---
title: Media
description: Record and play audio on the device.
---

cordova-plugin-media

   

This plugin provides the ability to record and play back audio files on a device.

__NOTE__: The current implementation does not adhere to a W3C
specification for media capture, and is provided for convenience only.
A future implementation will adhere to the latest W3C specification
and may deprecate the current APIs.

This plugin defines a global Media Constructor.

Although in the global scope, it is not available until after the deviceready event.

``js
document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);
function onDeviceReady() {
console.log(Media);
}
`

Installation

`bash
cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-media
`

Supported Platforms

- Android
- iOS
- Browser

Media

`js
var media = new Media(src, mediaSuccess, [mediaError], [mediaStatus]);
`

$3

- __src__: A URI containing the audio content. _(DOMString)_

- __mediaSuccess__: (Optional) The callback that executes after a Media object has completed the current play, record, or stop action. _(Function)_

- __mediaError__: (Optional) The callback that executes if an error occurs. It takes an integer error code. _(Function)_

- __mediaStatus__: (Optional) The callback that executes to indicate status changes. It takes a integer status code. _(Function)_

- __mediaDurationUpdate__: (Optional) the callback that executes when the file's duration updates and is available. _(Function)_

__NOTE__: cdvfile path is supported as src parameter:
`javascript
var my_media = new Media('cdvfile://localhost/temporary/recording.mp3', ...);
`

$3

The following constants are reported as the only parameter to the
mediaStatus callback:

- Media.MEDIA_NONE = 0;
- Media.MEDIA_STARTING = 1;
- Media.MEDIA_RUNNING = 2;
- Media.MEDIA_PAUSED = 3;
- Media.MEDIA_STOPPED = 4;

$3

- media.getCurrentAmplitude: Returns the current amplitude within an audio file.

- media.getCurrentPosition: Returns the current position within an audio file.

- media.getDuration: Returns the duration of an audio file.

- media.play: Start or resume playing an audio file.

- media.pause: Pause playback of an audio file.

- media.pauseRecord: Pause recording of an audio file.

- media.release: Releases the underlying operating system's audio resources.

- media.resumeRecord: Resume recording of an audio file.

- media.seekTo: Moves the position within the audio file.

- media.setVolume: Set the volume for audio playback.

- media.startRecord: Start recording an audio file.

- media.stopRecord: Stop recording an audio file.

- media.stop: Stop playing an audio file.

- media.setRate: Set the playback rate for the audio file.

$3

- __position__: The position within the audio playback, in seconds.
- Not automatically updated during play; call getCurrentPosition to update.

- __duration__: The duration of the media, in seconds.

media.getCurrentAmplitude

Returns the current amplitude within an audio file.

media.getCurrentAmplitude(mediaSuccess, [mediaError]);

$3

- Android
- iOS

$3

- __mediaSuccess__: The callback that is passed the current amplitude (0.0 - 1.0).

- __mediaError__: (Optional) The callback to execute if an error occurs.

$3

`js
// Audio player
//
var my_media = new Media(src, onSuccess, onError);

// Record audio
my_media.startRecord();

mediaTimer = setInterval(function () {
// get media amplitude
my_media.getCurrentAmplitude(
// success callback
function (amp) {
console.log(amp + "%");
},
// error callback
function (e) {
console.log("Error getting amp=" + e);
}
);
}, 1000);
`

media.getCurrentPosition

Returns the current position within an audio file. Also updates the Media object's position parameter.

media.getCurrentPosition(mediaSuccess, [mediaError]);

$3

- __mediaSuccess__: The callback that is passed the current position in seconds.

- __mediaError__: (Optional) The callback to execute if an error occurs.

