# How to use Bluetooth headset for both audio input and output?

**URL:** <https://qa.fmod.com/t/how-to-use-bluetooth-headset-for-both-audio-input-and-output/17637>\
**Category:** Unity\
**Tags:** android\
**Created:** [September 4, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/how-to-use-bluetooth-headset-for-both-audio-input-and-output/17637 "2021-09-04T02:00:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BadDreamGames](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/baddreamgames/32/1581_2.png) [@BadDreamGames](https://qa.fmod.com/u/BadDreamGames)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/how-to-use-bluetooth-headset-for-both-audio-input-and-output/17637/1 "2021-09-04T02:00:24Z")

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I’m making a game which requires constant use of the microphone. I want to give players on Android and iOS the option to use Bluetooth headsets when they play.

It appears that there are 2 possible protocols with which to communicate with the headset: SCO and A2DP. By default, the A2DP protocol is used and I can hear audio through the headset but the microphone is disabled, and the game takes input from the built-in phone mic. If I get the Android AudioManager and start SCO, the game will pick up input through the Bluetooth headset, but I stop hearing audio output altogether.

Is there any way for me to use the Bluetooth headset for both input and output simultaneously? Thanks for any help!

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**Author:** ![BadDreamGames](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/baddreamgames/32/1581_2.png) [@BadDreamGames](https://qa.fmod.com/u/BadDreamGames)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/how-to-use-bluetooth-headset-for-both-audio-input-and-output/17637/2 "2021-09-04T03:13:29Z")

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Update: I did find a way to have input and output running through the Bluetooth headset simultaneously, by switching the Android AudioManager’s mode to “in communication”. My understanding is that this makes the phone think of the game as a phone call, which has the brutal side effect of making all the game audio sound like hold music. I’d much rather disallow Bluetooth headsets than destroy the game’s audio quality to such a degree. However, if anyone reading has any alternative suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

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**Author:** ![tristanjl](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/tristanjl/32/261_2.png) [@tristanjl](https://qa.fmod.com/u/tristanjl)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 12:47am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/how-to-use-bluetooth-headset-for-both-audio-input-and-output/17637/3 "2021-09-08T00:47:56Z")

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Hi BadDreamGames,

We were wondering if this issue changed at all with the different output modes? FMOD defaults to FMOD\_OUTPUTTYPE\_AAUDIO on android, but perhaps with FMOD\_OUTPUTTYPE\_OPENSL this wouldn’t be an issue?

There is also FMOD\_OUTPUTTYPE\_AUDIOTRACK which doesn’t have microphone support if you are implementing your own handling for this.

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**Author:** ![tristanjl](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/tristanjl/32/261_2.png) [@tristanjl](https://qa.fmod.com/u/tristanjl)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/how-to-use-bluetooth-headset-for-both-audio-input-and-output/17637/4 "2021-09-23T04:08:48Z")

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I just tested using an ERUW headset and a One Plus 5 phone and wasn’t able to reproduce any of the mentioned issues using either AAudio or OpenSL. What devices are you testing on?