Disable microphone while muted

[szechyjs]

Which package/packages do you use?

• @stream-io/video-react-sdk
• @stream-io/video-react-native-sdk
• @stream-io/video-client

Describe the solution you'd like
Currently when the microphone is muted via micrphone.disable() it just disables the track/stream. However, the microphone is still enabled on the device and is actively listening, I believe this is to support the SpeakingWhileMutedDetection. It would be nice if it was possible to truly disable the microphone while muted, this is particularly useful in a PTT type of application. Without this our users see the microphone privacy/notification constantly active on their device, even though they muted (not pushing PTT).

[oliverlaz]

hi @szechyjs, thanks for reporting this. Your assumption is correct, we use the mic for the speaking-while-muted notification.
It is an already known issue, and we will fix it soon.

[oliverlaz]

hi @szechyjs, we have just released a new SDK version that exposes the following APIs:

• call.microphone.disableSpeakingWhileMutedNotification()
• call.microphone.enableSpeakingWhileMutedNotification()

Docs: https://getstream.io/video/docs/reactnative/core/camera-and-microphone/#speaking-while-muted-detection

[szechyjs]

Thanks for the update. However, it seems that the microphone in use alert still displays in Android, even after setting call.microphone.disableSpeakingWhileMutedNotification();

edit: here is a rough example...

const call = client.call('ptt', 'foo');
call.microphone.disableSpeakingWhileMutedNotification();

return (
  <StreamVideo client={client}>
    <StreamCall call={call} mediaDeviceInitialState={{ initialAudioEnabled: false }}>
      <PTT />
    </StreamCall>
  </StreamVideo>
);

// ptt.tsx
const { microphone, isMute } = useMicrophoneState();

const ptt = async () => {
  // on initial load of component, there is no mic alert until pressed as expected
  await microphone.enable();
};

const pttEnd = async () => {
  if (!isMute) {
    // setting to disabled does not cause the mic alert to go away
    await microphone.disable();
  }
};

return (
  <FAB
    onPressIn={ptt}
    onPressOut={pttEnd}
  />
);

I wonder if it's related to: #1335 (comment)

[oliverlaz]

hi @szechyjs,

Yes, the behavior you are describing is related to the linked comment. I didn't want to change the existing behavior for React Native as I wasn't sure about the impact. We will for sure revisit this change.

In the meantime, I'll re-open this issue.

[szechyjs]

I tried using microphone.disable(true) which should have the same effect as the disableMode: 'stop-track' and the microphone privacy indicator still remains. I'm guessing there is something else that is causing this on Android.

[oliverlaz]

hi @szechyjs, getting back to this. disable(true) should stop the tracks completely as you already described.
@santhoshvai, can you check if there is something that still keeps the mic streams active on Android?