Media Server 26.1
Media Server Help

# Obtain a List of Device Names

Media Server can ingest video directly from a DirectShow device, such as a video capture card or camera. This section describes how to obtain the name of your device, so that you use the name in the `source` action parameter, when you start the `process` action.

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

To obtain a list of DirectShow devices

1. Download and install FFmpeg.

2. In a command-line window, run the following command:

       ffmpeg -list_devices true -f dshow -i dummy

   FFmpeg lists the devices that are available, for example:

       C:\MediaServer>ffmpeg -list_devices true -f dshow -i dummy
       ffmpeg version ... Copyright (c) 2000-2016 the FFmpeg developers
         ...
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400] DirectShow video devices (some may be both video and audio devices)
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400]  "HP HD Webcam [Fixed]"
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400]     Alternative name ...
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400] DirectShow audio devices
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400]  "Internal Microphone Array (IDT "
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400]     Alternative name ...
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400]  "Stereo Mix (IDT High Definition"
       [dshow @ 000000000050a400]     Alternative name ...

   In this case you could ingest video from a device named `HP HD Webcam [Fixed]`.

   Specify the device name in the `Source` parameter when you start the `Process` action. Add the prefix `audio=` for an audio-only source, or `video=` for a video source (with or without audio). To specify a video source and a separate audio source, separate the device names with a colon, for example:

       Source=video=USB Video Device:audio=Microphone (USB Audio Device)

   When you send actions to Media Server, you must URL-encode parameter values, for example:

       http://mediaserver:14000/a=process
                            &configname=myconfig
                            &source=video=HP%20HD%20Webcam%20%5BFixed%5D

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Version 26.1 | Last updated January 2026

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Product: Knowledge Discovery Media Server 26.1

Topic Title: Obtain a List of Device Names