Hello: I found Microsoft has some package for Media Editing, from this URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/audio-video-camera/media-compositions-and-editing However, I need to run a WinForm project to merge some video files. I am using Windows 10 (Version 21H1), my IDE is Visual Studio 2019 (Version 16.11.5) For example, I have two MP4 files: C:\Videos\1.mp4 and C:\Videos\2.mp4, each of them has the same resolution with its own audio. I want to merge them into one file: C:\Videos\3.mp4, 1.mp4 at the beginning of the merged video with its own audio, and 2.mp4 being the ending of the merged video with its own audio. I can use FFMPEG, but it has issue with merged video, the merged video didn’t keep both video and audio, I lost either the first audio or the second video. Since I have to use SQL Server database, so I need some C# code only in WinForm App, not the UWP project. Please share some C# code, so I can merge 1.mp4 and 2.mp4 to generate 3.mp4, in which both video and audio inside are kept the same. Thanks,

In Winforms, you must add references to : C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\UnionMetadata\Windows.winmd C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework.NETCore\v4.5\System.Runtime.WindowsRuntime.dll then you can access MediaComposition :

How to use media compositions and editing in WinFrom App project?

Accepted answer

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-13T23:18:16.893+00:00

In Winforms, you must add references to :

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\UnionMetadata\Windows.winmd
C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework.NETCore\v4.5\System.Runtime.WindowsRuntime.dll

then you can access MediaComposition :
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john zyd 421 Reputation points

2021-10-14T08:43:42.003+00:00

Hello:
I followed your advice, but I got the error:

It seems to add the reference in VS 2019 as indicated by you not working in my environment. By the way, I have tried to use this in .NET 5.0, but it is not supported. It only support .NET framework 4.5 and not beyond. So I have to use .NET framework 4.5, but for WinForms App, it is still not working.
But to think in a few weeks, we will have .NET 6.0, why you can NOT have some media APIs for .NET 5 to work in WinForms locally? I know there are something may work in Azure. But who wants to work with large video files, but also keep connections with Azure? To work locally is much better, right?

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-14T08:57:38.847+00:00

I cannot reproduce your problem

I tested with a blank .NET Framework 4.7.2 project, with similar code in a Button click :

private MediaComposition composition; private async void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { composition = new MediaComposition(); await PickFileAndAddClip(); } private async Task PickFileAndAddClip() { string sPath1 = @"E:\Western World - Trailer.mp4"; var file1 = await Windows.Storage.StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(sPath1); var clip1 = await MediaClip.CreateFromFileAsync(file1); composition.Clips.Add(clip1); string sPath2 = @"E:\small.mp4"; var file2 = await Windows.Storage.StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(sPath2); var clip2 = await MediaClip.CreateFromFileAsync(file2); composition.Clips.Add(clip2); int nNbClips = composition.Clips.Count; }

john zyd 421 Reputation points

2021-10-14T09:18:13.683+00:00

Hello:
It seems your code is working now. But I need some code sample for exporting the merged clips (1.mp4 and 2.mp4) to one MP4 file (i.e: 3.mp4).
By the way, can I get similar code works for .NET 5.0? Or if not possible now, but can we get the stuff working for .NET 6.0 in the near future?
Thanks,

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-14T09:20:13.21+00:00

I tested with your code and the problem comes from ApplicationData that you must not use here

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-14T09:42:59.98+00:00

This minimum test code works for me :

string sPath1 = @"E:\Western World - Trailer.mp4"; var file1 = await Windows.Storage.StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(sPath1); var clip1 = await MediaClip.CreateFromFileAsync(file1); composition.Clips.Add(clip1); string sPath2 = @"E:\small.mp4"; var file2 = await Windows.Storage.StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(sPath2); var clip2 = await MediaClip.CreateFromFileAsync(file2); composition.Clips.Add(clip2); int nNbClips = composition.Clips.Count; string sNewFile = "Test_concatenate.mp4"; var storageFolder = await Windows.Storage.StorageFolder.GetFolderFromPathAsync("e:"); var newFile = await storageFolder.CreateFileAsync(sNewFile, Windows.Storage.CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting); // You must add saveOperation.Progress, saveOperation.Completed to get notified when it is finished var saveOperation = composition.RenderToFileAsync(newFile, MediaTrimmingPreference.Precise);

john zyd 421 Reputation points

2021-10-14T09:44:55.923+00:00

Hello:
Thanks, now, I want to export the merged clips to a new MP4 file (3.mp4), but my code didn’t work.

