Improve video snapshots (#530)

* Fix button elevation

* Replace zero buffer with sample noise

* Small improvements

* Drop frames when we have too many pending events

* Warmup worker threads, enlarge audio buffers, use EncoderEngine thread

* Improve audio noise

* Ensure first frame is a sync one

* Request key frames when the first is lost

* Fix README

* Create AudioNoise

* Correctly recycle OutputBuffer

* Fix #526

README.md

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ CameraView is a well documented, high-level library that makes capturing picture
 addressing most of the common issues and needs, and still leaving you with flexibility where needed.
 
 ```groovy
-api 'com.otaliastudios:cameraview:2.0.0-rc1'
+api 'com.otaliastudios:cameraview:2.0.0-rc2'
 ```
 
 - Fast & reliable

cameraview/src/androidTest/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/VideoRecorderTest.java

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public class VideoRecorderTest extends BaseTest {
             }
 
             @Override
-            protected void onStop() {
+            protected void onStop(boolean isCameraShutdown) {
                 dispatchVideoRecordingEnd();
                 dispatchResult();
             }
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public class VideoRecorderTest extends BaseTest {
         recorder.start(result);
         Mockito.verify(listener,Mockito.times(1) )
                 .onVideoRecordingStart();
-        recorder.stop();
+        recorder.stop(false);
         Mockito.verify(listener, Mockito.times(1))
                 .onVideoRecordingEnd();
         Mockito.verify(listener, Mockito.times(1))

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/engine/Camera1Engine.java

@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ public class Camera1Engine extends CameraEngine implements
     @Override
     protected Task<Void> onStopPreview() {
         if (mVideoRecorder != null) {
-            mVideoRecorder.stop();
+            mVideoRecorder.stop(true);
             mVideoRecorder = null;
         }
         mPictureRecorder = null;

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/engine/Camera2Engine.java

@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ public class Camera2Engine extends CameraEngine implements ImageReader.OnImageAv
         if (mVideoRecorder != null) {
             // This should synchronously call onVideoResult that will reset the repeating builder
             // to the PREVIEW template. This is very important.
-            mVideoRecorder.stop();
+            mVideoRecorder.stop(true);
             mVideoRecorder = null;
         }
         mPictureRecorder = null;

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/engine/CameraEngine.java

@@ -1189,7 +1189,7 @@ public abstract class CameraEngine implements
             public void run() {
                 LOG.i("stopVideo", "executing.", "isTakingVideo?", isTakingVideo());
                 if (mVideoRecorder != null) {
-                    mVideoRecorder.stop();
+                    mVideoRecorder.stop(false);
                     mVideoRecorder = null;
                 }
             }

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/internal/utils/WorkerHandler.java

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
 import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executor;
 
 /**
@@ -100,6 +101,20 @@ public class WorkerHandler {
                 WorkerHandler.this.run(command);
             }
         };
+
+        // HandlerThreads/Handlers sometimes have a significant warmup time.
+        // We want to spend this time here so when this object is built, it
+        // is fully operational.
+        final CountDownLatch latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+        post(new Runnable() {
+            @Override
+            public void run() {
+                latch.countDown();
+            }
+        });
+        try {
+            latch.await();
+        } catch (InterruptedException ignore) {}
     }
 
     /**
@@ -219,7 +234,6 @@ public class WorkerHandler {
      * interrupt it, so the next {@link #get(String)} call will remove it.
      * In any case, we only store weak references.
      */
-    @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
     public void destroy() {
         HandlerThread thread = getThread();
         if (thread.isAlive()) {

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/FullVideoRecorder.java

@@ -103,11 +103,11 @@ public abstract class FullVideoRecorder extends VideoRecorder {
                 switch (what) {
                     case MediaRecorder.MEDIA_RECORDER_INFO_MAX_DURATION_REACHED:
                         mResult.endReason = VideoResult.REASON_MAX_DURATION_REACHED;
-                        stop();
+                        stop(false);
                         break;
                     case MediaRecorder.MEDIA_RECORDER_INFO_MAX_FILESIZE_REACHED:
                         mResult.endReason = VideoResult.REASON_MAX_SIZE_REACHED;
-                        stop();
+                        stop(false);
                         break;
                 }
             }
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ public abstract class FullVideoRecorder extends VideoRecorder {
     protected void onStart() {
         if (!prepareMediaRecorder(mResult)) {
             mResult = null;
-            stop();
+            stop(false);
             return;
         }
 
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ public abstract class FullVideoRecorder extends VideoRecorder {
             LOG.w("start:", "Error while starting media recorder.", e);
             mResult = null;
             mError = e;
-            stop();
+            stop(false);
         }
     }
 
     @Override
-    protected void onStop() {
+    protected void onStop(boolean isCameraShutdown) {
         if (mMediaRecorder != null) {
             dispatchVideoRecordingEnd();
             try {

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/SnapshotVideoRecorder.java

@@ -1,20 +1,14 @@
 package com.otaliastudios.cameraview.video;
 
-import android.graphics.Canvas;
-import android.graphics.Color;
-import android.graphics.PorterDuff;
 import android.graphics.SurfaceTexture;
 import android.opengl.EGL14;
 import android.os.Build;
-import android.view.Surface;
 
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.CameraLogger;
-import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.Issue514Workaround;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.overlay.Overlay;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.VideoResult;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.controls.Audio;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.engine.CameraEngine;
-import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.egl.EglViewport;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.overlay.OverlayDrawer;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.preview.GlCameraPreview;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.preview.RendererFrameCallback;
@@ -84,8 +78,16 @@ public class SnapshotVideoRecorder extends VideoRecorder implements RendererFram
     }
 
     @Override
-    protected void onStop() {
+    protected void onStop(boolean isCameraShutdown) {
-        mDesiredState = STATE_NOT_RECORDING;
+        if (isCameraShutdown) {
+            // The renderer callback might never be called. From my tests, it's not.
+            LOG.i("Stopping the encoder engine from isCameraShutdown.");
+            mDesiredState = STATE_NOT_RECORDING;
+            mCurrentState = STATE_NOT_RECORDING;
+            mEncoderEngine.stop();
+        } else {
+            mDesiredState = STATE_NOT_RECORDING;
+        }
     }
 
     @RendererThread
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ public class SnapshotVideoRecorder extends VideoRecorder implements RendererFram
             LOG.v("dispatching frame.");
             TextureMediaEncoder textureEncoder = (TextureMediaEncoder) mEncoderEngine.getVideoEncoder();
             TextureMediaEncoder.Frame frame = textureEncoder.acquireFrame();
-            frame.timestamp = surfaceTexture.getTimestamp();
+            frame.timestampNanos = surfaceTexture.getTimestamp();
             frame.timestampMillis = System.currentTimeMillis(); // NOTE: this is an approximation but it seems to work.
             surfaceTexture.getTransformMatrix(frame.transform);
             if (mEncoderEngine != null) { // Can happen on teardown. At least it used to.

