Audio and Video

Microsoft provides components that are designed to enable application developers, Web developers, and systems administrators to develop audio and video programs and to create Windows Media-compatible applications and Web sites.

In this section

Topic Description
Core Audio APIs
A low-level API for audio capture and audio rendering, which can be used to achieve minimum latency or to implement features that might not be entirely supported by higher-level media APIs.
DirectShow
An end-to-end media pipeline, which supports playback, audio/video capture, encoding, DVD navigation and playback, analog television, and MPEG-2.
Microsoft Media Foundation
An end-to-end media pipeline, which supports playback, audio/video capture, and encoding (successor to DirectShow).
Microsoft TV Technologies
Supports digital television, recorded TV (.wtv) files, and OpenCable Unidirectional Cable Receiver (OCUR) devices.
Windows Media Center Software Development Kit
Using the Windows Media Center Software Development Kit (SDK), developers can create rich media applications and services for use with mouse, keyboard, and remote control on a Media Center PC.
Windows Media Format 11 SDK
Supports reading and writing ASF files, decoding and encoding Windows Media audio and video, and streaming ASF over a network.
Windows Media Library Sharing Services
Enables applications to discover media devices on the home network, and share media libraries on the home network and the Internet.
Windows Media Player SDK
Extends the capabilities of Windows Media Player and Windows Media Player Mobile.
Windows Media Rights Manager 10.1.2 SDK
Supports digital rights management (DRM) for protecting Windows Media files.
Windows Media Services 9 Series
Provides an automation-based API for managing Windows Media Services in Windows Server.
Windows Media Streaming API
Models the Digital Media Renderer (DMR) and Digital Media Server (DMS) devices, as defined by the DLNA guidelines, for easy programmatic use.
Windows Media Transport Controls
Provides a built-in interface that shows the user information about the currently playing media, such as the title of a song or video. Also provides the user with a common and familiar way to control media playback.
Windows Movie Maker 6.0 and Windows DVD Maker 1.0 SDK
Enables customization of Windows Movie Maker 6.0 and Microsoft Windows DVD Maker 1.0.
Legacy Audio and Video
Technologies that are obsolete and should not be used in new applications.

DirectX Graphics and Gaming

Graphics