# FFMPEG.exe Integration with VisioForge .Net SDKs

Video Capture SDK .Net Video Edit SDK .Net

VideoCaptureCore VideoEditCore

This guide provides detailed instructions for implementing FFMPEG.exe output in Windows applications using VisioForge's .NET SDKs. The integration works with both Video Capture SDK .NET and Video Edit SDK .NET, utilizing the VideoCaptureCore and VideoEditCore engines.

FFMPEG functions as a powerful multimedia framework that enables developers to output to a wide variety of video and audio formats. Its flexibility stems from extensive codec support and granular control over encoding parameters for both video and audio streams.

Integrating FFMPEG into your VisioForge-powered applications provides several technical advantages:

• Format versatility: Support for virtually all modern container formats
• Codec flexibility: Access to both open-source and proprietary codecs
• Performance optimization: Options for CPU and GPU acceleration
• Customization depth: Fine-grained control over encoding parameters
• Cross-platform compatibility: Consistent output on different systems

FFMPEG supports numerous container formats, including but not limited to:

• MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14)
• WebM (VP8/VP9 with Vorbis/Opus)
• MKV (Matroska)
• AVI (Audio Video Interleave)
• MOV (QuickTime)
• WMV (Windows Media Video)
• FLV (Flash Video)
• TS (MPEG Transport Stream)

Modern video encoding benefits from hardware acceleration technologies that significantly improve encoding speed and efficiency:

• Intel QuickSync: Leverages Intel integrated graphics for H.264 and HEVC encoding
• NVIDIA NVENC: Utilizes NVIDIA GPUs for accelerated encoding (requires compatible NVIDIA graphics card)
• AMD AMF/VCE: Employs AMD graphics processors for encoding acceleration

The integration offers access to multiple video codecs with customizable parameters:

• H.264/AVC: Industry standard with excellent quality-to-size ratio
• H.265/HEVC: Higher efficiency codec for 4K+ content
• VP9: Google's open video codec used in WebM
• AV1: Next-generation open codec (where supported)
• MPEG-2: Legacy codec for DVD and broadcast compatibility
• ProRes: Professional codec for editing workflows

Before implementing FFMPEG output, ensure your development environment is properly configured:

1. Create a new or open an existing .NET project
2. Install the appropriate VisioForge SDK NuGet packages
3. Add FFMPEG dependency packages (detailed in the Dependencies section)
4. Import the necessary namespaces in your code:

using VisioForge.Core.Types;
using VisioForge.Core.Types.VideoCapture;
using VisioForge.Core.Types.VideoEdit;

Start by creating an instance of FFMPEGEXEOutput to handle your output configuration:

var ffmpegOutput = new FFMPEGEXEOutput();

This object will serve as the container for all your encoding settings and preferences.

Set your desired output container format using the OutputMuxer property:

ffmpegOutput.OutputMuxer = OutputMuxer.MP4;

Other common container options include:

• OutputMuxer.MKV - For Matroska container
• OutputMuxer.WebM - For WebM format
• OutputMuxer.AVI - For AVI format
• OutputMuxer.MOV - For QuickTime container

FFMPEG provides multiple video encoder options. Select and configure the appropriate encoder based on your requirements and available hardware:

var videoEncoder = new H264MFSettings
{
    Bitrate = 5000000,
    RateControlMode = RateControlMode.CBR
};
ffmpegOutput.Video = videoEncoder;

var nvidiaEncoder = new H264NVENCSettings
{
    Bitrate = 8000000,        // 8 Mbps
};
ffmpegOutput.Video = nvidiaEncoder;

var intelEncoder = new H264QSVSettings
{
    Bitrate = 6000000
};
ffmpegOutput.Video = intelEncoder;

var hevcEncoder = new HEVCQSVSettings
{
    Bitrate = 3000000,  
};
ffmpegOutput.Video = hevcEncoder;

Configure your audio encoding settings based on quality requirements and target platform compatibility:

var audioEncoder = new BasicAudioSettings
{
    Bitrate = 192000,    // 192 kbps
    Channels = 2,        // Stereo
    SampleRate = 48000,  // 48 kHz - professional standard
    Encoder = AudioEncoder.AAC,
    Mode = AudioMode.CBR
};

ffmpegOutput.Audio = audioEncoder;

Apply all settings and start the encoding process:

// Apply format settings
core.Output_Format = ffmpegOutput;

// Set operation mode
core.Mode = VideoCaptureMode.VideoCapture;  // For Video Capture SDK
// core.Mode = VideoEditMode.Convert;       // For Video Edit SDK

// Set output path
core.Output_Filename = "output.mp4";

// Begin processing
await core.StartAsync();

Install the following NuGet packages based on your target architecture to ensure proper functionality:

Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.VideoCapture.x64
Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.FFMPEGEXE.x64

For x86 targets:

Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.VideoCapture.x86
Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.FFMPEGEXE.x86

Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.VideoEdit.x64
Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.FFMPEGEXE.x64

For x86 targets:

Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.VideoEdit.x86
Install-Package VisioForge.DotNet.Core.Redist.FFMPEGEXE.x86

• Codec not found errors: Ensure you've installed the correct FFMPEG package with proper codec support
• Hardware acceleration failures: Verify GPU compatibility and driver versions
• Performance issues: Adjust thread count and encoding preset based on available CPU resources
• Output quality problems: Fine-tune bitrate, profile, and encoding parameters

• Use hardware acceleration when available
• Choose appropriate presets based on your quality/speed requirements
• Set reasonable bitrates based on content type and resolution
• Consider two-pass encoding for non-realtime scenarios requiring highest quality

For more code samples and implementation examples, visit our GitHub repository.

To learn more about FFMPEG parameters and capabilities, refer to the official FFMPEG documentation.