Media Server 25.4
Media Server Help

# Ingest Video from a DirectShow Device

Media Server can ingest video directly from a DirectShow device, such as a video capture card or camera.

NOTE: Ingestion from a DirectShow device is supported only on Windows.

To ingest video from a DirectShow device

1. Create a new configuration to send to Media Server with the `process` action, or open an existing configuration that you want to modify.

2. In the `[Session]` section, add a new task by setting the `EngineN` parameter. You can give the task any name, for example:

       [Session]
       Engine0=Ingest

3. Create a new section to contain the task settings, and set the following parameters:

   `Type` | The ingest engine to use. Set this parameter to `Video`.
   `Format` | The video format. Set this parameter to `dshow`.
   `IngestDateTime` | (Optional) The ingest engine produces output tracks that contain timestamped records. You can use this parameter to control the timestamp values, which is useful if you are ingesting video that was originally broadcast at an earlier time. Specify the time in epoch milliseconds or ISO 8601 UTC.

   For example:

       [Ingest]
       Type=Video
       Format=dshow

   TIP: There is no configuration parameter to specify the source. You must specify the name of the DirectShow device that you want to use as the value of the `Source` parameter in the `Process` action, when you start processing.

   For more information about the parameters you can set to configure ingestion, refer to the Media Server Reference.

4. Save and close the configuration file. OpenText recommends that you save your configuration files in the location specified by the `ConfigDirectory` parameter.

Copyright 2025 Open Text
Version 25.4 | Last updated October 2025

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Product: Knowledge Discovery Media Server 25.4

Topic Title: Ingest Video from a DirectShow Device