- Qt 6.12
- Qt Multimedia
- QML Types
- MediaRecorder
- Qt 6.12.0 Reference Documentation

# MediaRecorder QML Type

For encoding and recording media generated in a CaptureSession. More...

Import Statement: | `import QtMultimedia`
In C++: | QMediaRecorder

- List of all members, including inherited members

## Properties

- actualLocation : url
- audioBitRate : int `(since 6.6)`
- audioChannelCount : int `(since 6.6)`
- audioSampleRate : int `(since 6.6)`
- duration : qint64
- encodingMode : enumeration `(since 6.6)`
- error : enumeration
- errorString : string
- mediaFormat : mediaFormat
- metaData : mediaMetaData
- outputLocation : url
- quality : enumeration
- recorderState : enumeration
- videoBitRate : int `(since 6.6)`
- videoFrameRate : real `(since 6.6)`
- videoResolution : Size `(since 6.6)`

## Signals

- actualLocationChanged(const QUrl &location)
- durationChanged(qint64 duration)
- errorOccurred(Error error, const QString &errorString)
- metaDataChanged()
- recorderStateChanged(RecorderState state)

## Methods

- void pause()
- void record()
- void stop()

## Detailed Description

Use the MediaRecorder element within a CaptureSession to encode and record:

- Audio captured from an audio interface (like microphone or line input).
- Video captured from camera, screen, or an application window.

Performance of video encoding and recording is limited by the hardware, the operating system, the installed graphic drivers, and the input video format. If `Camera`, `ScreenCapture`, or `WindowCapture` produces video frames faster than `MediaRecorder` can encode and record them, the recorder may drop some frames. This is likely to occur if the input frame resolution is high, 4K for example, and hardware-accelerated encoding is unavailable.

The code below shows a simple capture session containing a MediaRecorder using the default camera and default audio input.

     CaptureSession {
         id: captureSession
         camera: Camera {
             id: camera
             active: true
         }
         audioInput: AudioInput {}
         recorder: MediaRecorder {
             id: recorder
         }
     }

The code below shows how the recording can be started and stopped.

     CameraButton {
         text: "Record"
         visible: recorder.recorderState !== MediaRecorder.RecordingState
         onClicked: recorder.record()
     }

     CameraButton {
         id: stopButton
         text: "Stop"
         visible: recorder.recorderState === MediaRecorder.RecordingState
         onClicked: recorder.stop()
     }

See also CaptureSession, Camera, ScreenCapture, WindowCapture, AudioInput, and ImageCapture.

## Property Documentation

### actualLocation : url `[read-only]`

The actual location of the last media content.

The actual location is reset when a new outputLocation is assigned. When record() is invoked, the recorder generates the actual location basing on the following rules.

- If `outputLocation` is empty, a directory, or a file without an extension, the recorder generates the appropriate extension based on the selected media format and system MIME types.
- If `outputLocation` is a directory, the recorder generates a new file name within it.
- If `outputLocation` is empty, the recorder generates a new file name in the system-specific directory for audio or video.
- The recorder generates the actual location before emitting `recorderStateChanged(RecordingState)`.

### audioBitRate : int `[since 6.6]`

This property holds the bit rate of the compressed audio stream in bits per second.

This property was introduced in Qt 6.6.

### audioChannelCount : int `[since 6.6]`

This property holds the number of audio channels.

This property was introduced in Qt 6.6.

### audioSampleRate : int `[since 6.6]`

This property holds the audio sample rate in Hz.

This property was introduced in Qt 6.6.

### duration : qint64 `[read-only]`

This property holds the recorded media duration in milliseconds.

### encodingMode : enumeration `[since 6.6]`

This property holds the encoding mode.

This property was introduced in Qt 6.6.

See also QMediaRecorder::EncodingMode.

### error : enumeration `[read-only]`

This property holds the current media recorder error state.

Constant | Description
--- | ---
`MediaRecorder.NoError` | Not in an error state.
`MediaRecorder.ResourceError` | Not enough system resources
`MediaRecorder.FormatError` | the current format is not supported.
`MediaRecorder.OutOfSpaceError` | No space left on device.
`MediaRecorder.LocationNotWriteable` | The output location is not writable.

