media sdk overview

About the Media SDK

The Media SDK (Genetec.Sdk.Media.dll) is the .NET assembly that gives a Security Center integration direct access to video and audio: live and recorded playback, decoded frames, archived export, file inspection and conversion, recorded-stream reading, overlays, PTZ control, audio output, camera-blocking checks, and analog monitor activity.

The Media SDK builds on the Platform SDK. Workflows that access Security Center resources, such as live or recorded playback, export, PTZ, overlays, or blocking data, start with a Platform SDK Engine that is logged on to a Directory as a Security Center user with the privileges needed for the operation. Local-file workflows, such as inspecting a G64, G64x, or MP4 file with MediaFile, converting a G64 or G64x file, or encrypting one with FileCryptingManager, can run without a logged-on Engine. Removing Security Center encryption during ASF or MP4 conversion requires the converter's Initialize overload that accepts an Engine logged on as a user with the ConvertExportedFiles and RemoveEncryption privileges. The Media SDK itself does not authenticate or manage entities.

When to use it

Use the Media SDK when an integration needs video or audio that the other SDKs do not cover:

• A WPF window that plays live or archived video, with snapshots, transport controls, and synchronization across several views.
• A processing pipeline that consumes decoded video frames or synchronized PCM audio for analytics, computer vision, or quality inspection.
• An export workflow that produces a G64 or G64x package from Security Center recordings.
• A local-file workflow that inspects an exported file, converts it to ASF or MP4, password-protects a G64x package, or encrypts and decrypts media files.
• A reader-style workflow that queries where recordings exist or reads raw video, audio, or metadata frames as data.
• A PTZ workflow, an audio-output workflow, or an integration that listens to analog monitor events.

Choose an SDK for these workflows:

If you need to...	Use
Manage entities, alarms, events, reports, schedules, roles, or privileges	Platform SDK
Build a module that runs inside Security Desk or Config Tool	Workspace SDK
Build a server-side role, unit manager, or server extension	Plugin SDK
Play video in a browser	Genetec Web Player
Configure a camera or read camera properties	Platform SDK

Components

The Media SDK is organized as small, focused components. Each one wraps a specific media capability.

Component	What it does
MediaPlayer	WPF control that displays live, recorded, or local video.
VideoSourceFilter, AudioVideoSourceFilter	Headless playback that delivers decoded video frames (and optionally PCM audio) to your code.
MediaExporter	Creates G64 or G64x export packages from Security Center recordings.
MediaFile	Inspects an existing G64, G64x, or MP4 file: which sources, which time ranges, what content.
G64ToAsfConverter, G64ToMp4Converter, G64xPasswordProtectionConverter	Convert exported G64/G64x to other formats or apply password protection.
FileCryptingManager	Encrypts and decrypts local media files.
PlaybackSequenceQuerier, PlaybackStreamReader	Find where recordings exist and read raw recorded video, audio, or metadata frames.
OverlayFactory, Overlay, Layer	Draw application-owned graphics over camera video.
PtzCoordinatesManager, AggregatePtzCoordinatesManager	Track PTZ position and send PTZ commands for one or several cameras.
AudioTransmitter, AudioRecorder	Send raw PCM audio (AudioTransmitter) or workstation microphone audio (AudioRecorder) to a camera audio output.
LiveBlockingConfiguration, MediaBlockingConfiguration	Check whether live video is currently blocked, or evaluate blocking rules at a specific time and security level.
AnalogMonitorController	Observe analog monitor stream activity and blocked-camera requests.

See also

• Getting started with the Media SDK: Setup, order of operations, and shared rules across Media SDK components.
• About MediaPlayer: MediaPlayer WPF control for live, recorded, and local-file playback.
• About MediaExporter: Producing G64 and G64x export packages from Security Center recordings.