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/VideoRecorder.java

@@ -64,9 +64,10 @@ public abstract class VideoRecorder {
 
     /**
      * Stops recording.
+     * @param isCameraShutdown whether this is a full shutdown, camera is being closed
      */
-    public final void stop() {
+    public final void stop(boolean isCameraShutdown) {
-        onStop();
+        onStop(isCameraShutdown);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -79,13 +80,12 @@ public abstract class VideoRecorder {
 
     protected abstract void onStart();
 
-    protected abstract void onStop();
+    protected abstract void onStop(boolean isCameraShutdown);
 
     /**
      * Subclasses can call this to notify that the result was obtained,
      * either with some error (null result) or with the actual stub, filled.
      */
-    @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
     @CallSuper
     protected void dispatchResult() {
         mIsRecording = false;
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ public abstract class VideoRecorder {
      * Subclasses can call this to notify that the video recording has ended,
      * although the video result might still be processed.
      */
+    @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
     @CallSuper
     protected void dispatchVideoRecordingEnd() {
         if (mListener != null) {

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/encoding/AudioConfig.java

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ public class AudioConfig {
     final int encoding = AudioFormat.ENCODING_PCM_16BIT; // Determines the sampleSizePerChannel
     // The 44.1KHz frequency is the only setting guaranteed to be available on all devices.
     final int samplingFrequency = 44100; // samples/sec
-    final int sampleSizePerChannel = 2; // byte/sample/channel [16bit]
+    final int sampleSizePerChannel = 2; // byte/sample/channel [16bit]. If this changes, review noise introduction
     final int byteRatePerChannel = samplingFrequency * sampleSizePerChannel; // byte/sec/channel
 
     @NonNull
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public class AudioConfig {
      * @return the number of frames
      */
     int audioRecordBufferFrames() {
-        return 25;
+        return 50;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -91,6 +91,6 @@ public class AudioConfig {
      * @return the buffer pool max size
      */
     int bufferPoolMaxSize() {
-        return 80;
+        return 500;
     }
 }

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/encoding/AudioMediaEncoder.java

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package com.otaliastudios.cameraview.video.encoding;
 
-import android.media.AudioFormat;
 import android.media.AudioRecord;
 import android.media.MediaCodec;
 import android.media.MediaCodecInfo;
@@ -15,8 +14,10 @@ import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.nio.ByteOrder;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Random;
 import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingQueue;
 
 /**
@@ -30,23 +31,24 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
 
     private static final boolean PERFORMANCE_DEBUG = false;
     private static final boolean PERFORMANCE_FILL_GAPS = true;
+    private static final int PERFORMANCE_MAX_GAPS = 8;
 
     private boolean mRequestStop = false;
     private AudioEncodingThread mEncoder;
     private AudioRecordingThread mRecorder;
     private ByteBufferPool mByteBufferPool;
-    private ByteBuffer mZeroBuffer;
     private final AudioTimestamp mTimestamp;
     private AudioConfig mConfig;
     private InputBufferPool mInputBufferPool = new InputBufferPool();
     private final LinkedBlockingQueue<InputBuffer> mInputBufferQueue = new LinkedBlockingQueue<>();
+    private AudioNoise mAudioNoise;
 
     // Just to debug performance.
-    private int mSendCount = 0;
+    private int mDebugSendCount = 0;
-    private int mExecuteCount = 0;
+    private int mDebugExecuteCount = 0;
-    private long mAvgSendDelay = 0;
+    private long mDebugSendAvgDelay = 0;
-    private long mAvgExecuteDelay = 0;
+    private long mDebugExecuteAvgDelay = 0;
-    private Map<Long, Long> mSendStartMap = new HashMap<>();
+    private Map<Long, Long> mDebugSendStartMap = new HashMap<>();
 
     public AudioMediaEncoder(@NonNull AudioConfig config) {
         super("AudioEncoder");
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
         mMediaCodec.configure(audioFormat, null, null, MediaCodec.CONFIGURE_FLAG_ENCODE);
         mMediaCodec.start();
         mByteBufferPool = new ByteBufferPool(mConfig.frameSize(), mConfig.bufferPoolMaxSize());
-        mZeroBuffer = ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(mConfig.frameSize());
+        mAudioNoise = new AudioNoise(mConfig);
     }
 
     @EncoderThread
@@ -130,11 +132,13 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
 
         private AudioRecord mAudioRecord;
         private ByteBuffer mCurrentBuffer;
-        private int mReadBytes;
+        private int mCurrentReadBytes;
+
         private long mLastTimeUs;
         private long mFirstTimeUs = Long.MIN_VALUE;
 
         private AudioRecordingThread() {
+            setPriority(Thread.MAX_PRIORITY);
             final int minBufferSize = AudioRecord.getMinBufferSize(
                     mConfig.samplingFrequency,
                     mConfig.audioFormatChannels(),
@@ -152,14 +156,22 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
                     mConfig.audioFormatChannels(),
                     mConfig.encoding,
                     bufferSize);
-            setPriority(Thread.MAX_PRIORITY);
         }
 
