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I'm going to use VLC to view a surveillance camera stream, with no need to record it, just view. Camera will be hooked up via Firewire. I'd like a batch file that will launch VLC in the correct mode. For instance, manually I would:

1) Open VLC
2) File
3) Open Media
4) Capture Device
5) Capture Mode = DirectShow
6) Device Name = "AV/C Tape Recorder/Player"

How do I automate this?

Here is my humble attempt, which of course doesn't work.

C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc dshow-vdev={,AV/C Tape Recorder/Player}

Open Tools -> Messages (set Verbosity to 2) before you do anything else. Message log will reveal you the exact options that are passed to core (you can use these options via command-line).

Thanks for pointing me to this feature!!

Is this single line all I need?
C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc dshow-vdev=AV/C Tape Recorder/Player

Here's what the verbose message generated:
qt4 debug: Initialization of Capture device panel
qt4 warning: Input option: dshow-vdev=AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
qt4 warning: Input option: dshow-adev=
qt4 warning: Input option: dshow-caching=200
main debug: adding item `dshow://' ( dshow:// )
qt4 debug: Adding a new MRL to recent ones: dshow://
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index -1
main debug: processing request item dshow:// node null skip 0
main debug: resyncing on dshow://
main debug: dshow:// is at 0
main debug: starting new item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'dshow://'
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:220)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `dshow://' gives access `dshow' demux `' path `'
main debug: creating demux: access='dshow' demux='' path=''
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
dshow debug: dshow-vdev: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: dshow-adev:
main debug: meta ok for (null), need to fetch art
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
dshow debug: found device: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: found device: CyberLink Webcam Splitter
dshow debug: found device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000
dshow debug: asking for device: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: asked for AV/C Tape Recorder/Player, binding to AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: using device: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: output pin: DV Vid Out
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: output pin: DV A/V Out
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: input pin: DV A/V In
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: trying pin DV Vid Out
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: input pin default format configured
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: input pin accepts chroma: dv , width:720, height:480, fps:29.970000
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::JoinFilterGraph
dshow debug: connecting filters
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::ConnectedTo [not connected]
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryPinInfo
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::QueryFilterInfo
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryPinInfo
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryAccept [OK] (width=720, height=480, chroma=dv , fps=29.970000)
dshow debug: CapturePin::ReceiveConnection [OK]
dshow debug: CapturePin::NotifyAllocator
dshow debug: ConnectFilters: graph_builder2 available.
dshow warning: ConnectFilters: No crossBar routes found (incobatible pin types)
dshow debug: filters connected successfully !
dshow debug: MEDIATYPE_Video
dshow debug: selected video pin accepts format: dv
dshow debug: releasing DirectShow
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::ConnectedTo [OK]
dshow debug: CapturePin::Disconnect [OK]
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::SetSyncSource
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::JoinFilterGraph
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::GetState 0
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::~CaptureFilter
dshow debug: CapturePin::~CapturePin
main debug: no access_demux module matching "dshow" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 141.000 ms - Total 141.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 141.000 ms)
main debug: creating access 'dshow' path=''
main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate
dshow debug: dshow-vdev: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: dshow-adev:
dshow debug: found device: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: found device: CyberLink Webcam Splitter
dshow debug: found device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000
dshow debug: asking for device: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: asked for AV/C Tape Recorder/Player, binding to AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: using device: AV/C Tape Recorder/Player
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: output pin: DV Vid Out
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: output pin: DV A/V Out
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: input pin: DV A/V In
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: trying pin DV Vid Out
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: input pin default format configured
dshow debug: EnumDeviceCaps: input pin accepts chroma: dv , width:720, height:480, fps:29.970000
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::JoinFilterGraph
dshow debug: connecting filters
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::ConnectedTo [not connected]
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryPinInfo
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::QueryFilterInfo
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryPinInfo
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryAccept [OK] (width=720, height=480, chroma=dv , fps=29.970000)
dshow debug: CapturePin::ReceiveConnection [OK]
dshow debug: CapturePin::NotifyAllocator
dshow debug: ConnectFilters: graph_builder2 available.
dshow warning: ConnectFilters: No crossBar routes found (incobatible pin types)
dshow debug: filters connected successfully !
dshow debug: MEDIATYPE_Video
dshow debug: selected video pin accepts format: dv
dshow debug: skipping audio device
dshow debug: Playing...
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryPinInfo
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryPinInfo
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::EnumPins
dshow debug: CapturePin::QueryDirection
dshow debug: CapturePin::ConnectedTo [OK]
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::SetSyncSource
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::Pause
dshow debug: CaptureFilter::Run
main debug: using access module "dshow"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 59.000 ms - Total 59.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 59.000 ms)
main debug: Using AStream*Block
main debug: pre buffering
main debug: received first data after 67 ms
main debug: prebuffering done 120000 bytes in 0s - 1749 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: creating demux: access='dshow' demux='rawdv' path=''
main debug: looking for demux module: 1 candidate
rawdv debug: Realtime DV Source: No
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: using demux module "rawdv"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 34.000 ms - Total 34.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 34.000 ms)
main debug: looking for decoder module: 34 candidates
avcodec debug: libavcodec initialized (interface 0x350500)
avcodec debug: trying to use direct rendering
avcodec debug: ffmpeg codec (DV Video) started
main debug: using decoder module "avcodec"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 14.000 ms - Total 14.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 14.000 ms)
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 0 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:301)
main debug: thread started
main debug: looking for decoder module: 34 candidates
araw debug: samplerate:48000Hz channels:2 bits/sample:16
main debug: using decoder module "araw"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: thread started
