Question

I am having some trouble using the android MediaPlayer in a non activity class, always a context error. Here is the bugged line:

MediaPlayer Shoot = MediaPlayer.create(this, R.raw.shot);

Now I know I cant use “this” in a service, but all the other stuff I tried kept giving bugs.

any suggestions?

Answer 1

You are too luck because in the last two days I have develop an app that uses MediaPlayer inside a background Service 😉

You can simply retrieve an instance of your MediaPlayer using the next line:

MediaPlayer mediaPlayer = new MediaPlayer();

Then you can set all listener and play song that you want.

Edit 22th april 2012

To set listeners (an example):

        mediaPlayer.setOnErrorListener(new OnErrorListener() {                

                public boolean onError(MediaPlayer mp, int what, int extra) {
                        // TODO notify error to user or play next song
                        return true;
                }
        });
        mediaPlayer.setOnCompletionListener(new OnCompletionListener() {                       

                public void onCompletion(MediaPlayer mp) {
                        // TODO Notify to user the completion of song or play next song
                }
        });

To start and play song you have to do something like this:

try{
    mediaPlayer.setDataSource(mSongUrl);
    mediaPlayer.setAudioStreamType(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC);
    mediaPlayer.prepare(); 
} catch (Exception e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
} 
// Starting media player
mediaPlayer.start();