S23's OneUI 6.0 update destroyed MediaRecorder's API sound quality

Mobile
1

Hello,

I have been developing a music app for years. One of its key features is recording audio of musical, loud instruments. Because of an outstanding microphones quality Galaxy S-series phones have always had, I have been using Galaxy S since S7. I had S7, S8, S9, S20 and now S23.

My app uses standard Android’s MediaRecorder APIs with AudioSource = CAMCORDER by default or AudioSource = UNPROCESSED as I have discovered the latter one produces tenfold better sound quality while recording loud instruments, such as eg. drums.

After OneUI 6.0 update on my Galaxy S23, the sound quality IS A RUBBISH. For first time ever, Galaxy S-phone audio recording sounds comparable to low-end A-series.

I have enumerated pretty much ALL AudioSources and NONE of them produces good sound quality.

The difference between OneUI 5.1 and OneUI 6.0 is so significant that I truly consider switching to iPhone as this is one of the most crucial part of me using a smartphone as both musician and software developer.

Please help me how can I either reconfigure my Galaxy S23 or amend the code so that the recording quality of MediaRecorder is comparable to system’s Camera app that still produces excellent results.

I can attach sample recordings for reference if needed.

2

Hi,

Did you test this to see if it was only Samsung or other Android apps that have the issue?
You can submit a support request for Android apps they require some additional data so adding a snippet of code would be useful.

If this is on all Android devices they may not be able to help but if it is only OneUI 6 they should be able to help.

Ron
Samsung Developer Relations

3

Hello

Thank you for your reply.
As far as I know, this issue is related to S23 series OneUI 6.0 only as my friend’s S21 FE for instance did not suffer from this issue after OneUI 6.0. I do not have full insights about other manufacturer’s devices to figure out if this is really OneUI 6.0 related, or maybe Android 14.

This issue applies to all non-Samsung apps that has any kind of recording capabilities (for all apps that use Android Framework’s MediaRecorder API).

4

If you can test this on Samsung Remote Test Lab

If you can’t open the support request.

Ron
Samsung Developer Relations

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5

Thank you, I have already created a support request and is ongoing. Samsung Test Lab would not let me to reproduce the issue as I need loud environment, such as rehearsal room with acoustic drums.

1 Like