private async Task PickFileAndAddClip() { var file1 = await StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(@"C:\1.mp4"); var clip1 = await MediaClip.CreateFromFileAsync(file1); composition.Clips.Add(clip1); var file2 = await StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(@"C:\2.mp4"); var clip2 = await MediaClip.CreateFromFileAsync(file2); composition.Clips.Add(clip2); int nNbClips = composition.Clips.Count; StorageFile compositionFile = await StorageFile.GetFileFromPathAsync(@"C:\3.mp4"); var action = composition.SaveAsync(compositionFile); await action.AsTask(); }

I got run time error:
System.IO.FileNotFoundException: 'The system cannot find the file specified.
I know as 3.mp4 is the file going to be generated by the composition?
How I can fix this? Just create an empty file using System.IO function?

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-14T09:48:43.023+00:00

I just posted a code above, that you must improve to get notifications (otherwise, if you close the window before it is finished, it will break the file...)

john zyd 421 Reputation points

2021-10-14T10:27:44.147+00:00

Hello:
Thanks for your code, I got run time error:
The parameter is incorrect.
For this statement:
var newFile =
await storageFolder.CreateFileAsync(sNewFile, CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);

The following is the related part of code:
string sNewFile = @"C:\Videos\3.mp4";
var storageFolder = await StorageFolder.GetFolderFromPathAsync("F:");
var newFile =
await storageFolder.CreateFileAsync(sNewFile, CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);
// You must add saveOperation.Progress, saveOperation.Completed to get notified when it is finished
var saveOperation = composition.RenderToFileAsync(newFile, MediaTrimmingPreference.Precise);
await Task.Delay(5000);

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-14T10:57:35.387+00:00

sNewFile is the name of the file only, created in storageFolder, not a full path

john zyd 421 Reputation points

2021-10-14T13:39:30.107+00:00

Hello:
I changed my code according to your advice.
I can see the mp4 file generated, but I can't play it either in VLC player or Windows 10 Built-in media player (Film & TV).
It looks something wrong with CODEC.
Anyway, it seems this way not suitable for Windows 10.

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-14T13:43:52.27+00:00

Are you sure that the generation was finished ?
The generated file in my test with the 2 random .mp4 works fine in all players (VLC, WMP, Film & TV, ...)
(Windows 10 1909)

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-15T09:02:05.207+00:00

I tested with other files, by adding saveOperation.Progress + saveOperation.Progress to display a MessageBox when it is finished :
sample_960x400_ocean_with_audio.mp4
sample_1280x720_surfing_with_audio.mp4
from https://filesamples.com/formats/mp4

and the result is also fine : Test_concatenate.mp4

john zyd 421 Reputation points

2021-10-15T15:51:46.617+00:00

I waited about 15 seconds, I have no idea if the concat finished or not.
But now I can use MP4Box command line to do the job, it finishes within 2 seconds, and the merged video file is playable via VLC player.
So I think MP4Box is OK for my current situation.
But if .NET 6.0 will have better Media Edit namespace, then I may give it a trial.
The current one seems not able to compete with other tools like MP4Box.

Castorix31 81,726 Reputation points

2021-10-15T16:00:49.007+00:00

From my tests, it seems to work really well, and simpler than other methods like DirectShow
I had adapted the MS code to add a MessageBox when it is finished : Windows.Media.Editing
(a reference must be added for the Dispatcher, as I put in comment)
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How to use media compositions and editing in WinFrom App project?

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