$3

`js
// Audio player
//
var my_media = new Media(src, onSuccess, onError);

// Update media position every second
var mediaTimer = setInterval(function () {
// get media position
my_media.getCurrentPosition(
// success callback
function (position) {
if (position > -1) {
console.log((position) + " sec");
}
},
// error callback
function (e) {
console.log("Error getting pos=" + e);
}
);
}, 1000);
`

media.getDuration

Returns the duration of an audio file in seconds. If the duration is unknown, it returns a value of -1.


media.getDuration();

$3

`js
// Audio player
//
var my_media = new Media(src, onSuccess, onError);

// Get duration
var counter = 0;
var timerDur = setInterval(function() {
counter = counter + 100;
if (counter > 2000) {
clearInterval(timerDur);
}
var dur = my_media.getDuration();
if (dur > 0) {
clearInterval(timerDur);
document.getElementById('audio_duration').innerHTML = (dur) + " sec";
}
}, 100);
`

#### Android Quirk

Newer versions of Android have aggressive routines that limit background processing. If you are trying to get the duration while your app is in the background longer than roughly 5 minutes, you will get more consistent results by using the mediaDurationUpdate callback of the constructor.

media.pause

Pauses playing an audio file.

media.pause();

$3

`js
// Play audio
//
function playAudio(url) {
// Play the audio file at url
var my_media = new Media(url,
// success callback
function () { console.log("playAudio():Audio Success"); },
// error callback
function (err) { console.log("playAudio():Audio Error: " + err); }
);

// Play audio
my_media.play();

// Pause after 10 seconds
setTimeout(function () {
my_media.pause();
}, 10000);
}
`

media.pauseRecord

Pauses recording an audio file.

media.pauseRecord();

$3

- iOS

$3

`js
// Record audio
//
function recordAudio() {
var src = "myrecording.mp3";
var mediaRec = new Media(src,
// success callback
function() {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Success");
},

// error callback
function(err) {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Error: "+ err.code);
});

// Record audio
mediaRec.startRecord();

// Pause Recording after 5 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
mediaRec.pauseRecord();
}, 5000);
}
`

media.play

Starts or resumes playing an audio file.

`js
media.play();
`

$3

`js
// Play audio
//
function playAudio(url) {
// Play the audio file at url
var my_media = new Media(url,
// success callback
function () {
console.log("playAudio():Audio Success");
},
// error callback
function (err) {
console.log("playAudio():Audio Error: " + err);
}
);
// Play audio
my_media.play();
}
`

$3

- __numberOfLoops__: Pass this option to the play method to specify
the number of times you want the media file to play, e.g.:

var myMedia = new Media("http://audio.ibeat.org/content/p1rj1s/p1rj1s_-_rockGuitar.mp3")
myMedia.play({ numberOfLoops: 2 })

- __playAudioWhenScreenIsLocked__: Pass in this option to the play
method to specify whether you want to allow playback when the screen
is locked. If set to true (the default value), the state of the
hardware mute button is ignored, e.g.:

var myMedia = new Media("http://audio.ibeat.org/content/p1rj1s/p1rj1s_-_rockGuitar.mp3");
myMedia.play({ playAudioWhenScreenIsLocked : true });
myMedia.setVolume('1.0');

> Note: To allow playback with the screen locked or background audio you have to add audio to UIBackgroundModes in the info.plist file. See Apple documentation. Also note that the audio has to be started before going to background.

- __order of file search__: When only a file name or simple path is
provided, iOS searches in the www directory for the file, then in
the application's documents/tmp directory:

var myMedia = new Media("audio/beer.mp3")
myMedia.play() // first looks for file in www/audio/beer.mp3 then in /documents/tmp/audio/beer.mp3

media.release

Releases the underlying operating system's audio resources.
This is particularly important for Android, since there are a finite amount of
OpenCore instances for media playback. Applications should call the release
function for any Media resource that is no longer needed.

media.release();

$3

`js
// Audio player
//
var my_media = new Media(src, onSuccess, onError);

my_media.play();
my_media.stop();
my_media.release();
`

media.resumeRecord

Resume recording an audio file.

media.resumeRecord();

$3

- iOS

$3

`js
// Record audio
//
function recordAudio() {
var src = "myrecording.mp3";
var mediaRec = new Media(src,
// success callback
function() {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Success");
},

// error callback
function(err) {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Error: "+ err.code);
});

// Record audio
mediaRec.startRecord();

// Pause Recording after 5 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
mediaRec.pauseRecord();
}, 5000);

// Resume Recording after 10 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
mediaRec.resumeRecord();
}, 10000);
}
`

media.seekTo

Sets the current position within an audio file.

media.seekTo(milliseconds);

$3

- __milliseconds__: The position to set the playback position within the audio, in milliseconds.