         @Override
         public void run() {
             mAudioRecord.startRecording();
             while (!mRequestStop) {
-                read(false);
+                if (!hasReachedMaxLength()) {
+                    read(false);
+                } else {
+                    // We have reached the max length, so stop reading.
+                    // However, do not get out of the loop - the controller
+                    // will call stop() on us soon. It's not our responsibility
+                    // to stop ourselves.
+                    //noinspection UnnecessaryContinue
+                    continue;
+                }
             }
             LOG.w("Stop was requested. We're out of the loop. Will post an endOfStream.");
             // Last input with 0 length. This will signal the endOfStream.
@@ -192,25 +204,25 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
                 // with left and right bytes. https://stackoverflow.com/q/20594750/4288782
                 if (PERFORMANCE_DEBUG) {
                     long before = System.nanoTime();
-                    mReadBytes = mAudioRecord.read(mCurrentBuffer, mConfig.frameSize());
+                    mCurrentReadBytes = mAudioRecord.read(mCurrentBuffer, mConfig.frameSize());
                     long after = System.nanoTime();
                     float delayMillis = (after - before) / 1000000F;
-                    float durationMillis = AudioTimestamp.bytesToMillis(mReadBytes, mConfig.byteRate());
+                    float durationMillis = AudioTimestamp.bytesToMillis(mCurrentReadBytes, mConfig.byteRate());
                     LOG.v("read thread - reading took:", delayMillis,
                             "should be:", durationMillis,
                             "delay:", delayMillis - durationMillis);
                 } else {
-                    mReadBytes = mAudioRecord.read(mCurrentBuffer, mConfig.frameSize());
+                    mCurrentReadBytes = mAudioRecord.read(mCurrentBuffer, mConfig.frameSize());
                 }
-                LOG.i("read thread - eos:", endOfStream, "- Read new audio frame. Bytes:", mReadBytes);
+                LOG.i("read thread - eos:", endOfStream, "- Read new audio frame. Bytes:", mCurrentReadBytes);
-                if (mReadBytes > 0) { // Good read: increase PTS.
+                if (mCurrentReadBytes > 0) { // Good read: increase PTS.
-                    increaseTime(mReadBytes, endOfStream);
+                    increaseTime(mCurrentReadBytes, endOfStream);
                     LOG.i("read thread - eos:", endOfStream, "- mLastTimeUs:", mLastTimeUs);
-                    mCurrentBuffer.limit(mReadBytes);
+                    mCurrentBuffer.limit(mCurrentReadBytes);
                     enqueue(mCurrentBuffer, mLastTimeUs, endOfStream);
-                } else if (mReadBytes == AudioRecord.ERROR_INVALID_OPERATION) {
+                } else if (mCurrentReadBytes == AudioRecord.ERROR_INVALID_OPERATION) {
                     LOG.e("read thread - eos:", endOfStream, "- Got AudioRecord.ERROR_INVALID_OPERATION");
-                } else if (mReadBytes == AudioRecord.ERROR_BAD_VALUE) {
+                } else if (mCurrentReadBytes == AudioRecord.ERROR_BAD_VALUE) {
                     LOG.e("read thread - eos:", endOfStream, "- Got AudioRecord.ERROR_BAD_VALUE");
                 }
             }
@@ -235,43 +247,21 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
             }
 
             // See if we reached the max length value.
-            boolean didReachMaxLength = (mLastTimeUs - mFirstTimeUs) > getMaxLengthMillis() * 1000L;
+            if (!hasReachedMaxLength()) {
-            if (didReachMaxLength && !endOfStream) {
+                boolean didReachMaxLength = (mLastTimeUs - mFirstTimeUs) > getMaxLengthMillis() * 1000L;
-                LOG.w("read thread - this frame reached the maxLength! deltaUs:", mLastTimeUs - mFirstTimeUs);
+                if (didReachMaxLength && !endOfStream) {
-                notifyMaxLengthReached();
+                    LOG.w("read thread - this frame reached the maxLength! deltaUs:", mLastTimeUs - mFirstTimeUs);
-            }
+                    notifyMaxLengthReached();
-
-            // Add zeroes if we have huge gaps. Even if timestamps are correct, if we have gaps between
-            // them, the encoder might shrink all timestamps to have a continuous audio. This results
-            // in a video that is fast-forwarded.
-            // Adding zeroes does not solve the gaps issue - audio will still be distorted. But at
-            // least we get a video that has the correct playback speed.
-            if (PERFORMANCE_FILL_GAPS) {
-                int gaps = mTimestamp.getGapCount(mConfig.frameSize());
-                if (gaps > 0) {
-                    long gapStart = mTimestamp.getGapStartUs(mLastTimeUs);
-                    long frameUs = AudioTimestamp.bytesToUs(mConfig.frameSize(), mConfig.byteRate());
-                    LOG.w("read thread - GAPS: trying to add", gaps, "zeroed buffers");
-                    for (int i = 0; i < gaps; i++) {
-                        ByteBuffer zeroBuffer = mByteBufferPool.get();
-                        if (zeroBuffer == null) {
-                            LOG.e("read thread - GAPS: aborting because we have no free buffer.");
-                            break;
-                        }
-                        ;
-                        zeroBuffer.position(0);
-                        zeroBuffer.put(mZeroBuffer);
-                        zeroBuffer.clear();
-                        enqueue(zeroBuffer, gapStart, false);
-                        gapStart += frameUs;
-                    }
                 }
             }
+
+            // Maybe add noise.
+            maybeAddNoise();
         }
 
         private void enqueue(@NonNull ByteBuffer byteBuffer, long timestamp, boolean isEndOfStream) {
             if (PERFORMANCE_DEBUG) {
-                mSendStartMap.put(timestamp, System.nanoTime() / 1000000);
+                mDebugSendStartMap.put(timestamp, System.nanoTime() / 1000000);
             }
             int readBytes = byteBuffer.remaining();
             InputBuffer inputBuffer = mInputBufferPool.get();
@@ -283,6 +273,45 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
             mInputBufferQueue.add(inputBuffer);
         }
 
