Recording Audio with Python Using PvRecorder

In this guide we demonstrate how to use Python to record audio with the pvrecorder library. First, install the library via pip:

<code>pip3 install pvrecorder</code>

Next, list all available audio devices to identify the microphone you want to use:

<code>from pvrecorder import PvRecorder
for index, device in enumerate(PvRecorder.get_audio_devices()):
    print(f"[{index}] {device}")</code>

Note the index of the desired microphone; you can also use -1 to select the default device.

To start recording, create a PvRecorder instance with the chosen device_index and a frame_length (e.g., 512 samples for 32 ms at 16 kHz). Then call start() , repeatedly read frames with read() , and finally stop and delete the recorder:

<code>recorder = PvRecorder(device_index=-1, frame_length=512)
try:
    recorder.start()
    while True:
        frame = recorder.read()
        # Do something with the frame ...
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    recorder.stop()
finally:
    recorder.delete()</code>

If you want to save the captured audio to a WAV file, accumulate the frames in a list and write them using the wave module:

<code>from pvrecorder import PvRecorder
import wave, struct
recorder = PvRecorder(device_index=-1, frame_length=512)
audio = []
try:
    recorder.start()
    while True:
        frame = recorder.read()
        audio.extend(frame)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    recorder.stop()
    with wave.open('audiotest.wav', 'w') as f:
        f.setparams((1, 2, 16000, 512, "NONE", "NONE"))
        f.writeframes(struct.pack('h' * len(audio), *audio))
finally:
    recorder.delete()</code>

These steps allow you to capture microphone input, process it in real time, and store it for later analysis or playback.