all my wma lossless files to mp3s before it put them on my lumia 900. I was very pro WP before this **** happened, i'm still in shock, and now i'm thinking about buying the new iphone, whenever it comes out and getting rid of this. this phone and mobile OS just lost so much of my respect.
Are you serious?!
slaydemon said:
i just found out that the zune software was converting all my wma lossless files to mp3s before it put them on my lumia 900. I was very pro WP before this **** happened, i'm still in shock, and now i'm thinking about buying the new iphone, whenever it comes out and getting rid of this. this phone and mobile OS just lost so much of my respect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unstable much?
So because YOU neglected to set your options before you transferred a ton of music you have decided to go over to iOS?! Let us know how itunes works out.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
If you like apple just say you like apple. We can respect that. We may not understand it but we can respect it. Just don't feed us this baloney.
slaydemon said:
i just found out that the zune software was converting all my wma lossless files to mp3s before it put them on my lumia 900. I was very pro WP before this **** happened, i'm still in shock, and now i'm thinking about buying the new iphone, whenever it comes out and getting rid of this. this phone and mobile OS just lost so much of my respect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before you switch to the iPhone you should know that the iPhone doesn't even support WMA. iTunes definetly will convert them. Besides that, lossless audio on mobile devices desn't make sense at all. It is a waste of disk space and the on board audio processors won't even fullfill the lossless quality.
iPhone still sucks for music. If you really care about sound quality and you enjoy lossless music you should get a dedicated device, everything else will lead to a lesser experience. So called "audiophiles" using iPhones make me laugh. But if having an Apple emblem on the back of your phone gives you a nice placebo effect then good for you.
Sent from my Lumia 800 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
slaydemon said:
i just found out that the zune software was converting all my wma lossless files to mp3s before it put them on my lumia 900. I was very pro WP before this **** happened, i'm still in shock, and now i'm thinking about buying the new iphone, whenever it comes out and getting rid of this. this phone and mobile OS just lost so much of my respect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a dream... I'd like to make a real test for these "audiophiles", "golden cable lovers" and "haters"... Connect a certain amount of handsets (WP7, iPhone, Android) plus specialized audio players (iPod, Sansa etc.) to the good receiver, put on headphones to the "audiophile"-tester (a good, expensive ones), and start playing the same (MP3-encoded with 320 bps rate, and in loseless format) song on all devices (but the tester shouldn't know which device he's listening right now), and start switching audio inputs and ask him: "Which device is playing RIGHT NOW?!" or "Is it MP3 or loseless?!"
Each time he's mistaken, he should receive a good birch-rod punch on his ass - this be a real shock! (no, I'm not a flagellant but they MUST get something for their "knowledge" and self-conceit! )
P.S. And I'm a good person: each time he'll be (accidentally) right, he will receive a strawberry flavored stinking candy (kinda malls are offering for free)
slaydemon said:
i just found out that the zune software was converting all my wma lossless files to mp3s before it put them on my lumia 900. I was very pro WP before this **** happened, i'm still in shock, and now i'm thinking about buying the new iphone, whenever it comes out and getting rid of this. this phone and mobile OS just lost so much of my respect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I hate to break it to you but when you goto iTunes you will face the same thing if not worse. The iPhone or any apple device for that matter does not support .wma playback at all and everything else is converted to apples proprietary format before being transferred over.
If you want lossless quality music you can buy an HTC WP and then enable the SRS enhancements. With this enabled you get surround sound, enhanced bass,mids and highs. It also supposedly restores lost information from compressed files.
sensboston said:
I have a dream... I'd like to make a real test for these "audiophiles", "golden cable lovers" and "haters"... Connect a certain amount of handsets (WP7, iPhone, Android) plus specialized audio players (iPod, Sansa etc.) to the good receiver, put on headphones to the "audiophile"-tester (a good, expensive ones), and start playing the same (MP3-encoded with 320 bps rate, and in loseless format) song on all devices (but the tester shouldn't know which device he's listening right now), and start switching audio inputs and ask him: "Which device is playing RIGHT NOW?!" or "Is it MP3 or loseless?!"
