What is DirectShow?

The DirectShow API is media streaming architecture for the Windows platform. Using DirectShow, your applications can perform high-quality video and audio playback or capture. DirectShow supports a wide variety of formats, including advanced streaming Format (ASF), Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG), Audio-Video Interleaved (AVI), MPEG Audio Layer-3 (MP3), Windows Media Audio (WMA), Windows Media Video (WMV), QuickTime, WAV, AIFF, AU, SND and MIDI. It supports capture using WDM (Windows Driver Model) devices or older Video for Windows devices. At the same time, it provides access to the underlying stream control architecture for applications that require custom solutions. You can also create your own DirectShow components to support new formats or custom effects. DirectShow automatically detects and uses video and audio acceleration hardware when available, but also supports systems without acceleration hardware.

Internally, DirectShow still uses DirectSound and DirectDraw when the hardware supports it (Else it uses the Windows GDI for blitting). The Video Renderer and Overlay Mixer filters use DirectDraw 3 and DirectDraw 5 surfaces. The Video Mixing Renderer 7 (Windows XP only) uses DirectDraw 7 surfaces. The Video Mixing Renderer9 uses the latest Microsoft(r) Direct3D(r) APIs.

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