HarmonyOS AVRecorder: Complete Guide to Audio/Video Recording with ArkTS & NDK Code Examples

Supported Formats

AVRecorder is HarmonyOS's native audio/video recording component supporting mainstream formats:

Audio encoding: AAC, MP3

Video encoding: H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC

Container formats: MP4, M4A

Typical applications include smart voice recorders, custom cameras, and home monitoring systems.

Development Languages

ArkTS Development

Enables rapid UI construction for audio/video recording with integrated state listening, error capture, and flow control.

C/C++ NDK Development

Provides deep integration with underlying hardware, suitable for complex projects like camera and audio/video engines, delivering high-performance capture and processing.

Recording Workflow (ArkTS Example)

// 1. Create AVRecorder instance
const avRecorder = await media.createAVRecorder();
// 2. Configure parameters and prepare recording
const avConfig = {
  audioSourceType: media.AudioSourceType.AUDIO_SOURCE_TYPE_MIC,
  videoSourceType: media.VideoSourceType.VIDEO_SOURCE_TYPE_SURFACE_YUV,
  profile: {
    audioBitrate: 112000,
    audioChannels: 2,
    audioCodec: media.CodecMimeType.AUDIO_AAC,
    fileFormat: media.ContainerFormatType.CFT_MPEG_4,
    videoBitrate: 200000,
    videoCodec: media.CodecMimeType.VIDEO_AVC,
    videoFrameWidth: 640,
    videoFrameHeight: 480
  },
  url: 'fd://xx'  // Reference app file access example to create and read/write a file
};
await avRecorder.prepare(avConfig);
// 3. Get Surface ID and pass to camera module
await avRecorder.getInputSurface();
// 4. Start/pause/resume/stop recording
avRecorder.start();
avRecorder.pause();
avRecorder.resume();
avRecorder.stop();
// 5. Release resources
avRecorder.reset();
avRecorder.release();

NDK Development (C++ Example)

// 1. Create AVRecorder instance
OH_AVRecorder* avRecorder = OH_AVRecorder_Create();
// 2. Configure parameters and prepare recording
OH_AVRecorder_Config config;
config.audioSourceType = AVRECORDER_MIC;
config.profile.audioBitrate = 96000;
config.profile.audioChannels = 2;
config.profile.audioCodec = AVRECORDER_AUDIO_AAC;
config.profile.audioSampleRate = 48000;
config.profile.fileFormat = AVRECORDER_CFT_MPEG_4;
config.fileGenerationMode = AVRECORDER_APP_CREATE;
config.metadata.location.latitude = 27.791863;
config.metadata.location.longitude = 64.574687;
OH_AVRecorder_Prepare(avRecorder, &config);
// 3. Start camera, get Surface ID, pass to camera module
OH_AVRecorder_GetInputSurface(avRecorder, &window);
// 4. Start/pause/resume/stop recording
OH_AVRecorder_Start(avRecorder);
OH_AVRecorder_Pause(avRecorder);
OH_AVRecorder_Resume(avRecorder);
OH_AVRecorder_Stop(avRecorder);
// 5. Release resources
OH_AVRecorder_Reset(avRecorder);
OH_AVRecorder_Release(avRecorder);

Development Best Practices

Strictly follow state machine rules: Only call pause() in started state; only call resume() in paused state.

Resource release is mandatory: Always call release() after recording ends to avoid memory, thread, and system resource leaks.

Permission management: Request microphone permission in advance when microphone access is needed.

Technical Advantages

Efficient and stable: Provides convenient audio/video recording capabilities to help developers build stable multimedia applications and generate media files.

Native integration: As HarmonyOS's native recording framework, AVRecorder is deeply integrated with the system, offering strong compatibility and fully leveraging device hardware capabilities.

Flexible configuration: Supports customization of various audio/video formats, encoding parameters, and recording modes, allowing developers to adjust settings for different scenarios.

Open documentation and community: Comprehensive official docs, rich sample code, and active developer community support accelerate learning and development efficiency.

Official References

https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/cn/doc/harmonyos-references/arkts-apis-media-avrecorder

https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/cn/doc/harmonyos-references/capi-avrecorder-h