Problems to show live cameras with WPFMediaKit

Question

I have a listview that shows little previews of all the cameras recognized by system using WPFMediaKit.

This is my code:

Window4.xaml

<Window x:Class="SampleApplication.Window4"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:WPFMediaKit="clr-namespace:WPFMediaKit.DirectShow.Controls;assembly=WPFMediaKit"
    Title="Window4" Height="300" Width="300">
<Window.Resources>
    <Style x:Key="CamerasLVStyle" TargetType="{x:Type ListView}" BasedOn="{StaticResource {x:Type ListBox}}">
        <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
        <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="0"/>
        <Setter Property="Template">
            <Setter.Value>
                <ControlTemplate>
                    <Border 
                        x:Name="bd" >
                        <ScrollViewer>
                            <WrapPanel
                                ItemWidth="75"
                                ItemHeight="65"
                                IsItemsHost="True"
                                Width="{Binding ActualWidth, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type ScrollContentPresenter}}}"/>
                        </ScrollViewer>
                    </Border>
                </ControlTemplate>
            </Setter.Value>
        </Setter>
    </Style>
    <Style x:Key="CamerasLVItem" TargetType='{x:Type ListViewItem}' BasedOn='{StaticResource {x:Type ListBoxItem}}'>
        <Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Stretch"/>
        <Setter Property="VerticalContentAlignment" Value="Stretch"/>
        <Setter Property="Margin" Value="0,0,0,0"/>
        <Setter Property="ContentTemplate">
            <Setter.Value>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <Border 
                        Background="#FF1E2225">
                        <WPFMediaKit:VideoCaptureElement x:Name="videoCapElement"
                                                         LoadedBehavior="Play"
                                                         VideoCaptureDevice="{Binding}"/>
                    </Border>
                </DataTemplate>
            </Setter.Value>
        </Setter>
        <Setter Property="ToolTip">
            <Setter.Value>
                <StackPanel>
                    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}"/>
                </StackPanel>
            </Setter.Value>
        </Setter>
    </Style>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid>
    <ListView x:Name="CamerasList"
            Grid.Column="1"
            Background="{x:Null}"
            SelectionMode="Single"
            ItemsSource="{Binding Cameras}"
            Style="{StaticResource CamerasLVStyle}"
            ItemContainerStyle="{StaticResource CamerasLVItem}"/>
</Grid>

Window4.xam.cs

public partial class Window4 : Window
{
    private List<DsDevice> _cameras;
    public List<DsDevice> Cameras
    {
        get { return _cameras; }
        set { _cameras = value; }
    }

    public Window4()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        Cameras = MultimediaUtil.VideoInputDevices.ToList();
        this.DataContext = this;
    }
}

At some pcs works fine and shows all cameras, but in some others no.

For example, I have a Windows 8.1 notebook with an integrated webcam and a Microsoft LifeCam Cinema.

Some times it shows the first, some times it shows the second, but never both at the same time (both black squares appears but only one stream is shown).

Any advice? Thanks.

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 26 '14 at 12:29

Well, I found the problem.

After lot of tries, fighting with the code, the problem was hardware.

If I connect the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema to an USB port of the notebook rather than connect it to an USB port of the auxiliar monitor connected by USB to the notebook, both cameras are shown at the application at the same time.

I don't know why, but...

score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:50

Some times it shows the first, some times it shows the second, but never both at the same time

The typical reason for 2+ USB cameras to not work together (still they might be working fine separately) is that USB bandwidth is insufficient for them both to run simultaneously. There is a bandwidth limit, which is rather low: The maximum throughput of an isochronous pipe (which is usually used for video) is 24MB/s.

If the two cameras are connected to two different root hubs it works.

Problems to show live cameras with WPFMediaKit

2 Answers2