Cosplay - real-time performance Real-time performance, or Cosplay (costume play) is possible with our app. To test, first plug in a wired headset (with a built-in mono microphone) and then click Record - and you will hear your voice in your earphones. This is the 'Listen to Recording' feature, which is On by default (Settings - Record Settings - Listen to Recording). For cosplay, instead of a wired headset, you will need a Y-splitter, that allows you to plug in a wired external microphone, and a wired external speaker. The Y-splitter will then be plugged into your Android device. Place the microphone near your mouth (if you are wearing a costume), and place the external speaker on the outside of your costume (so it can be heard). The microphone should preferably be directional (to minimize feedback from external speaker back to microphone). The microphone that comes with the Aker MR1505 and MR1506 speakers is directional, and is in the form of a headset, so one can wear it on your head. After the Y-splitter is plugged in, click Record. The app will Record from the wired microphone, and will send output to the external speakers at the same time. To reduce file size, just press Pause button, to pause recording. However your voice will still be output to the external speaker. If you want to record, you can reduce file size by using OGG compression (free) or MP3 compression (paid). This will not affect the quality of the voice on the external speaker. You can delete the recording later if you wish. The app has been tested for 100 hours continuous recording, and 34 hours continuous on a single battery charge (Samsung Galaxy Note 4). Battery life will not be an issue for hours of cosplay. In order to reduce battery usage, keep the screen off. To reduce memory usage, avoid running the app, and instead use the widget to control recording (or use the notifications). For easy recording (without looking at your device), use the Power Controls feature (3 clicks of Power button to Record). Note: Power Controls feature should only be used for cosplay / voice memos / heads up situations, and should not be used for important recordings (since it relies on detection of screen on/off events to guess when the Power button is pressed - the Power button cannot directly be detected by Android apps). Bluetooth microphone and speakers Bluetooth speakers will add more latency or delay, which is not desired for cosplay. So using Y-splitter is best for cosplay. Future features We may add ability to use a wired microphone, and output on the device speakers. Or the ability to use Bluetooth microphones or Bluetooth speakers. Or other variations like that. That is on the to do list, and even when implemented, may only work on newer Android devices. Problems with audio latency Android devices have a long-standing issue that they have high audio latency (i.e. there is a delay between when you speak and when audio will come out of the external speaker). This audio latency is being reduced (improved) in newer Android versions, but even with the best combination of android device and android version, the latency is still not as good as on iOS devices (which have very low latency - Apple paid attention to audio from the start). As a result, on Android, the large audio latency can confuse the user during cosplay (since you hear your own voice after a delay). If the audio latency is much longer, the audience will hear the user speak first, and then the voice will appear later on the speaker. This is obviously not desirable for cosplay. So having a low audio latency helps reduce confusion for the user, and also masks the user's original voice from the audience (so the audience only hears the voice changed voice). For now, you will just have to deal with the audio latency on Android. Improving audio latency is on our to do list (since we can improve it slightly with better coding). But it needs to improve generally on Android as well. Note: iOS devices have a very low audio latency (thanks to Apple emphasis on audio from the start). This means a similar voice changer app on an iPhone will seem to have nearly zero latency. Hopefully Android will keep reducing audio latency in the future and will get it down below 20 milliseconds, and ensure this is done by all android manufacturers. Solutions for audio latency You can reduce the confusing effects of the audio delay, by using earplugs (so you don't hear the speakers that much). Or just speak in short sentences to avoid confusion. Capabilities of the earphone jack on Android devices The earphone jack on your device has pins for 2 channel (stereo) output, and 1 channel (mono) input. This is the case for both Android devices and iOS devices. That is, you can only have mono microphone