Description:


The task is to show capture card inputs from non-supported capture cards using VLC and its embedded DirectShow framework.


Solution:


Unfortunately, there are no full-fledged solutions for this case yet.
Though, there are two ways of showing DirectShow sources in Polywall using VLC, all of them have disadvantages.


1. The first way is to create VLC application source with full screen parameter, i.e. completely borderless, but the source will always be opened on whole display area and operator needs to resize it after opening to fit it in a video wall cube or a grid cell. This solution is quite appropriate for working in Live mode only, as in scenarios source will always be full screened.
2. The second way is to avoid using full screen parameter, but to make some adjustments in VLC settings to minimize all interface elements. All settings are depicted in the attached VLC interface section screenshot. The con here is that VLC window header line will remain.


The examples with detailed steps are below:
1) Open Polywall Designer
2) Click "Create source"---> Application
3) Put this command in Path:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dshow:// :dshow-vdev="Source name" --no-mouse-events --no-osd --fullscreen
Do not forget to replace source name correctly and do not erase commas. Source name can be found in VLC Open Media window--> Capture Device tab-->Video device name drop list menu (screenshot is attached).
4) Save the source and put in on the video wall. As full screen parameters is presented in this example, the source will be opened in full screen and you need to resize it randomly one time to make Polywall capture it and control VLC window dimensions and coordinates.
To implement to second way just erase –fullscreen and do not forget to set all VLC settings from the attached screenshot.


As a result our Blackmagic capture card source from the first way will be:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dshow:// :dshow-vdev="Blackmagic WDM Capture" --no-mouse-events --no-osd --fullscreen
From the second way with adjusted VLC settings:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dshow:// :dshow-vdev="Blackmagic WDM Capture" --no-mouse-events --no-osd