+        /**
+         * If our {@link AudioTimestamp} detected huge gap, and the performance flag is enabled,
+         * we can add noise to fill them.
+         *
+         * Even if we always pass the correct timestamps, if there are big gaps between the frames,
+         * the encoder implementation might shrink all timestamps to have a continuous audio.
+         * This results in a video that is fast-forwarded.
+         *
+         * Adding noise does not solve the gaps issue, we'll still have distorted audio, but
+         * at least we get a video that has the correct playback speed.
+         *
+         * NOTE: this MUST be fast!
+         * If this operation is slow, we make the {@link AudioRecordingThread} busy, so we'll
+         * read the next frame with a delay, so we'll have even more gaps at the next call
+         * and spend even more time here. The result might be recording no audio at all - just
+         * random noise.
+         * This is the reason why we have a {@link #PERFORMANCE_MAX_GAPS} number.
+         */
+        private void maybeAddNoise() {
+            if (!PERFORMANCE_FILL_GAPS) return;
+            int gaps = mTimestamp.getGapCount(mConfig.frameSize());
+            if (gaps <= 0) return;
+
+            long gapStart = mTimestamp.getGapStartUs(mLastTimeUs);
+            long frameUs = AudioTimestamp.bytesToUs(mConfig.frameSize(), mConfig.byteRate());
+            LOG.w("read thread - GAPS: trying to add", gaps, "noise buffers. PERFORMANCE_MAX_GAPS:", PERFORMANCE_MAX_GAPS);
+            for (int i = 0; i < Math.min(gaps, PERFORMANCE_MAX_GAPS); i++) {
+                ByteBuffer noiseBuffer = mByteBufferPool.get();
+                if (noiseBuffer == null) {
+                    LOG.e("read thread - GAPS: aborting because we have no free buffer.");
+                    break;
+                }
+                noiseBuffer.clear();
+                mAudioNoise.fill(noiseBuffer);
+                noiseBuffer.rewind();
+                enqueue(noiseBuffer, gapStart, false);
+                gapStart += frameUs;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -311,10 +340,11 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
                         // Performance logging
                         if (PERFORMANCE_DEBUG) {
                             long sendEnd = System.nanoTime() / 1000000;
-                            Long sendStart = mSendStartMap.remove(inputBuffer.timestamp);
+                            Long sendStart = mDebugSendStartMap.remove(inputBuffer.timestamp);
+                            //noinspection StatementWithEmptyBody
                             if (sendStart != null) {
-                                mAvgSendDelay = ((mAvgSendDelay * mSendCount) + (sendEnd - sendStart)) / (++mSendCount);
+                                mDebugSendAvgDelay = ((mDebugSendAvgDelay * mDebugSendCount) + (sendEnd - sendStart)) / (++mDebugSendCount);
-                                LOG.v("send delay millis:", sendEnd - sendStart, "average:", mAvgSendDelay);
+                                LOG.v("send delay millis:", sendEnd - sendStart, "average:", mDebugSendAvgDelay);
                             } else {
                                 // This input buffer was already processed (but tryAcquire failed for now).
                             }
@@ -338,8 +368,8 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
             if (PERFORMANCE_DEBUG) {
                 // After latest changes, the count here is not so different between MONO and STEREO.
                 // We get about 400 frames in both cases (430 for MONO, but doesn't seem like a big issue).
-                LOG.e("EXECUTE DELAY MILLIS:", mAvgExecuteDelay, "COUNT:", mExecuteCount);
+                LOG.e("EXECUTE DELAY MILLIS:", mDebugExecuteAvgDelay, "COUNT:", mDebugExecuteCount);
-                LOG.e("SEND DELAY MILLIS:", mAvgSendDelay, "COUNT:", mSendCount);
+                LOG.e("SEND DELAY MILLIS:", mDebugSendAvgDelay, "COUNT:", mDebugSendCount);
             }
         }
 
@@ -357,12 +387,12 @@ public class AudioMediaEncoder extends MediaEncoder {
             // NOTE: can consider calling this drainOutput on yet another thread, which would let us
             // use an even smaller BUFFER_POOL_MAX_SIZE without losing audio frames. But this way
             // we can accumulate delay on this new thread without noticing (no pool getting empty).
-            drainOutput(buffer.isEndOfStream);
+            drainOutput(eos);
 
             if (PERFORMANCE_DEBUG) {
                 long executeEnd = System.nanoTime() / 1000000;
-                mAvgExecuteDelay = ((mAvgExecuteDelay * mExecuteCount) + (executeEnd - executeStart)) / (++mExecuteCount);
+                mDebugExecuteAvgDelay = ((mDebugExecuteAvgDelay * mDebugExecuteCount) + (executeEnd - executeStart)) / (++mDebugExecuteCount);
-                LOG.v("execute delay millis:", executeEnd - executeStart, "average:", mAvgExecuteDelay);
+                LOG.v("execute delay millis:", executeEnd - executeStart, "average:", mDebugExecuteAvgDelay);
             }
         }
     }

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/encoding/AudioNoise.java

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package com.otaliastudios.cameraview.video.encoding;
+
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
+
+import java.nio.Buffer;
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.nio.ByteOrder;
+import java.nio.ShortBuffer;
+import java.util.Random;
+
+/**
+ * An AudioNoise instance offers buffers of noise that we can use when recording
+ * some samples failed for some reason.
+ *
+ * Since we can't create noise anytime it's needed - that would be expensive and
+ * slow down the recording thread - we create a big noise buffer at start time.
+ *
+ * We'd like to work with {@link ShortBuffer}s, but this requires converting the
+ * input buffer to ShortBuffer each time, and this can be expensive.
+ */
+class AudioNoise {
+
+    private final static int FRAMES = 1; // After testing, it looks like this is the best setup
+    private final static Random RANDOM = new Random();
+
+    private final ByteBuffer mNoiseBuffer;
+
+    AudioNoise(@NonNull AudioConfig config) {
+        //noinspection ConstantConditions
+        if (config.sampleSizePerChannel != 2) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("AudioNoise expects 2bytes-1short samples.");
+        }
+        mNoiseBuffer = ByteBuffer
+                .allocateDirect(config.frameSize() * FRAMES)
+                .order(ByteOrder.nativeOrder());
+        double i = 0;
+        double frequency = config.frameSize() / 2D; // each X samples, the signal repeats
+        double step = Math.PI / frequency; // the increase in radians
+        double max = 10; // might choose this from 0 to Short.MAX_VALUE
+        while (mNoiseBuffer.hasRemaining()) {
+            short noise = (short) (Math.sin(++i * step) * max);
+            mNoiseBuffer.put((byte) noise);
+            mNoiseBuffer.put((byte) (noise >> 8));
+        }
+        mNoiseBuffer.rewind();
+    }
+
+    void fill(@NonNull ByteBuffer outBuffer) {
+        mNoiseBuffer.clear();
+        if (mNoiseBuffer.capacity() == outBuffer.remaining()) {
+            mNoiseBuffer.position(0); // Happens if FRAMES = 1.
+        } else {
+            mNoiseBuffer.position(RANDOM.nextInt(mNoiseBuffer.capacity()
+                    - outBuffer.remaining()));
+        }
+        mNoiseBuffer.limit(mNoiseBuffer.position() + outBuffer.remaining());
+        outBuffer.put(mNoiseBuffer);
+    }
+}

