Incorrect ordering of MediaRecorder configuration methods can lead too initialization failures. The following example demonstrates proper setup for video recording in a Android application.

AndroidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.example.videorecorder"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0">

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="4" />

    <application
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name">
        <activity
            android:name=".VideoCaptureActivity"
            android:label="@string/app_name">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>

Layout File (activity_video_capture.xml)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="@string/app_name" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btn_start_recording"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:onClick="beginRecording"
        android:text="Start Recording" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btn_stop_recording"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:onClick="endRecording"
        android:text="Stop Recording" />

    <Button
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:onClick="launchSystemRecorder"
        android:text="Use System Camera" />

    <SurfaceView
        android:id="@+id/surface_preview"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent" />

</LinearLayout>

Activity File (VideoCaptureActivity.java)

package com.example.videorecorder;

import java.io.File;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.media.MediaRecorder;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.provider.MediaStore;
import android.view.SurfaceHolder;
import android.view.SurfaceView;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class VideoCaptureActivity extends Activity {
    private MediaRecorder videoRecorder;
    private SurfaceView previewSurface;
    private SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_video_capture);
        previewSurface = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surface_preview);
        surfaceHolder = previewSurface.getHolder();
        surfaceHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);
    }

    public void beginRecording(View view) {
        try {
            videoRecorder = new MediaRecorder();
            videoRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);
            videoRecorder.setVideoSource(MediaRecorder.VideoSource.CAMERA);
            videoRecorder.setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.THREE_GPP);
            videoRecorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.DEFAULT);
            videoRecorder.setVideoEncoder(MediaRecorder.VideoEncoder.H264);
            videoRecorder.setOutputFile("/sdcard/video.3gp");
            videoRecorder.setVideoSize(640, 480);
            videoRecorder.setVideoFrameRate(5);
            videoRecorder.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder.getSurface());
            videoRecorder.prepare();
            videoRecorder.start();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    public void endRecording(View view) {
        if (videoRecorder != null) {
            videoRecorder.stop();
            videoRecorder.release();
            videoRecorder = null;
        }
    }

    public void launchSystemRecorder(View view) {
        Intent systemIntent = new Intent();
        systemIntent.setAction(MediaStore.ACTION_VIDEO_CAPTURE);
        systemIntent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_DEFAULT);
        File outputFile = new File("/sdcard/system_record_" + System.currentTimeMillis() + ".3gp");
        systemIntent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT, Uri.fromFile(outputFile));
        startActivityForResult(systemIntent, 1);
    }

    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
        Toast.makeText(this, "Recording completed", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
}