$3

`js
// Audio player
//
var my_media = new Media(src, onSuccess, onError);
my_media.play();
// SeekTo to 10 seconds after 5 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
my_media.seekTo(10000);
}, 5000);
`

media.setVolume

Set the volume for an audio file.

media.setVolume(volume);

$3

- __volume__: The volume to set for playback. The value must be within the range of 0.0 to 1.0.

$3

- Android
- iOS

$3

`js
// Play audio
//
function playAudio(url) {
// Play the audio file at url
var my_media = new Media(url,
// success callback
function() {
console.log("playAudio():Audio Success");
},
// error callback
function(err) {
console.log("playAudio():Audio Error: "+err);
});

// Play audio
my_media.play();

// Mute volume after 2 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
my_media.setVolume('0.0');
}, 2000);

// Set volume to 1.0 after 5 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
my_media.setVolume('1.0');
}, 5000);
}
`

media.startRecord

Starts recording an audio file.

media.startRecord();

$3

- Android
- iOS

$3

`js
// Record audio
//
function recordAudio() {
var src = "myrecording.mp3";
var mediaRec = new Media(src,
// success callback
function() {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Success");
},

// error callback
function(err) {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Error: "+ err.code);
});

// Record audio
mediaRec.startRecord();
}
`

$3

- Android devices record audio in AAC ADTS file format. The specified file should end with a _.aac_ extension.
- The hardware volume controls are wired up to the media volume while any Media objects are alive. Once the last created Media object has release() called on it, the volume controls revert to their default behaviour. The controls are also reset on page navigation, as this releases all Media objects.

$3

- iOS only records to files of type _.wav_ and _.m4a_ and returns an error if the file name extension is not correct.

- If a full path is not provided, the recording is placed in the application's documents/tmp directory. This can be accessed via the File API using LocalFileSystem.TEMPORARY. Any subdirectory specified at record time must already exist.

- Files can be recorded and played back using the documents URI:

var myMedia = new Media("documents://beer.mp3")

- Since iOS 10 it's mandatory to provide an usage description in the info.plist if trying to access privacy-sensitive data. When the system prompts the user to allow access, this usage description string will displayed as part of the permission dialog box, but if you didn't provide the usage description, the app will crash before showing the dialog. Also, Apple will reject apps that access private data but don't provide an usage description.

This plugins requires the following usage description:

* NSMicrophoneUsageDescription describes the reason that the app accesses the user's microphone.

To add this entry into the info.plist, you can use the edit-config tag in the config.xml like this:

`

need microphone access to record sounds

`

media.stop

Stops playing an audio file.

media.stop();

$3

`js
// Play audio
//
function playAudio(url) {
// Play the audio file at url
var my_media = new Media(url,
// success callback
function() {
console.log("playAudio():Audio Success");
},
// error callback
function(err) {
console.log("playAudio():Audio Error: "+err);
}
);

// Play audio
my_media.play();

// Pause after 10 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
my_media.stop();
}, 10000);
}
`

media.stopRecord

Stops recording an audio file.

media.stopRecord();

$3

- Android
- iOS

$3

`js
// Record audio
//
function recordAudio() {
var src = "myrecording.mp3";
var mediaRec = new Media(src,
// success callback
function() {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Success");
},

// error callback
function(err) {
console.log("recordAudio():Audio Error: "+ err.code);
}
);

// Record audio
mediaRec.startRecord();

// Stop recording after 10 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
mediaRec.stopRecord();
}, 10000);
}
`

media.setRate

Stops recording an audio file.

media.setRate(rate);

$3

- iOS
- Android (API 23+)

$3

- __rate__: The rate to set for playback.

$3

`js
// Audio player
//
var my_media = new Media(src, onSuccess, onError);
my_media.play();

// Set playback rate to 2.0x after 10 seconds
setTimeout(function() {
my_media.setRate(2.0);
}, 5000);
`

MediaError

A MediaError object is returned to the mediaError callback
function when an error occurs.

$3

- __code__: One of the predefined error codes listed below.

- __message__: An error message describing the details of the error.

$3

- MediaError.MEDIA_ERR_ABORTED = 1
- MediaError.MEDIA_ERR_NETWORK = 2
- MediaError.MEDIA_ERR_DECODE = 3
- MediaError.MEDIA_ERR_NONE_SUPPORTED` = 4