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/encoding/MediaEncoder.java

@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.CameraLogger;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.utils.WorkerHandler;
 
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 
 /**
  * Base class for single-track encoders, coordinated by a {@link MediaEncoderEngine}.
@@ -117,12 +120,13 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
     private OutputBufferPool mOutputBufferPool;
     private MediaCodec.BufferInfo mBufferInfo;
     private MediaCodecBuffers mBuffers;
+    private final Map<String, AtomicInteger> mPendingEvents = new HashMap<>();
 
     private long mMaxLengthMillis;
     private boolean mMaxLengthReached;
 
     private long mStartTimeMillis = 0; // In System.currentTimeMillis()
-    private long mStartTimeUs = Long.MIN_VALUE; // In unknown reference
+    private long mFirstTimeUs = Long.MIN_VALUE; // In unknown reference
     private long mLastTimeUs = 0;
 
     private long mDebugSetStateTimestamp = Long.MIN_VALUE;
@@ -176,6 +180,7 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
         mBufferInfo = new MediaCodec.BufferInfo();
         mMaxLengthMillis = maxLengthMillis;
         mWorker = WorkerHandler.get(mName);
+        mWorker.getThread().setPriority(Thread.MAX_PRIORITY);
         LOG.i(mName, "Prepare was called. Posting.");
         mWorker.post(new Runnable() {
             @Override
@@ -223,13 +228,18 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
      * @param event what happened
      * @param data object
      */
+    @SuppressWarnings("ConstantConditions")
     final void notify(final @NonNull String event, final @Nullable Object data) {
-        LOG.v(mName, "Notify was called. Posting.");
+        if (!mPendingEvents.containsKey(event)) mPendingEvents.put(event, new AtomicInteger(0));
+        final AtomicInteger pendingEvents = mPendingEvents.get(event);
+        pendingEvents.incrementAndGet();
+        LOG.v(mName, "Notify was called. Posting. pendingEvents:", pendingEvents.intValue());
         mWorker.post(new Runnable() {
             @Override
             public void run() {
-                LOG.v(mName, "Notify was called. Executing.");
+                LOG.v(mName, "Notify was called. Executing. pendingEvents:", pendingEvents.intValue());
                 onEvent(event, data);
+                pendingEvents.decrementAndGet();
             }
         });
     }
@@ -315,6 +325,7 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
         mOutputBufferPool = null;
         mBuffers = null;
         setState(STATE_STOPPED);
+        mWorker.destroy();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -357,7 +368,9 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
     protected void encodeInputBuffer(InputBuffer buffer) {
-        LOG.v(mName, "ENCODING - Buffer:", buffer.index, "Bytes:", buffer.length, "Presentation:", buffer.timestamp);
+        LOG.v(mName, "ENCODING - Buffer:", buffer.index,
+                "Bytes:", buffer.length,
+                "Presentation:", buffer.timestamp);
         if (buffer.isEndOfStream) { // send EOS
             mMediaCodec.queueInputBuffer(buffer.index, 0, 0,
                     buffer.timestamp, MediaCodec.BUFFER_FLAG_END_OF_STREAM);
@@ -379,8 +392,8 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
      */
     @SuppressLint("LogNotTimber")
     @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
-    protected void drainOutput(boolean drainAll) {
+    protected final void drainOutput(boolean drainAll) {
-        LOG.v(mName, "DRAINING - EOS:", drainAll);
+        LOG.i(mName, "DRAINING - EOS:", drainAll);
         if (mMediaCodec == null) {
             LOG.e("drain() was called before prepare() or after releasing.");
             return;
@@ -422,9 +435,9 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
 
                     // Store mStartTimeUs and mLastTimeUs, useful to detect the max length
                     // reached and stop recording when needed.
-                    if (mStartTimeUs == Long.MIN_VALUE) {
+                    if (mFirstTimeUs == Long.MIN_VALUE) {
-                        mStartTimeUs = mBufferInfo.presentationTimeUs;
+                        mFirstTimeUs = mBufferInfo.presentationTimeUs;
-                        LOG.w(mName, "DRAINING - Got the first presentation time:", mStartTimeUs);
+                        LOG.w(mName, "DRAINING - Got the first presentation time:", mFirstTimeUs);
                     }
                     mLastTimeUs = mBufferInfo.presentationTimeUs;
 
@@ -434,16 +447,16 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
                     // To address this, encoders are required to call notifyFirstFrameMillis
                     // so we can adjust here - moving to 1970 reference.
                     // Extra benefit: we never pass a pts equal to 0, which some encoders refuse.
-                    mBufferInfo.presentationTimeUs = (mStartTimeMillis * 1000) + mLastTimeUs - mStartTimeUs;
+                    mBufferInfo.presentationTimeUs = (mStartTimeMillis * 1000) + mLastTimeUs - mFirstTimeUs;
 
                     // Write.
-                    LOG.v(mName, "DRAINING - About to write(). Adjusted presentation:", mBufferInfo.presentationTimeUs);
+                    LOG.i(mName, "DRAINING - About to write(). Adjusted presentation:", mBufferInfo.presentationTimeUs);
                     OutputBuffer buffer = mOutputBufferPool.get();
                     //noinspection ConstantConditions
                     buffer.info = mBufferInfo;
                     buffer.trackIndex = mTrackIndex;
                     buffer.data = encodedData;
-                    mController.write(mOutputBufferPool, buffer);
+                    onWriteOutput(mOutputBufferPool, buffer);
                 }
                 mMediaCodec.releaseOutputBuffer(encoderStatus, false);
 