Each time he's mistaken, he should receive a good birch-rod punch on his ass - this be a real shock! (no, I'm not a flagellant but they MUST get something for their "knowledge" and self-conceit! )
P.S. And I'm a good person: each time he'll be (accidentally) right, he will receive a strawberry flavored stinking candy (kinda malls are offering for free)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe, I know what you mean. Honestly there isn't really a huge difference between 320 kbps mp3s and FLACs. You may notice it when playing with a good equalizer and very low impedance earbuds. With very high impedance ones it's very hard to notice a difference, obviously the volume will be quite low but unless you have some serious crosstalk and overall noise caused by a cheap DAC you won't have to cringe. Personally I use dedicated devices mostly because they sound better regardless what you plug them to, they have decent volume, a good equalizer and great battery life, being able to use lossless formats is just a plus, so why not. Honestly tho the guy right here obviously knows nothing. He was thinking that his old iPhone was using some kind of "magical" and uncompressed audio format, basically because the good old Steve told him so, whereas the Lumia uses "crappy" mp3...good God
Sent from my Lumia 800 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
You´re talking about sound quality, and how good the sound quality is, and you are using equalizer? Gimme a break...really...
vnvman said:
Hehe, I know what you mean. Honestly there isn't really a huge difference between 320 kbps mp3s and FLACs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, there is a significant difference between them to be honest. See for yourself:
This is a mp3:
and this one is a FLAC:
As you can clearly see, mp3's are often leaving out the spectrum between 16 and 24kHz. You can also see some bad spiking. This will impact the quality and dynamics of the music especially on high end devices and for trained audiophiles it is noticeable. As for gold cables, there really is a reason why it is preferably used for high end devices, because it has the best conductivity for electricity and is chemically inert so there is no disturbance due to oxidation.
Snake. said:
You´re talking about sound quality, and how good the sound quality is, and you are using equalizer? Gimme a break...really...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, why not? Ever tried a good one on good hardware? It's really essential in order to keep your experience consistent throughout the different type of headsets/earbuds you'll be using. I'm not talking about crappy software based equalizers you get in like PlayerPro for Android and such, those ruin an already poor signal, you souldn't bother messing with those.
@morpheuszg: There is a difference, I don't deny that, however it's not always easy to perceive, especially if the bitrate of the mp3 is constant. Also, try to listen to Search And Destroy by Iggy & The Stooges, from Raw Power: the sound is already crippled and distorted "out of the box", if you get what I mean, regardless the format
morpheuszg said:
Well, there is a significant difference between them to be honest. See for yourself:
This is a mp3:
and this one is a FLAC:
As you can clearly see, mp3's are often leaving out the spectrum between 16 and 24kHz. You can also see some bad spiking. This will impact the quality and dynamics of the music especially on high end devices and for trained audiophiles it is noticeable. As for gold cables, there really is a reason why it is preferably used for high end devices, because it has the best conductivity for electricity and is chemically inert so there is no disturbance due to oxidation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are already VERY aware of the differences between mp3 and FLAC. The point that is attempting to be made is that most audio players aren't able to deliver on the improved quality of FLAC. Lossless audio is great when you have the player and speakers to match. It's likely that you cannot hear the difference between FLAC and high-quality mp3 on a mobile device using earbuds.
iPhone? I hardly consider it a top quality audio player. iTunes? pretty sucky, too. If you're this obsessed with lossless audio, and you are truly discerning enough to notice the differences, you should get a dedicated device like the Cowon or something.
anseio said:
We are already VERY aware of the differences between mp3 and FLAC. The point that is attempting to be made is that most audio players aren't able to deliver on the improved quality of FLAC. Lossless audio is great when you have the player and speakers to match. It's likely that you cannot hear the difference between FLAC and high-quality mp3 on a mobile device using earbuds.
iPhone? I hardly consider it a top quality audio player. iTunes? pretty sucky, too. If you're this obsessed with lossless audio, and you are truly discerning enough to notice the differences, you should get a dedicated device like the Cowon or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, this is true. And that's why I think lossless files are a waste of space on mobile phones. And that HTC Beats thingy is not that good either. As for the iPhone, it really isn't a good player especially with it's standard headphones. So many people do like them but I find them quite lousy against Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic etc.
I’m going to say this first b/c I know there are people who will reply w/ out reading the entire thread just to: a) be the first smart-ass comment and b) up their post count to make them feel relevant. So please don’t reply to this thread w/ all the usual BS. If you don’t have helpful info to share then just move on. Thank you.
