Capture from Video Source to File - Console C#

This tutorial shows how to use the LEADTOOLS Multimedia SDK to create a C# Windows Console application that uses the CaptureCtrl to capture video from a video source, such as a webcam, and store it into a disk file.

The LEADTOOLS Multimedia Capture Control contains many advanced features that simplify the process of capturing video from devices and cameras. The toolkit is shipped with various demos that make use of these features, such as the main Multimedia Capture demo that has different editions in multiple programming languages.

This tutorial shows how to use the Capture Control to perform simplified capturing of a video file.

Required Knowledge

Get familiar with the basic steps of creating a project by reviewing the Add References and Set a License tutorial, before working on the Capture from Video Source to File - Console C# tutorial.

Create the Project and Add LEADTOOLS References

In Visual Studio, create a new C# Windows Console project, and add the below necessary LEADTOOLS references.

This tutorial requires the following local DLLs, which are located at <INSTALL_DIR>\LEADTOOLS21\Bin\Dotnet4\x64

• Leadtools.dll
• Leadtools.Multimedia.dll

Note

Different SDK features require different references. For a complete list, refer to Multimedia Files You Must Include With Your Application.

Set the License File

The License unlocks the features needed for the project. It must be set before any toolkit function is called. For details, including tutorials for different platforms, refer to Setting a Runtime License.

There are two types of runtime licenses:

• Evaluation license, obtained at the time the evaluation toolkit is downloaded. It allows the toolkit to be evaluated.
• Deployment license. If a Deployment license file and developer key are required, refer to Obtaining a License.

Note

Adding LEADTOOLS NuGet and local references and setting a license are covered in more detail in the Add References and Set a License tutorial.

Add the Capture Video Code

With the project created, the references added, the toolkit unlocked, and the license set, coding can begin.

In Solution Explorer, open Program.cs, then add using Leadtools; and using Leadtools.Multimedia; to the using block at the top.

// Using block at the top 
using System.Windows.Forms; 
using Leadtools; 
using Leadtools.Multimedia; 

Add a new method called CaptureVideo(), and call it in the Main method after the UnlockMultimedia() method call.

static void Main(string[] args) 
{ 
   UnlockMultimedia(); 
   CaptureVideo(); 
} 
 
static void CaptureVideo() 
{ 
   string outputFile = @"C:\LEADTOOLS21\Resources\Images\captured.avi"; 
   CaptureCtrl capture = new CaptureCtrl(true); 
   int deviceCount = capture.VideoDevices.Count; 
   if (deviceCount < 1) 
   { 
      Console.WriteLine("No compatible devices found. Exiting."); 
      return; 
   } 
   Console.WriteLine("Select device by typing its number and pressing Enter:"); 
   for (int n = 0; n < deviceCount; n++) 
      Console.WriteLine(n.ToString() + " : " + capture.VideoDevices[n].FriendlyName); 
 
   int deviceIndex = int.Parse(Console.ReadLine()); 
 
   Console.WriteLine("Preparing to capture . ."); 
 
   capture.VideoDevices.Selection = deviceIndex; 
 
   capture.TargetFile = outputFile; 
   capture.TargetFormat = TargetFormatType.AVI; 
 
   // select a suitable compressor 
   capture.VideoCompressors.MJpeg.Selected = true; 
 
   //use CaptureMode.VideoAndAudio if an audio device is also selected. 
   capture.StartCapture(CaptureMode.Video); 
 
   Console.WriteLine("Capturing to file. Press any key to stop capture..."); 
   while (!Console.KeyAvailable) 
   { 
      System.Windows.Forms.Application.DoEvents(); 
      int capMilliSeconds = (int)(1000 * capture.CaptureTime); 
      if (capMilliSeconds % 1000 == 0) // print a dot every second 
      { 
         Console.Write(". "); 
         System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1); 
      } 
   } 
   capture.StopCapture(); 
   Console.ReadKey(true); 
 
   Console.WriteLine($"\nFinished capturing {capture.CaptureTime} seconds to file {outputFile}. Press any key to continue..."); 
   Console.ReadKey(true); 
} 

Run the Project

Make sure there's at least one video source present on the test PC, such as a camera device. Run the project by pressing F5, or by selecting Debug -> Start Debugging.

If the steps were followed correctly, the application will prompt the user to select a video device, then start recording to the file specified in the code, until a key is pressed.

Wrap-up

This tutorial showed how to select a video source and capture from it using the CaptureCtrl class.

See Also

• DirectShow Capture
• CaptureCtrl Class
• VideoDevices Property
• LEADTOOLS SDK Download