@@ -451,10 +464,11 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
                 // Not needed if drainAll because we already were asked to stop
                 if (!drainAll
                         && !mMaxLengthReached
-                        && mStartTimeUs != Long.MIN_VALUE
+                        && mFirstTimeUs != Long.MIN_VALUE
-                        && mLastTimeUs - mStartTimeUs > mMaxLengthMillis * 1000) {
+                        && mLastTimeUs - mFirstTimeUs > mMaxLengthMillis * 1000) {
                     LOG.w(mName, "DRAINING - Reached maxLength! mLastTimeUs:", mLastTimeUs,
-                            "mStartTimeUs:", mStartTimeUs,
+                            "mStartTimeUs:", mFirstTimeUs,
+                            "mDeltaUs:", mLastTimeUs - mFirstTimeUs,
                             "mMaxLengthUs:", mMaxLengthMillis * 1000);
                     onMaxLengthReached();
                     break;
@@ -470,6 +484,11 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
         }
     }
 
+    @CallSuper
+    protected void onWriteOutput(@NonNull OutputBufferPool pool, @NonNull OutputBuffer buffer) {
+        mController.write(pool, buffer);
+    }
+
     protected abstract int getEncodedBitRate();
 
     /**
@@ -494,6 +513,11 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
         onMaxLengthReached();
     }
 
+    @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
+    protected boolean hasReachedMaxLength() {
+        return mMaxLengthReached;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Called by us (during {@link #drainOutput(boolean)}) or by subclasses
      * (through {@link #notifyMaxLengthReached()}) to notify that we reached the
@@ -520,7 +544,20 @@ public abstract class MediaEncoder {
      * @param firstFrameMillis the milliseconds of the first frame presentation
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
-    protected void notifyFirstFrameMillis(long firstFrameMillis) {
+    protected final void notifyFirstFrameMillis(long firstFrameMillis) {
         mStartTimeMillis = firstFrameMillis;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the number of events (see {@link #onEvent(String, Object)}) that were scheduled
+     * but still not passed to that function. Could be used to drop some of them if this
+     * number is too high.
+     *
+     * @param event the event type
+     * @return the pending events number
+     */
+    @SuppressWarnings({"SameParameterValue", "ConstantConditions", "WeakerAccess"})
+    protected final int getPendingEvents(@NonNull String event) {
+        return mPendingEvents.get(event).intValue();
+    }
 }

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/encoding/MediaEncoderEngine.java

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import android.os.Build;
 import android.text.format.DateFormat;
 
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.CameraLogger;
+import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.utils.WorkerHandler;
 
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
@@ -68,8 +69,9 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
         void onEncodingStart();
 
         /**
-         * Called when encoding stopped. At this point the mxuer might still be processing,
+         * Called when encoding stopped. At this point the muxer or the encoders might still be
-         * but we have stopped receiving input (recording video and audio frames).
+         * processing data, but we have stopped receiving input (recording video and audio frames).
+         * Actually, we will stop very soon.
          *
          * The {@link #onEncodingEnd(int, Exception)} callback will soon be called
          * with the results.
@@ -96,17 +98,18 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
     public final static int END_BY_MAX_DURATION = 1;
     public final static int END_BY_MAX_SIZE = 2;
 
-    private List<MediaEncoder> mEncoders;
+    private final List<MediaEncoder> mEncoders = new ArrayList<>();
     private MediaMuxer mMediaMuxer;
-    private int mStartedEncodersCount;
+    private int mStartedEncodersCount = 0;
-    private int mReleasedEncodersCount;
+    private int mStoppedEncodersCount = 0;
-    private boolean mMediaMuxerStarted;
+    private boolean mMediaMuxerStarted = false;
     @SuppressWarnings("FieldCanBeLocal")
-    private Controller mController;
+    private final Controller mController = new Controller();
+    private final WorkerHandler mControllerThread = WorkerHandler.get("EncoderEngine");
+    private final Object mControllerLock = new Object();
     private Listener mListener;
     private int mEndReason = END_BY_USER;
     private int mPossibleEndReason;
-    private final Object mControllerLock = new Object();
 
     /**
      * Creates a new engine for the given file, with the given encoders and max limits,
@@ -126,8 +129,6 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
                               final long maxSize,
                               @Nullable Listener listener) {
         mListener = listener;
-        mController = new Controller();
-        mEncoders = new ArrayList<>();
         mEncoders.add(videoEncoder);
         if (audioEncoder != null) {
             mEncoders.add(audioEncoder);
@@ -137,9 +138,6 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
         } catch (IOException e) {
             throw new RuntimeException(e);
         }
-        mStartedEncodersCount = 0;
-        mMediaMuxerStarted = false;
-        mReleasedEncodersCount = 0;
 
         // Trying to convert the size constraints to duration constraints,
         // because they are super easy to check.
@@ -203,6 +201,9 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
         for (MediaEncoder encoder : mEncoders) {
             encoder.stop();
         }
+        if (mListener != null) {
+            mListener.onEncodingStop();
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -218,10 +219,14 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
             // went wrong, and we propagate that to the listener.
             try {
                 mMediaMuxer.stop();
-                mMediaMuxer.release();
             } catch (Exception e) {
                 error = e;
             }
+            try {
+                mMediaMuxer.release();
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                if (error == null) error = e;
+            }
             mMediaMuxer = null;
         }
         LOG.w("end:", "Dispatching end to listener - reason:", mEndReason, "error:", error);
@@ -231,8 +236,9 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
         }
         mEndReason = END_BY_USER;
         mStartedEncodersCount = 0;
-        mReleasedEncodersCount = 0;
+        mStoppedEncodersCount = 0;
         mMediaMuxerStarted = false;
+        mControllerThread.destroy();
         LOG.i("end:", "Completed.");
     }
 