Audio quality when recording video
I have been looking for a solution to this since I have had my EVO. I LOVE every other aspect of the device; I just can’t understand why it’s such a hard issue to resolve. Being that I have seen the issue discussed numerous times in numerous forums, I know there are a lot of people looking for the same solution. It seems to be an issue inherent to Android as there are older phones that record audio in video much better (iPhone, Palm Pre, Ericsson to name a few).
I have scrounged through forum after forum, thread after thread looking for a solution, but I keep coming up empty and most of the threads are several months old, which is why I’m posting a NEW thread. I’m hoping someone out there has found a solution (hack, 3rd party app, something) that will allow the EVO camcorder to record audio in a HQ format or bitrate. If this is an unattainable goal, I guess it’s the iPhone for me (cringe).
Oh, my EVO is rooted and I'm running MikG Htc Sense 2.1 + 3.0 v2.56
Thank you in advance.
I've shared this same concern. For a while the answer was to use an AOSP-based 2.3 ROM as the audio codec used in Gingerbread was superior to the pre-Gingerbread versions of Android.
The downside of using an AOSP-based ROM on the EVO is that you lose the ability to record in 720p.
However, many of the newer 2.3-based Sense ROMs that use Sense 2.1 and/or 3.0 have far better audio quality in the camcorder than previous versions. You can also up the bitrate from 10 Mbps to 20 Mbps in the settings. I'm using Synergy at the moment and I'm getting FAR better audio quality than I was on any of the stock ROMs, Gingerbread or not. I was using Fresh 4.2/CM 7 on and off prior to moving to Synergy and the audio quality I get now is superior to Fresh and equal to CM 7 (as I suspect they're both using the same audio codec now but I haven't taken the time to verify.)
Also, for non-video audio recording download Tape A Talk from the market and up the sampling rate to the max.
---------- Post added at 02:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:03 PM ----------
OK, I just compared two videos, one made with Fresh 4.2 and one with Synergy RLS1.
Audio for Fresh was the following:
Codec: AMR narrow band (samr)
Channels: Mono
Sample Rate: 8000 Hz
Bits per sample: 32
Audio for Synergy:
Codec: MPEG AAC Audio (mp4a)
Channels: Stereo
Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
I used the Codec Details in Media Information in VLC 1.1 to evaluate each video. The sound in Synergy is night and day better than Fresh 4.2.
snowpunter, thanks for the info. I normally don't record in 720p (in my case it's overkill). I prefer to record in 800x480. Do you (or anyone) know if there's a way to up the bitrate while recording in the smaller format?
Oh WOW, just seen your edit. That's a huge difference. Is there any way you can post those vids to youtube?
That bitrate control is probably only for video. I was recommending upping it in case it affected video quality. Check a video you've made in MikG in VLC to see if you're getting the same audio quality as Synergy.
Ok, this is odd... I sampled 2 videos I just took and the codec info matches yours regarding the audio for Synergy, but the audio is absolutely horrible.
Keep in mind, even though the volume was high, it was still prefectly clear to the human ear (I was trying to re-create a concert level environment).
Here's a link to the 1280x720 video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqcm-gGfuKE
Here's a link to the 800x480 video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9dbjM5Lb0w
This is driving me CRAZY. Why can't our phones capture audio like the iPhone??? Oh and it's not just the EVO b/c here's a sample from the brand new Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVaNRLuxh-c
I think it's a general limitation in the Android OS and perhaps the only solution is to go to the iPhone...
This is driving me CRAZY. Why can't our phones capture audio like the iPhone??? Oh and it's not just the EVO b/c here's a sample from the brand new Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it doesn't work like an iphone because it's NOT an iphone.
And even an iphone wouldnt be able to record good audio in the same situation as that video.
sitlet said:
Well, it doesn't work like an iphone because it's NOT an iphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I realize that, but the TECHNOLOGY exists and what I'm trying to figure out:
1) Is the Android OS capable of supporting this technology?
2) If so, why do they not incorporate it into the OS?
sitlet said:
And even an iphone wouldnt be able to record good audio in the same situation as that video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Au contraire, I have done side by side comparisons and the iPhone DID record perfectly clear audio so I know it can be done.