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 2 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:301)
dshow warning: unimplemented query in control
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader\filename.lua
main debug: no meta reader module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 ms)
main debug: `dshow://' successfully opened
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: looking for meta fetcher module: 1 candidate
main debug: Buffering 16%
main debug: creating aout
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
main debug: looking for audio output module: 4 candidates
aout_directx debug: Opening DirectSound Audio Output
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.lua
main debug: no usable vout present, spawning one
main debug: looking for text renderer module: 2 candidates
freetype debug: Using Arial as font from file C:\Windows\Fonts\arial.ttf
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
aout_directx debug: found device: Speakers (SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio)
main debug: Buffering 33%
main debug: using meta fetcher module "lua"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 19.000 ms - Total 19.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 19.000 ms)
main debug: removing module "lua"
main debug: searching art for dshow://
main debug: looking for art finder module: 2 candidates
freetype debug: using fontsize: 2
main debug: using text renderer module "freetype"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 18.000 ms - Total 18.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 18.000 ms)
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 18 candidates
main debug: Buffering 50%
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
swscale debug: 32x32 chroma: YUVA -> 16x16 chroma: YUVA with scaling using Bicubic (good quality)
main debug: using video filter2 module "swscale"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 35.000 ms - Total 35.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 35.000 ms)
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 18 candidates
yuvp debug: YUVP to YUVA converter
main debug: using video filter2 module "yuvp"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 5.000 ms - Total 5.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5.000 ms)
main debug: window size: 720x480
main debug: Deinterlacing available
main debug: deinterlace 0, mode blend, is_needed 0
main debug: looking for video output module: 1 candidate
vout_wrapper debug: Opening vout display wrapper
main debug: looking for vout display module: 8 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.lua
direct3d debug: creating Vout EventThread
direct3d debug: DirectXCreateWindow
main debug: looking for vout window hwnd module: 3 candidates
qt4 debug: requesting video...
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!)
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: Windows says your SpeakerConfig is stereo
main debug: Buffering 66%
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread started
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: thread (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (../../.././modules/audio_output/directx.c:321)
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 83.000 ms - Total 83.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 83.000 ms)
main debug: output 's16l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'f32l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'s16l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 13 candidates
audio_format debug: f32l->s16l, bits per sample: 32->16
main debug: using audio filter module "audio_format"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 4.000 ms - Total 4.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 3 candidates
main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: input 's16l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 1 candidate
scaletempo debug: format: 48000 rate, 2 nch, 4 bps, fl32
scaletempo debug: params: 30 stride, 0.200 overlap, 14 search
scaletempo debug: 1.000 scale, 1440.000 stride_in, 1440 stride_out, 1152 standing, 288 overlap, 672 search, 2400 queue, fl32 mode
main debug: using audio filter module "scaletempo"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: filter(s) 's16l'->'f32l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 13 candidates
audio_format debug: s16l->f32l, bits per sample: 16->32
main debug: using audio filter module "audio_format"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'f32l' 52800 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 13 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "ugly_resampler"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: End of audio preroll
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.lua
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.lua
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\04_musicbrainz.lua
main debug: no art finder module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 85.000 ms - Total 85.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 85.000 ms)
main debug: art not found for dshow://
qt4 debug: Video was requested 0, 0
main debug: Buffering 83%
main debug: using vout window hwnd module "qt4"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 61.000 ms - Total 61.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 61.000 ms)
direct3d debug: created video sub-window
direct3d debug: Vout EventThread running
direct3d debug: disabling screen saver
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 736x518 window
main debug: Stream buffering done (200 ms in 151 ms)
direct3d warning: trying surface pixel format: YV12
direct3d debug: selected surface pixel format is YV12
direct3d debug: Direct3D scene created successfully
direct3d debug: Direct3D device adapter successfully initialized
main debug: using vout display module "direct3d"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 89.000 ms - Total 89.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 89.000 ms)
main debug: A filter to adapt decoder to display is needed
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 18 candidates
swscale debug: 720x480 chroma: I411 -> 720x480 chroma: I420 with scaling using Bicubic (good quality)
main debug: using video filter2 module "swscale"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: Filter 'Swscale' (05898e54) appended to chain
main debug: using video output module "vout_wrapper"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 92.000 ms - Total 92.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 92.000 ms)
main debug: got 1 direct buffer(s)
main debug: pic render sz 720x480, of (0,0), vsz 720x480, 4cc I411, sar 1:1, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0
main debug: pic in sz 720x480, of (0,0), vsz 720x480, 4cc I411, sar 1:1, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0
main debug: pic out sz 720x480, of (0,0), vsz 720x480, 4cc I411, sar 1:1, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0
main debug: direct render, mapping render pictures 0-23 to system pictures 1-24
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 720x480 window
avcodec debug: using direct rendering
main debug: End of video preroll
main debug: Received first picture
freetype debug: using fontsize: 30
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main debug: reusing provided vout
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 43 ms
main warning: PTS is out of range (-10000), dropping buffer
main warning: PTS is out of range (-31333), dropping buffer
main warning: buffer is 42565 late, triggering upsampling
main debug: Post-processing available
main debug: Detected interlaced video
main debug: deinterlace 0, mode blend, is_needed 1
main warning: vlc_object_find_name(postproc) is not safe!
main warning: late picture skipped (6634 > -2257)
freetype debug: using fontsize: 30
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 640x480 window
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (64925)
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main error: blending YUVA to I411 failed
main warning: timing screwed, stopping resampling
main warning: buffer is 116393 late, triggering upsampling
main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate
main debug: no video blending module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)

It would be more like a

Awesome! Thank you!!!!