@@ -281,11 +287,18 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
                 LOG.w("notifyStarted:", "Assigned track", track, "to format", format.getString(MediaFormat.KEY_MIME));
                 if (++mStartedEncodersCount == mEncoders.size()) {
                     LOG.w("notifyStarted:", "All encoders have started. Starting muxer and dispatching onEncodingStart().");
-                    mMediaMuxer.start();
+                    // Go out of this thread since it might be very important for the
-                    mMediaMuxerStarted = true;
+                    // encoders and we don't want to perform expensive operations here.
-                    if (mListener != null) {
+                    mControllerThread.run(new Runnable() {
-                        mListener.onEncodingStart();
+                        @Override
-                    }
+                        public void run() {
+                            mMediaMuxer.start();
+                            mMediaMuxerStarted = true;
+                            if (mListener != null) {
+                                mListener.onEncodingStart();
+                            }
+                        }
+                    });
                 }
                 return track;
             }
@@ -322,10 +335,6 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
          * large differences.
          */
         public void write(@NonNull OutputBufferPool pool, @NonNull OutputBuffer buffer) {
-            if (!mMediaMuxerStarted) {
-                throw new IllegalStateException("Trying to write before muxer started");
-            }
-
             if (DEBUG_PERFORMANCE) {
                 // When AUDIO = mono, this is called about twice the time. (200 vs 100 for 5 sec).
                 Integer count = mDebugCount.get(buffer.trackIndex);
@@ -342,7 +351,6 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
                         "track:", buffer.trackIndex,
                         "presentation:", buffer.info.presentationTimeUs);
             }
-
             mMediaMuxer.writeSampleData(buffer.trackIndex, buffer.data, buffer.info);
             pool.recycle(buffer);
         }
@@ -360,7 +368,14 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
                 if (--mStartedEncodersCount == 0) {
                     LOG.w("requestStop:", "All encoders have requested a stop. Stopping them.");
                     mEndReason = mPossibleEndReason;
-                    stop();
+                    // Go out of this thread since it might be very important for the
+                    // encoders and we don't want to perform expensive operations here.
+                    mControllerThread.run(new Runnable() {
+                        @Override
+                        public void run() {
+                            stop();
+                        }
+                    });
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -372,12 +387,16 @@ public class MediaEncoderEngine {
         public void notifyStopped(int track) {
             synchronized (mControllerLock) {
                 LOG.w("notifyStopped:", "Called for track", track);
-                if (++mReleasedEncodersCount == mEncoders.size()) {
+                if (++mStoppedEncodersCount == mEncoders.size()) {
-                    LOG.w("requestStop:", "All encoders have been released. Stopping the muxer.");
+                    LOG.w("requestStop:", "All encoders have been stopped. Stopping the muxer.");
-                    if (mListener != null) {
+                    // Go out of this thread since it might be very important for the
-                        mListener.onEncodingStop();
+                    // encoders and we don't want to perform expensive operations here.
-                    }
+                    mControllerThread.run(new Runnable() {
-                    end();
+                        @Override
+                        public void run() {
+                            end();
+                        }
+                    });
                 }
             }
         }

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/encoding/TextureMediaEncoder.java

@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 package com.otaliastudios.cameraview.video.encoding;
 
 import android.graphics.SurfaceTexture;
-import android.media.ImageReader;
 import android.opengl.Matrix;
 import android.os.Build;
 
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.CameraLogger;
-import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.Issue514Workaround;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.egl.EglCore;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.egl.EglViewport;
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.internal.egl.EglWindowSurface;
@@ -38,6 +36,8 @@ public class TextureMediaEncoder extends VideoMediaEncoder<TextureConfig> {
         }
     });
 
+    private long mFirstTimeUs = Long.MIN_VALUE;
+
     public TextureMediaEncoder(@NonNull TextureConfig config) {
         super(config.copy());
     }
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public class TextureMediaEncoder extends VideoMediaEncoder<TextureConfig> {
          * Nanoseconds, in no meaningful time-base. Will be used for offsets only.
          * Typically this comes from {@link SurfaceTexture#getTimestamp()}.
          */
-        public long timestamp;
+        public long timestampNanos;
 
         /**
          * Milliseconds in the {@link System#currentTimeMillis()} reference.
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ public class TextureMediaEncoder extends VideoMediaEncoder<TextureConfig> {
          * The transformation matrix for the base texture.
          */
         public float[] transform = new float[16];
+
+        private long timestampUs() {
+            return timestampNanos / 1000L;
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -95,6 +99,36 @@ public class TextureMediaEncoder extends VideoMediaEncoder<TextureConfig> {
         mViewport = new EglViewport();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Any number of pending events > 1 means that we should skip this frame.
+     * To avoid skipping too many frames, we'll use 2 for now, but this just means
+     * that we'll be drawing the same frame twice.
+     *
+     * When an event is posted, the textureId data has already been updated so we're
+     * too late to draw the old one and it should be skipped.
+     *
+     * This is especially important if we perform overlay drawing here, since that
+     * makes this class thread busy and slows down the event dispatching.
+     *
+     * @param timestampUs frame timestamp
+     * @return true to render
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean shouldRenderFrame(long timestampUs) {
+        if (!super.shouldRenderFrame(timestampUs)) {
+            return false;
+        } else if (mFrameNumber <= 10) {
+            // Always render the first few frames, or muxer fails.
+            return true;
+        } else if (getPendingEvents(FRAME_EVENT) > 2) {
+            LOG.w("shouldRenderFrame - Dropping frame because we already have too many pending events:",
+                    getPendingEvents(FRAME_EVENT));
+            return false;
+        } else {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
     @EncoderThread
     @Override
     protected void onEvent(@NonNull String event, @Nullable Object data) {
@@ -103,25 +137,42 @@ public class TextureMediaEncoder extends VideoMediaEncoder<TextureConfig> {
         if (frame == null) {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Got null frame for FRAME_EVENT.");
         }
-        if (frame.timestamp == 0) { // grafika
+        if (!shouldRenderFrame(frame.timestampUs())) {
-            mFramePool.recycle(frame);
-            return;
-        }
-        if (mFrameNumber < 0) { // We were asked to stop.
             mFramePool.recycle(frame);
             return;
         }
-        mFrameNumber++;
+
+        // Notify we're got the first frame and its absolute time.
         if (mFrameNumber == 1) {
             notifyFirstFrameMillis(frame.timestampMillis);
         }
 
+        // Notify we have reached the max length value.
+        if (mFirstTimeUs == Long.MIN_VALUE) mFirstTimeUs = frame.timestampUs();
+        if (!hasReachedMaxLength()) {
+            boolean didReachMaxLength = (frame.timestampUs() - mFirstTimeUs) > getMaxLengthMillis() * 1000L;
+            if (didReachMaxLength) {
+                LOG.w("onEvent -",
+                        "frameNumber:", mFrameNumber,
+                        "timestampUs:", frame.timestampUs(),
+                        "firstTimeUs:", mFirstTimeUs,
+                        "- reached max length! deltaUs:", frame.timestampUs() - mFirstTimeUs);
+                notifyMaxLengthReached();
+            }
+        }
+
         // First, drain any previous data.
-        LOG.i("onEvent", "frameNumber:", mFrameNumber, "timestamp:", frame.timestamp, "- draining.");
+        LOG.i("onEvent -",
+                "frameNumber:", mFrameNumber,
+                "timestampUs:", frame.timestampUs(),
+                "- draining.");
         drainOutput(false);
 