Please don't litter this thread with unhelpful opinions, or worse, unfounded proclamations. As stated in the very beginning, if you don’t have helpful info to share then just move on. Thank you.
Please don't litter this thread with unhelpful opinions, or worse, unfounded proclamations. As stated in the very beginning, if you don’t have helpful info to share then just move on. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been in the audio/video recording industry for over 20 years now, I think I have a clue what I am talking about. If YOU don't want my opinions and answers, maybe you should be the one to move on.
Sitlet, thank you for proving my points. First you wrote,
sitlet said:
...even an iphone wouldnt be able to record good audio in the same situation as that video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am CERTAIN every one of the following videos were recorded in louder environments than my truck...
Janet Jackson in concert (recorded w/ iPhone)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY-l8-65an8
Goo Goo Dolls - Name (recorded w/ iPhone)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3eUZFNUuQ4
Tool concert (recorded w/ iPhone 4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY-mZOehiQc
...and they still came out much cleaner than...
Tommy Lee drum solo (recorded w/ my EVO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxWVULlCes4
The Big Rock Show @ 12th & Porter (recorded w/ my EVO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAO6Ot6vj-Q
Then you wrote,
sitlet said:
I have been in the audio/video recording industry for over 20 years now, I think I have a clue what I am talking about. If YOU don't want my opinions and answers, maybe you should be the one to move on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With your posts you managed to do exactly what I hoped to avoid by stating,
...please don’t reply to this thread w/ all the usual BS... (to) up (your) post count to make (yourself) feel relevant. If you don’t have helpful info to share then just move on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...and you managed to make yourself look like an ass by saying you have 20 years in the recording industry, but made claim the iPhone is incapable of recording good audio in the same situation despite being proven completely wrong (hence my unfounded proclamations remark).
Now, with that said, I'm not trying to make this an iPhone VS EVO thread. All I (and several others) would like to do is find a way for the EVO to record audio comparable to other phones on the market; obviously it's possible.
However, like so many others, this thread will probably be closed soon due to it's derailment by Sitlet and his inability to follow simple instruction. It's people like you that ruin great forums like XDA.
I know it has been asked before over here, but i would like to discuss it again:
Could it be somehow possible to activate TV-Out over the 3.5mm audio connector on the defy?
The Samsung Captivate (aka Galaxy S) has it and the devs managed to support it in their CM7 version for the captivate. Perhaps we could use some of those "drivers"?
It would be just to cool to use the defy with a bluetooth keyboard (apple wireless keyboard working flawlessly btw) and a nice big screen for browsing and writing documents...
Btw the cable looks like this.
i dont think its matter of drivers, if the headphones jack is not wired to give tv output, then it wont be physically possible without a hardware mod... just my opinion, i could be wrong tho...
Indeed. If it's not meant to output video then it's not meant to. End of story ^^
Sent from my 1Ghz CM7 + CM9 Defy
Did anybody proof that its not wired?
At least it can give audio over 3 pins (stereo+mic) - that means all contacts needed are wired. COuld the tv-signal perhaps be "disguised" as audio signal?
shorty66 said:
Did anybody proof that its not wired?
At least it can give audio over 3 pins (stereo+mic) - that means all contacts needed are wired. COuld the tv-signal perhaps be "disguised" as audio signal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you really think that motorola would put a video-output capable 3,5mm jack in the phone, and not use it as a feature?? Things aren't free in this world. If there was one, they would have said so, simply because...they could sell more Defys thanks to it.
Putting a really awesome feature in a phone and not saying nothing about it? Come on... xD
In addition our phone isn't event meant for tv-out, forget about having it flowing out of wierd places like an audio jack x)
Sent from my 1Ghz CM7 + CM9 Defy
Do you really think motorola wouldn`t open the bootloader even if they could? They could have sold a few defys more with an open bootloader....
You might have noticed that im not that convinced by your argument.
No **** man. Moto also advertised a gpu less omap 3610. When in all actuality we have omap 3630. Why would they do that? I think this deserves more looking into
Sent from my MB526 using XDA App
I think if it would be possible, chances are that a kernel tweak would be needed to activate it and thus it would not be possible with a locked bootloader.