input. This is why headsets have stereo earphones, but only one microphones (mono). Here is a website with a good explanation of the earphone jack on your android device, and what the pins on the jack are used for (stereo out and mono in) - see the section - External microphone through the headset port. http://www.wildmountainechoes.com/equipment/audio-recording-with-a-smartphone Audio Recording With a Smartphone Recommendations for Y-splitter cables and external speakers For the external speaker, one with a wired connection will work, and these cost from 5 USD to 10 USD. Y-splitters are also cheap (1 USD to 5 USD), but finding ones that actually work is more difficult (since headphone splitters look very similar, or the Y-splitter is made incorrectly). Here is a combination of Y-splitter and external speaker that is recommended by cosplayers (the external speaker comes with a wearable directional microphone suitable for cosplay). These are costly, but known to work: Manufacturer direct order links: https://www.esdevices.com/collections/frontpage/products/rockit Rockit Y-splitter Cost 11.95 USD http://store.voicebooster.com/voicebooster-mr1505-aker-12watt-voice-amplifier/ VoiceBooster MR1505 (Aker) 12watt Voice Amplifier SKU: MR1505-12W Cost 54 USD http://store.voicebooster.com/voicebooster-mr1506-aker-10watt-voice-amplifier/ VoiceBooster MR1506 (Aker) 10watt Voice Amplifier SKU: MR1506-10W Cost 48 USD Y-splitters available on Amazon (we have not tested these) https://www.amazon.com/ENVEL-Convertors-Smartphone-Microphone-Simultaneously/dp/B01M0T6PSF/ ENVEL 3.5mm Jack Cable Adapter Kit Mutual Convertors for PC headset and Smartphone Tablet Earphone with Headphone/Microphone Function Simultaneously Y Splitter Audio 2 Female to 1 Male (Cable) Cost 5 USD http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ StarTech.com Headset adapter for headsets with separate headphone / microphone plugs - 3.5mm 4 position to 2x 3 position 3.5mm M/F Cost 7 USD http://www.amazon.com/BEBONCOOL-Headset-Splitter-Lifetime-Warranty/dp/B00OAQRITQ BEBONCOOL(TM) 3.5mm 4-Pin to 2x 3-Pin 3.5mm Headset Splitter Adapter M/F Cost 6 USD https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-connect-external-Microphone-Headsets/dp/B0774SCF2Z 3.5mm Audio Splitter 4-Pole (TRRS) Male to 2x 3-Pole (TRS) Female to connect external Microphone and Speaker for iPhone, Samsung, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Tablets, Mobile Phones and PC Gaming Headsets. USD 5.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073RXXS4N Headphone Mic and Audio 2 in 1 Adapter Cable, iXCC 1 Feet 3.5mm Male to 2 Female Premium Gold-Plated Corrosion-Resistant Y Splitter Cable for Headphone, Headset USD 7.99 https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-connectors-external-Microphone-ZaxSound/dp/B01I5MYQDQ Mobile Phone Audio Splitter Cable with one 3.5mm Male (TRRS) and two 3.5mm (TRS) Female connectors, one for external 3.5mm Speaker and one for external 3.5mm Microphone by ZaxSound USD 4.99 https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ StarTech.com Headset adapter for headsets with separate headphone/microphone plugs - 3.5mm 4 position to 2x 3 position 3.5mm M/F The same Aker speakers are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/VoiceBooster-Voice-Black-MR1505-Presentations/dp/B003FQVPXM VoiceBooster Voice Amplifier 12watts Black MR1505 (Aker) by TK Products, Portable, for Teachers, Coaches, Tour Guides, Presentations, Costumes, Etc. Cost 64 USD Y-splitters available on Ali Express (we have not tested these) https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-1pcs-lot-Gold-plated-Audio-Stereo-Plug-3-5mm-1-Male-to-2-Female/32339337262.html Splitter Headphones jack 3.5 mm Stereo Audio Y-Splitter 2 Female 1 Male Cable Adapter with separate headphone / microphone plug Cost 1.55 USD https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Splitter-Headphones-3-5-mm-plug-Stereo-Audio-Y-Splitter-2-Female-1-Male-Cable-Adapter/32706323129.html Splitter Headphones 3.5 mm plug Stereo Audio Y-Splitter 2 Female 1 Male Cable Adapter with separate headphone microphone jack Cost 3 USD The same Aker speakers are available on Ali Express: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Aker-MR1505-Waistband-Portable-Loud-Voice-Booster-Amplifier-Speaker-for-MP3/32612820772.html Aker MR1505 Waistband Portable Loud Voice Booster Amplifier Speaker VoiceBooster Amplifier 12watts for MP3 Cost about 30 USD https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-New-Digital-Megaphone-Microphone-Voice-Amplifier-Loud-speaker-Audio-Booster-External-Speaker-for-MP3-player/32329223121.html Aker MR1506 Voice Amplifier 10watts Black for Teachers, Coaches, Tour Guides, Presentations, Costumes etc Cost about 30 USD