LEADTOOLS Filters Help > Introduction |
This help file provides information for the DirectShow filters in the LEADTOOLS Multimedia toolkits.
DirectShow filters are multimedia components that can be used to compress, decompress, process, enhance or stream video and audio data. Codecs (Compressers-Decompressers) are required for encoding (creating) and decoding (playing) audio and video files.
With LEAD iCompress codecs, which support industry standards as well as our own industry-leading compression algorithms, you can compress large media files with no perceivable loss of quality. Compressing video down to one fifth of its original file size makes it easier to stream online, place on popular handheld devices such as the PSP or iPod, or share. This help file provides information about the different LEADTOOLS DirectShow Filters.
The LEADTOOLS Multimedia SDK includes full or evaluation versions* of many DirectShow and Media Foundation filters such as encoders, decoders, multiplexers, demultiplexers, sources, and sinks. Also included are evaluation versions [*] of the DVD writer, DVD burner, MPEG-1 multiplexer, MPEG-2 multiplexer, ISO multiplexer/demultiplexer, Screen capture filter, Network filters (source, mux, sink and protocol manager) (TCP/IP, UDP, RTSP), DICOM medical toolkit filters and more.
Refer to LEADTOOLS DirectShow Filters and LEADTOOLS Media Foundation Filters for a complete listing of available filters. Refer to the Multimedia Product Comparison Chart to see which licensed filters are included with the various LEADTOOLS products. LEADTOOLS Multimedia includes evaluation versions of all DirectShow and Media Foundation filters for use in development and testing.
[*] For pricing on filter and codec client licenses, contact sales@LEADTOOLS.com .
Key Features:
LEAD Video Codecs featuring iCompress
LEAD Audio Codecs featuring iCompress
LEADTOOLS Multimedia features require that DirectShow® 8.0 to be installed. There are also a number of files that you must include when you distribute your application . To use the filters in your application, you must expose the ILMMCommon Interface.
Certain filters and codecs require additional deployment licenses in order to be included with your application. For information on licensing the LEADTOOLS Filters and Codecs, refer to Multimedia Filters and Codec Licensing.
Supported Environments
LEADTOOLS comes in Win32 and x64 editions. The environments supported depend upon the specific product, platform and function being used. For more information, refer to Supported Platforms / Operating Systems.
The LEADTOOLS Multimedia Suite enhances the LEADTOOLS Multimedia toolkit by unlocking every filter or codec (with the exception of the DICOM Filters). It also includes LEADTOOLS Imaging Pro and the LEADTOOLS Cloud functionality.
Implicitly, it includes all of the LEADTOOLS Multimedia Modules:
LEADTOOLS MPEG-2 Transport Module
LEADTOOLS Video Streaming Module
The LEADTOOLS Medical Multimedia Module includes a suite of state-of-the-art DirectShow® filters for compressing and decompressing video and audio data inside DICOM files. This feature-rich product was designed to simplify converting cine images and video streams to DICOM objects, including X-ray Angiography (XA), Ultrasound (US), Visible Light (VL), Secondary Capture (SC) and many more. This Filter Pack utilizes the most advanced compression DICOM standard algorithms used in the industry, including MPEG-2, Motion JPEG, and JPEG2000.
The Medical Multimedia Module includes two components:
The LEAD DICOM Writer includes the DirectShow® filters that are used for creating DICOM objects with compressed video and audio data.
The LEAD DICOM Reader includes a set of DirectShow® filters that register into the Windows collection of multimedia drivers and integrate with any application using DirectShow®.
Existing video software, such as Windows Media Player and Ulead Media Studio, can utilize these filters to play the video (cine) data in a DICOM file.
For full details regarding the LEAD DICOM Writer and Reader, refer to:
The LEADTOOLS Medical Multimedia SDK Module is included as part of the LEADTOOLS Medical Imaging Suite SDK. It can be added onto the LEADTOOLS Medical Imaging SDK and the LEADTOOLS PACS Imaging SDK. A license for one of these products is required in order to use the LEADTOOLS Medical Multimedia Module. Additional deployment licenses are required to deploy the Medical Multimedia Module to end users. For more information, refer to LEAD Evaluation Mechanism and the LMDSKernel2 Object topics.