Code Optimization

Hello friends,

Today I will share my experience with the Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 free version.

Download it and install from the link above, add references to the libraries:

- Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.dll

- Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Api2.dll

- Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Types.dll

- Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Utilities.dll

So the minimum code you need to implement to be able to preview and capture video and audio and list devices is the following:

video.Clear();
audio.Clear();

foreach (var dev in EncoderDevices.FindDevices(EncoderDeviceType.Video))
{
        video.Add(new ComboboxItem() { Text = dev.Name, Value = dev })
}

foreach (var dev in EncoderDevices.FindDevices(EncoderDeviceType.Audio))
{
    audio.Add(new ComboboxItem() { Text = dev.Name, Value = dev });
}

try
{
    if (ljob == null)
    {
        ljob = new LiveJob();

        source = ljob.AddDeviceSource((EncoderDevice)((ComboboxItem)cbVideoDevice.SelectedItem).Value, 
            (EncoderDevice)((ComboboxItem)cbAudioDevice.SelectedItem).Value);
        source.PickBestVideoFormat(videoSize, 400000); //in 100 nanoseconds = 40 ms = 25 frames per seconds
        source.SetTransportMode(TransportMode.FastForward);

        ljob.OutputFormat.VideoProfile = new Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.AdvancedVC1VideoProfile() { };
        ljob.OutputFormat.VideoProfile.Size = videoSize;
        ljob.OutputFormat.VideoProfile.FrameRate = 25;

        ljob.OutputFormat.AudioProfile = new Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.WmaAudioProfile() { };
        ljob.OutputFormat.AudioProfile.Codec = Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.AudioCodec.Wma;
    }
    source.PreviewWindow = new PreviewWindow(new System.Runtime.InteropServices.HandleRef(capForm.Panel, ca	pForm.Panel.Handle));
    ljob.ActivateSource(source);
}
catch (Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.SystemErrorException ex)
{
    if (ex.ErrorCode == -2126905299)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Device in use by another application.", "Test EE 4");
    }
}

and to start capture:

ljob.PublishFormats.Add(new FileArchivePublishFormat(System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(filePath + fileName)));
ljob.StartEncoding();

Another important thing is to avoid using the installation package of the Microsoft Expression Encoder but just use those four Dlls.

If you will try to run your app on another PC you will get error that Expression Encoder has no license key or something. So to avoid this you have to cases:

- bring the install package and install it on every PC where is your app

- make some changes into registry

I will show you what changes should we make to be able to use it on every PC without installation of Microsoft Expression Encoder, here is the code:

private void TellExpressionEncoderWhereItIs()
{
    try
    {
        var key = "SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Expression\\Encoder\\4.0";
　
        using (var registryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(key))
        {
            if (registryKey == null)
            {
                using (var newKey = Registry.LocalMachine.CreateSubKey(key))
                {
                    CheckInstallKey(newKey);
                }
            }
        }
        key = "SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Expression\\Encoder\\eaa89a7c-d288-4a52-9b68-54930f18ffb7";

        using (var registryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(key))
        {
            if (registryKey == null)
            {
                using (var newKey = Registry.LocalMachine.CreateSubKey(key))
                {
                    CheckInstallKey(newKey);
                }
            }
        }
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());
    }
}
private void CheckInstallKey(RegistryKey registryKey)
{
    var path = "c:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Expression\\Encoder 4\\";
    var installKey = "InstallDir";

    if (registryKey != null)
    {
        string text = registryKey.GetValue(installKey) as string;
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
        {
            registryKey.SetValue(installKey, path);
        }
    }
    path = "4.0.4276.0";
    installKey = "Version";

    if (registryKey != null)
    {
        string text = registryKey.GetValue(installKey) as string;
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
        {
            registryKey.SetValue(installKey, path);
        }
    }
    path = "c:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Expression\\Encoder 4\\Encoder.exe";
    installKey = "Encoder";

    if (registryKey != null)
    {
        string text = registryKey.GetValue(installKey) as string;
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
        {
            registryKey.SetValue(installKey, path);
        }
    }
    path = "c:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Expression\\Encoder 4\\Encoder.exe";
    installKey = "InstallPath";

    if (registryKey != null)
    {
        string text = registryKey.GetValue(installKey) as string;
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
        {
            registryKey.SetValue(installKey, path);
        }
    }
}

Also, you will be able to select screen as a video device and capture your screen.

Thank you and let me know if you have questions or better idea :)

1vqHSTrq1GEoEF7QsL8dhmJfRMDVxhv2y