         // Then draw on the surface.
-        LOG.i("onEvent", "frameNumber:", mFrameNumber, "timestamp:", frame.timestamp, "- drawing.");
+        LOG.i("onEvent -",
+                "frameNumber:", mFrameNumber,
+                "timestampUs:", frame.timestampUs(),
+                "- rendering.");
 
         // 1. We must scale this matrix like GlCameraPreview does, because it might have some cropping.
         // Scaling takes place with respect to the (0, 0, 0) point, so we must apply a Translation to compensate.
@@ -152,7 +203,7 @@ public class TextureMediaEncoder extends VideoMediaEncoder<TextureConfig> {
         if (mConfig.hasOverlay()) {
             mConfig.overlayDrawer.render();
         }
-        mWindow.setPresentationTime(frame.timestamp);
+        mWindow.setPresentationTime(frame.timestampNanos);
         mWindow.swapBuffers();
         mFramePool.recycle(frame);
     }

cameraview/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/video/encoding/VideoMediaEncoder.java

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import android.os.Build;
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi;
 
+import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.view.Surface;
 
 import com.otaliastudios.cameraview.CameraLogger;
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ abstract class VideoMediaEncoder<C extends VideoConfig> extends MediaEncoder {
     @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
     protected int mFrameNumber = -1;
 
+    private boolean mSyncFrameFound = false;
+
     VideoMediaEncoder(@NonNull C config) {
         super("VideoEncoder");
         mConfig = config;
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ abstract class VideoMediaEncoder<C extends VideoConfig> extends MediaEncoder {
         format.setInteger(MediaFormat.KEY_COLOR_FORMAT, MediaCodecInfo.CodecCapabilities.COLOR_FormatSurface);
         format.setInteger(MediaFormat.KEY_BIT_RATE, mConfig.bitRate);
         format.setInteger(MediaFormat.KEY_FRAME_RATE, mConfig.frameRate);
-        format.setInteger(MediaFormat.KEY_I_FRAME_INTERVAL, 5);
+        format.setInteger(MediaFormat.KEY_I_FRAME_INTERVAL, 1); // seconds between key frames!
         format.setInteger("rotation-degrees", mConfig.rotation);
 
         try {
@@ -92,8 +95,52 @@ abstract class VideoMediaEncoder<C extends VideoConfig> extends MediaEncoder {
         drainOutput(true);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The first frame that we write MUST have the BUFFER_FLAG_SYNC_FRAME flag set.
+     * It sometimes doesn't because we might drop some frames in {@link #drainOutput(boolean)},
+     * basically if, at the time, the muxer was not started yet, due to Audio setup being slow.
+     *
+     * We can't add the BUFFER_FLAG_SYNC_FRAME flag to the first frame just because we'd like to.
+     * But we can drop frames until we get a sync one.
+     *
+     * @param pool the buffer pool
+     * @param buffer the buffer
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected void onWriteOutput(@NonNull OutputBufferPool pool, @NonNull OutputBuffer buffer) {
+        if (!mSyncFrameFound) {
+            LOG.w("onWriteOutput:", "sync frame not found yet. Checking.");
+            int flag = MediaCodec.BUFFER_FLAG_SYNC_FRAME;
+            boolean hasFlag = (buffer.info.flags & flag) == flag;
+            if (hasFlag) {
+                LOG.w("onWriteOutput:", "SYNC FRAME FOUND!");
+                mSyncFrameFound = true;
+                super.onWriteOutput(pool, buffer);
+            } else {
+                LOG.w("onWriteOutput:", "DROPPING FRAME and requesting a sync frame soon.");
+                if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 19) {
+                    Bundle params = new Bundle();
+                    params.putInt(MediaCodec.PARAMETER_KEY_REQUEST_SYNC_FRAME, 0);
+                    mMediaCodec.setParameters(params);
+                }
+                pool.recycle(buffer);
+            }
+        } else {
+            super.onWriteOutput(pool, buffer);
+        }
+    }
+
     @Override
     protected int getEncodedBitRate() {
         return mConfig.bitRate;
     }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("BooleanMethodIsAlwaysInverted")
+    protected boolean shouldRenderFrame(long timestampUs) {
+        if (timestampUs == 0) return false; // grafika said so
+        if (mFrameNumber < 0) return false; // We were asked to stop.
+        if (hasReachedMaxLength()) return false; // We were not asked yet, but we'll be soon.
+        mFrameNumber++;
+        return true;
+    }
 }

demo/src/main/java/com/otaliastudios/cameraview/demo/CameraActivity.java

@@ -225,6 +225,13 @@ public class CameraActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements View.OnClickLis
             super.onVideoRecordingStart();
             LOG.w("onVideoRecordingStart!");
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public void onVideoRecordingEnd() {
+            super.onVideoRecordingEnd();
+            message("Video taken. Processing...", false);
+            LOG.w("onVideoRecordingEnd!");
+        }
     }
 
     @Override

demo/src/main/res/layout/activity_camera.xml

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
         app:cameraPlaySounds="true"
         app:cameraGrid="off"
         app:cameraFlash="off"
-        app:cameraAudio="off"
+        app:cameraAudio="on"
         app:cameraFacing="back"
         app:cameraGestureTap="autoFocus"
         app:cameraGestureLongTap="none"
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
         android:layout_margin="16dp"
         android:layout_gravity="top|end"
         android:background="@drawable/background"
-        android:elevation="6dp"
+        android:elevation="3dp"
         app:srcCompat="@drawable/ic_switch" />
 
     <!-- Controls -->
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@
         app:behavior_hideable="true"
         app:behavior_peekHeight="300dp"
         app:behavior_skipCollapsed="false"
+        android:elevation="4dp"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
         android:layout_height="wrap_content">
         <LinearLayout