why do VLC open this streaming URL http://24.148.122.144:7001/nphMotionHpeg?Resolution=320x240&Quality=Standard and a DirectShow filter can't <---- webcampxp ( IP Camera [JPEG/MJPEG] ) ? , i know that a DirectShow is meant more by file extensions, if this is the issue, how then VLC bypass it ? and if not may anyone thankfuly correct me ? or direct me to the right place in case i'm off-topic . directshow is for accessing a capturecard/device not a http stream Trax``: cool , but the fact that this stream get played by VLC . vlc using http:// as input works you mean? Trax``: yes but you can't use vlc to get video from your capture device? Trax``: i'm mainly concernd with this URL, i want to know why it works in VLC and not the mentioned DirectShow filter / Trax``: or even want to know how it works in VLC ? you can use the wizard to use a directshow device and then transcode/stream Trax``: which wizard and what do you mean by directshow device maybe one step back.. what do you want to do.. so far you say VLC opens a certain webstream.. but you want to know how directshow works so what is your goal.. you plan to use directshow input on your capture device and use that as input for VLC and then transcode/stream to internet? Trax``: I want to use the webstream as an input to a directshow based application i.e. MSN messenger Trax``: did you get what i mean ? Trax``: in another meaning i want to use this webstream as a virtual webcam to my MSN messenger yeah but I didn't get the relation to VLC .. it's just the input http that happens to work with it? Trax``: i'm asking about the way VLC uses to play this webStreaming , also if i can use VLC to transcode the stream to DirectShow device , if you mean by DirectShow ---> VFW based application Trax``: _DireShow Device ---means---> VFW based application_* Trax``: any comment ? f00bar80: I don't think you can use VLC to create a vfw vfw has also been deprecated and replaced by wdm drivers nowadays Trax``: which mean i can't use it to transcode the stream ? Trax``: always VLC can't transcode to wdm ? you can use VLC to use input stream and restream or even retranscode but I don't see how you would use it inside applications like MSN you could create a Windows Media Player compatible stream though, so people can connect to http://your_ip:8080/stream.asf Trax``: isn't MSN based on DirectShow Filters ? and i also see a lot of Virtual WEbCams , then how these cams are working what you want is http stream -> VLC -> convert into directshow -> use in MSN Trax``: so no way even to know how VLC play this webstream ? but VLC doesn't act as a transparant proxy thing to emulate a directshow device.. it can access a directshow device Trax``: any guide/pointer to VLC transcoding to Directshow ? VLC cannot transcode to directshow.. see directshow as a low level driver for a capture device Trax``: and what i need is something to emulate directshow device ? apparently if your application only accepts directshow as input such as MSN Trax``: then what do you suggest as something to emulate directshow device ? http://www.songbirdnest.com/merchtable ;-) stevel: hehehe :) f00bar80: I don't know of any application that does that Trax``: is it this how a virtual webcam works ? Trax``: ...? I don't know how virtual webcams work.. I do know a bit more about VLC Trax``: Only want to know what's the difference between something that emulate a directshow device and accessing a directshow device(VLC) , also what do you mean by ---> (_see directshow as a low level driver for a capture device_) ? that what gives acces to a directshow device is a driver Trax``: i.e. ...? VLC then uses that driver to grab raw input and can transcode/convert that what you want is the other way around and VLC can't do that VLC can't output to a directshow device because that is typically an input device Trax``: what's meant exactly by a driver ? Trax``: also i'm still asking how VLC was able to play this webstream regarding this "Driver" your first sample was just a webstream and VLC can play those just fine Trax``: HOW ? Trax`` is tempted to say "pure magic" Trax``: :) really i'm not joking :) wouldn't know where to begin.. same as asking how (technically) windows media player is able to play a http:// stream Trax``: WMP is meant by file extension why not VLC ? explain? what do you mean by meant Trax``: WMP can't play http streams without file extension end it can for livestreams I never specify extentions Trax``: i tried to use WMP to play the mentioned URL , after installing/registering a filter for this streaming Cam , got the error "The media type of this file isn't recognized" after a time trying to get connected to this url windows media only understands windows media so if you use other types of codecs or hardware which produces incompatible streams for windows media player this can happen Trax``: even after registering a filter for this hardware ? I wouldn't expect windows media player to be able to use an input device at all it is meant for playing files not directly play from a capture device Trax``: so how VLC can do it Trax``: what's the difference that lets vlc play it and not wmp VLC is so much more than just a player it can use capture devices, convert/transcode/restream etc. Trax``: and to play webstream VLC use it as a capture device, or it convert/transcode this streaming to be displayed ? transcode and restream is optional I do that for a dshow device.. capture raw input, convert into H.264/AAC or WMV/WMA and stream through http Trax``: i'm talking specially regarding the URL i posted previously that is just a basic http:// stream and what is done under the hood we don't know VLC just reads it and decodes the video and audio just like WMP would and then displays it Trax``: so what do you suggest for me to do ? never give up hope and ask google :) I have no idea how to do what you want.. perhaps there are tools out there that will make MSN use it as input