Enable Call Recording on any Android device with BCR [Root]

by

In the world of Android call recording apps, BCR (Basic Call Recorder) stands out as a lightweight and user-friendly solution designed specifically for rooted devices and those running custom firmware.

Developed with a focus on simplicity and performance, BCR aims to provide a seamless call recording experience without the bloat and complexity often associated with feature-rich apps.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the key features, installation process, and usage of BCR, highlighting its unique approach to call recording on Android.

Key Features of Basic Call Recorder

  1. Supports Android 9 and newer: BCR is compatible with Android 9 (Pie) and later versions, ensuring compatibility with modern Android devices.
  2. Multiple audio formats: BCR supports recording calls in various audio formats, including OGG/Opus (lossy, default on Android 10+), M4A/AAC (lossy, default on Android 9), FLAC (lossless), and WAV/PCM (lossless, least CPU usage). This allows users to choose the format that best suits their needs based on file size and quality preferences.
  3. Storage Access Framework support: BCR integrates with Android’s Storage Access Framework, enabling users to save recordings to external storage devices like SD cards or USB drives.
  4. Per-contact auto-record rules: Users can set up automatic recording rules based on specific contacts, ensuring that important calls are never missed.
  5. Quick settings toggle: BCR provides a convenient toggle in the Quick Settings panel for easy enabling and disabling of call recording.
  6. Material You dynamic theming: BCR embraces Google’s Material You design language, offering a visually appealing and dynamic user interface that adapts to the user’s system theme.
  7. No persistent notification: BCR doesn’t clutter the notification area unless a recording is in progress, ensuring a clean and unobtrusive experience.
  8. Call screening support on Pixel devices: On Google Pixel devices, BCR can record the caller’s audio during call screening while excluding the automated system’s voice.
  9. Root and custom firmware support: BCR is designed to work seamlessly with both Magisk and KernelSU on rooted devices, as well as custom firmware installations.

Download Basic Call Recorder – BCR

You can get the latest version of BCR from the below link:

Download BCR

Installation and Usage

Installing BCR is a straightforward process, with different methods available depending on the user’s device setup:

  1. For rooted devices with Magisk or KernelSU:
    • Download the latest version of BCR from the official releases page.
    • Flash the BCR zip file as a module within the respective root management applications.
  2. For unrooted devices running custom firmware:
    • Download the latest version of BCR from the official releases page.
    • Flash the BCR zip file while booted into recovery mode.
  3. Grant the necessary permissions:
    • Upon launching BCR for the first time, the app will prompt for several permissions.
    • Grant microphone access and notification permissions (Android 13+) to enable call recording functionality.
    • Optionally, grant call log, contacts, and phone permissions to enhance the recorded filenames with additional information.
  4. Configure recording settings:
    • Enable call recording within the BCR app.
    • Select the desired output directory where the recordings will be saved.
    • If no output directory is chosen or if the selected directory becomes inaccessible, BCR will default to saving recordings in the /sdcard/Android/data/com.chiller3.bcr/files directory.
  5. Automatic call recording:
    • Once enabled, BCR will automatically record incoming and outgoing calls in the background.
    • The recordings will be saved in the specified format and location, with filenames incorporating available information such as contact name, phone number, and SIM slot (if applicable).

Limitations

BCR’s minimalistic approach means that certain features and functionalities are intentionally omitted to maintain simplicity and focus. These non-features include:

  • Support for Android versions older than Android 9.
  • Workarounds for OEM-specific battery optimization and app killing behaviors.
  • Workarounds for devices that don’t support the VOICE_CALL audio source.
  • Support for direct boot mode (the state before the device is initially unlocked after a reboot).
  • Compatibility with stock, unrooted firmware.

BCR also has limited support for call redirection apps, such as Google Voice. While redirected calls can be recorded, there are several limitations compared to regular calls, such as the inability to record conference calls, limitations with auto-record rules, and the requirement for the READ_CALL_LOG permission.

Leave a Comment