Audio Recorder *.m4a files in Android 15 - help advice needed

[Digger]

Audio recorder issues with new phone Android 15 Moto Edge 50 Neo.

This is odd, so bear with me trying to explain.

Context

I like to record voice audio now and again like a voice memo journal. Usually less than 10 minute files, often less than 5 minutes. Ive been doing this for a year or two on another Android phone - Xiaomi Redmi 10 Pro, Android 13.

Recent situation with m4a files on new phone Android 15

Im now on a new phone the Edge Neo. This is Android 15 and uses Dolby Atmos to enhance audio. It has ‘smart’ EQ, which you can disable, so Ive tested, and it makes no difference to the issues Im encountering with the audio recorder m4a.

Problems

First recording made on the Neo was September 11th, and files seem to have incorrect time length, and do not play at all in VLC, though sometimes play in Music app, tough mostly not. I didnt notice at first as was also experimenting with using a daily note to auto-save to a specific folder and save all recordings in the assets folder (works well). But since that time (11th Sept), the m4a dont play in external players. They do play in Obsidian itself, but dont play in VLC or in Music app (mostly) or other audio apps Ive tested eg AIMP, Music Player etc.

(I do not recommend the Music app or the others as as they are full of ads and only for testing.)

Im really stumped what is going on. Any suggestions for what I might be doing wrong or maybe need updated audio drivers. Its very odd.

[Digger]

Update 1

I have now tested by recording a couple of .m4a files using Voice Recorder app and they play without issue in VLC, and in CX File explorer (probably Fossify Files but didnt test yet). So its not the format ‘per se’, it might be a particular codec in the format that Obsidian is using in its Audio recorder.

[Digger]

Update 2

Ive done another test using the excellent Fossify Voice Recorder, which also makes m4a as default. These files play in all contexts with all players. When embedded in Obsidian allow the html audio player to ‘scratch’ through the audio timeline easily. So, much, much better than the default Audio Recorder m4a config.

As a good workaround fttb Ill use Fossify’s recorder, maybe with the Waveform plugin, which further enhances the user experience for audio files. This plugin does not work at all with the Audio Player faulty m4a files Im having such trouble with referred to in the OP - it actually breaks the files somehow (they disappear). But it works really well with all the others.