But still, i think it could be worth it to take a look in the Captivates librarys regarding tv-out.
shorty66 said:
Do you really think motorola wouldn`t open the bootloader even if they could? They could have sold a few defys more with an open bootloader....
You might have noticed that im not that convinced by your argument.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorola wouldn't have significantly more sales if the bootloader was unlocked: over 80% of consumers don't even know what a locked/unlocked bootoader is
Sent from my 1Ghz CM7 + CM9 Defy
Can the hdmi / vga tv out be sent via USB?
Please dont be naif, you know how much motorola lies about the defy!, i did a search about the defy hardware, the chip as you know is an omap3630 with sgx530 and IVA 2 +, this chip is capable of transmit audio and video, see the pic:
b.imagehost.org/0148/tiomap.jpg
So the probem is software related, maybe its too complicated due to the locked bootloader but i think its totally posible, its just a matter to find some device that uses the same chip, like the Droid x or milestone 2...
gaman12 said:
Please dont be naif, you know how much motorola lies about the defy!, i did a search about the defy hardware, the chip as you know is an omap3630 with sgx530 and IVA 2 +, this chip is capable of transmit audio and video, see the pic:
b.imagehost.org/0148/tiomap.jpg
So the probem is software related, maybe its too complicated due to the locked bootloader but i think its totally posible, its just a matter to find some device that uses the same chip, like the Droid x or milestone 2...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not really... we all know the chip is capable, but if it is not physically utilized, no amount of software tweaking will make it possible... i dont think they would have bothered to connect the 3.5mm audio jack with video out if they are not going to use it...
but u r asking the right question... think outside the box, if its even remotely possible, i would like to have this feature
Following your argument i would conclude that it MUST be possile to route a video signal through the headphone jack. Of course you would need a software wrapper which codes the video signal and puts it out as a sound. If you would do that as an app, this might be awfully slow. But i cant see a reason for this to be impossile as the headphone jack IS wired to the sound output and apps ARE capale of using that sound output.
I would really like to use an app like that as a workaround, as long as its fast enough for simple rowsing.
Edit: I just searched the marked for "Image to sound" apps and came across "Spectral" which takes an image, converrts it into a sound spectrum and plazs it. It should not e too hard to change the conversion to conformwith the component video standard.
This would still onlz convert one image and i dout it would be possible to use this with screenshots in realtime but it would be a good step towards video out on the defy.
shorty66 said:
Following your argument i would conclude that it MUST be possile to route a video signal through the headphone jack. Of course you would need a software wrapper which codes the video signal and puts it out as a sound. If you would do that as an app, this might be awfully slow. But i cant see a reason for this to be impossile as the headphone jack IS wired to the sound output and apps ARE capale of using that sound output.
I would really like to use an app like that as a workaround, as long as its fast enough for simple rowsing.
Edit: I just searched the marked for "Image to sound" apps and came across "Spectral" which takes an image, converrts it into a sound spectrum and plazs it. It should not e too hard to change the conversion to conformwith the component video standard.
This would still onlz convert one image and i dout it would be possible to use this with screenshots in realtime but it would be a good step towards video out on the defy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude in fact, it is very hard/impossible. One thing is "transform" a digital image in a digital audio. In that case you dont need to make sense, just convert one block of image into one "la" ou "do" and you are good to go.
We have a limited range of frequencies that we can hear and software/hardware generally take advantage of that. Transport analogic video(that may take a broad range of frequencies) trought analogic audio hardware may be impossible for near anything apart form really simple scenes
shorty66 said:
Following your argument i would conclude that it MUST be possile to route a video signal through the headphone jack. Of course you would need a software wrapper which codes the video signal and puts it out as a sound. If you would do that as an app, this might be awfully slow. But i cant see a reason for this to be impossile as the headphone jack IS wired to the sound output and apps ARE capale of using that sound output.
I would really like to use an app like that as a workaround, as long as its fast enough for simple rowsing.
Edit: I just searched the marked for "Image to sound" apps and came across "Spectral" which takes an image, converrts it into a sound spectrum and plazs it. It should not e too hard to change the conversion to conformwith the component video standard.
This would still onlz convert one image and i dout it would be possible to use this with screenshots in realtime but it would be a good step towards video out on the defy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not route it via the micro usb, may be it could be easier?