### errorString : string `[read-only]`

This property holds a string describing the current error state.

See also error.

### mediaFormat : mediaFormat

This property holds the current MediaFormat of the recorder.

### metaData : mediaMetaData

This property holds meta data associated with the recording.

When a recording is started, any meta-data assigned will be attached to that recording.

Note: Ensure that meta-data is assigned correctly by assigning it before starting the recording.

See also mediaMetaData.

### outputLocation : url

The destination location of media content.

Setting the location can fail, for example when the service supports only local file system locations but a network URL was passed. If the operation fails, the errorOccurred() signal is emitted.

The output location can be empty, a directory, or a file. The path to a directory or file can be relative or absolute. The record() method generates the actual location according to the specified output location and system-specific settings. Refer to the actualLocation property description for details.

See also actualLocation and errorOccurred().

### quality : enumeration

Enumerates quality encoding levels.

Constant | Value
--- | ---
`MediaRecorder.VeryLowQuality`
`MediaRecorder.LowQuality`
`MediaRecorder.NormalQuality`
`MediaRecorder.HighQuality`
`MediaRecorder.VeryHighQuality`

### recorderState : enumeration `[read-only]`

This property holds the current media recorder state.

The state property represents the user request and is changed synchronously during record(), pause() or stop() calls. RecorderSstate may also change asynchronously when recording fails.

Constant | Description
--- | ---
`MediaRecorder.StoppedState` | The recorder is not active.
`MediaRecorder.RecordingState` | The recording is requested.
`MediaRecorder.PausedState` | The recorder is pause.

### videoBitRate : int `[since 6.6]`

This property holds the bit rate of the compressed video stream in bits per second.

This property was introduced in Qt 6.6.

### videoFrameRate : real `[since 6.6]`

This property holds the video frame rate used in encoding.

If this property is set to a positive frame rate, MediaRecorder attempts to encode at that rate. If the video source's and recoder's frame rates are different, frames from the source may be dropped or duplicated to reach the target rate.

If left at the default value (-1) or set to another non-positive value, MediaRecorder attempts to make the optimal choice based on the video source and codec limitations.

This property was introduced in Qt 6.6.

### videoResolution : Size `[since 6.6]`

This property holds the resolution of the encoded video.

Set an empty Size to make the recorder choose an optimal resolution based on what is available from the video source and the limitations of the codec.

This property was introduced in Qt 6.6.

## Signal Documentation

### actualLocationChanged(const QUrl &location)

Signals that the actual location of the recorded media has changed.

This signal is usually emitted when recording starts.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onActualLocationChanged`.

### durationChanged(qint64 duration)

Signals that the duration of the recorded media has changed.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onDurationChanged`.

### errorOccurred(Error error, const QString &errorString)

Signals that an error has occurred.

The errorString contains a description of the error.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onErrorOccurred`.

### metaDataChanged()

Signals that a media object's meta-data has changed.

If multiple meta-data elements are changed metaDataChanged() is emitted once.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onMetaDataChanged`.

### recorderStateChanged(RecorderState state)

Signals that a media recorder's state has changed.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onRecorderStateChanged`.

## Method Documentation

### void pause()

Pauses recording.

The recorder state is changed to QMediaRecorder.PausedState.

Depending on the platform, pausing recording may be not supported. In this case the recorder state is unchanged.

### void record()

Starts recording.

While the recorder state is changed immediately to `MediaRecorder.RecordingState`, recording may start asynchronously.

If recording fails, the error() signal is emitted with recorder state being reset back to `QMediaRecorder.StoppedState`.

This method updates actualLocation according to its generation rules.

Note: On mobile devices, recording will happen in the orientation the device had when calling record and is locked for the duration of the recording. To avoid artifacts on the user interface, we recommend to keep the user interface locked to the same orientation as long as the recording is ongoing using the contentOrientation property of the Window and unlock it again once the recording is finished.

### void stop()

Stops the recording.

The recorder will stop the recording. Processing pending video and audio data might however still take some time. The recording is finished, once the state of the media recorder changes to QMediaRecorder::StoppedState.