media sdk media file

About MediaFile

MediaFile inspects an existing G64, G64x, or MP4 file on disk. It exposes the unique sources represented by the file and the contained files with their start time, end time, time zone, and watermark status. The available values depend on the file format.

MediaFile does not retrieve recordings from Security Center. It operates purely on a file that already exists. Use MediaExporter to produce G64 or G64x files. Use G64ToMp4Converter to produce MP4 files.

How inspection works

The MediaFile constructor opens the file to inspect its metadata. A missing file throws FileNotFoundException, and empty or invalid files can also cause the constructor to throw. Use try and catch blocks to handle these exceptions. The UniqueSources and ContainedFiles collections can be empty even when the constructor succeeds. Check whether these collections contain entries before using their metadata.

After construction, the file's structure is available through UniqueSources and ContainedFiles. MediaFile does not need an Engine and does not require a connection to Security Center; inspection is local.

Supported formats

The values returned by MediaFile differ by format.

Format	Sources and files	Security Center identifiers and names	Recording details
G64x	Returns one or more UniqueSources and ContainedFiles.	Returns the source and encoder identifiers and names stored in the package.	Returns the recording times, time zone, and watermark status for each contained file.
G64	Returns one UniqueSource and one ContainedFile.	Returns source and encoder identifiers. CollectionName and EncoderName are empty.	Returns the recording times, time zone, and watermark status.
MP4	Returns one UniqueSource and one ContainedFile.	For MP4 files created by G64ToMp4Converter, returns the retained source and encoder identifiers. CollectionName and EncoderName are empty.	Returns the recording times and time zone. IsWatermarked is false.

MP4 files created by G64ToMp4Converter also contain Windows and iTunes-compatible display tags, including the camera name and recording time information. MediaFile does not return these display tags or expose MP4 metadata streams. Use an MP4 metadata reader to retrieve the display tags. For details, see MP4 metadata.

Important

For an MP4 file that was not created by G64ToMp4Converter, do not treat Collection or Encoder as Security Center entity identifiers. MediaFile can return generated values for these members.

MediaFile

using Genetec.Sdk.Media;

var mediaFile = new MediaFile(filePath);

foreach (UniqueSource source in mediaFile.UniqueSources)
{
    bool containsVideo = source.IsVideo;
    bool containsAudio = source.IsAudio;
    string encoderName = source.EncoderName;
    Guid encoderGuid = source.Encoder;
}

foreach (MediaFile.ContainedFile contained in mediaFile.ContainedFiles)
{
    DateTime startUtc = contained.StartTime;
    DateTime endUtc = contained.EndTime;
    bool isWatermarked = contained.IsWatermarked;
}

UniqueSource

A UniqueSource identifies one source stream inside the file: a camera, an audio source, or a metadata stream. Use it when the application needs to show which sources are present, what media types they contain, and how to present them in a review UI.

Member	Type	Description
IsVideo	bool	true when the source carries video.
IsAudio	bool	true when the source carries audio.
Encoder	Guid	Identity of the encoder that produced the source.
EncoderName	string	Encoder name stored in a G64x package. Empty for G64 and MP4 files.
Origin	Guid	Identity of the server or resource that produced the stream.
Collection	Guid	Identifier of the logical group of streams the source belongs to, usually a camera.
CollectionName	string	Collection name stored in a G64x package. Empty for G64 and MP4 files.
MediaType	Guid	Media type identifier (video, audio, or metadata).
Usage	Guid	Identifies the version or variant of the stream.

MediaFile.ContainedFile

ContainedFile describes one file represented by the input. A G64x package can contain several ContainedFile entries for multiple cameras or time ranges. G64 and MP4 files return one entry.

Member	Description
Filename	Name of the elementary file inside a G64x package, or the input file path for G64 and MP4 files.
StartTime	UTC start time of the contained recording.
EndTime	UTC end time of the contained recording.
TimeZone	TimeZoneInfo recorded when the file was created.
IsWatermarked	Watermark status for G64 and G64x recordings. For MP4 files, the value is false.
UniqueSource	The UniqueSource this file belongs to.

See also

• About media file formats: Choosing between G64x, G64, and MP4 output.
• About MediaExporter: Producing G64 and G64x export packages from Security Center recordings.
• About G64 converters: Converting G64 and G64x packages to ASF or MP4, including MP4 metadata behavior.
• About FileCryptingManager: Encrypting and decrypting local media files.