Record Webcam Video in VB.NET: Complete Guide¶

Recording webcam video in VB.NET applications is a common requirement for video conferencing, surveillance, and media projects. This guide provides step-by-step instructions to capture, preview, and save webcam video to MP4 files using Video Capture SDK .Net in VB.NET (Visual Basic .NET).

Why Use Video Capture SDK .Net for VB.NET Webcam Recording¶

Video Capture SDK .Net provides first-class VB.NET support with:

Full async/await support for non-blocking webcam capture
Device enumeration for video sources, audio sources, and audio outputs
MP4 recording with H.264/H.265 encoding and GPU acceleration
Real-time webcam preview during recording
Screenshot capture from live webcam feed
WinForms and WPF support

Required NuGet Packages¶

Add the following packages to your VB.NET project:

<PackageReference Include="VisioForge.DotNet.VideoCapture" Version="2026.2.19" />
<PackageReference Include="VisioForge.CrossPlatform.Core.Windows.x64" Version="2025.11.0" />
<PackageReference Include="VisioForge.CrossPlatform.Libav.Windows.x64" Version="2025.11.0" />

Complete VB.NET Webcam Recording Example¶

The following example demonstrates a full WinForms application that enumerates webcam devices, previews the webcam feed, and records video to MP4.

SDK Initialization and Device Enumeration¶

First, initialize the SDK and enumerate available devices when the form loads:

Imports System.IO
Imports VisioForge.Core
Imports VisioForge.Core.VideoCaptureX
Imports VisioForge.Core.Types.X.Sources
Imports VisioForge.Core.Types.X.Output
Imports VisioForge.Core.Types.X.AudioRenderers

Public Class Form1
    Private VideoCapture1 As VideoCaptureCoreX

    Private Async Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        ' Initialize the SDK
        Await VisioForgeX.InitSDKAsync()

        ' Create the video capture engine
        VideoCapture1 = New VideoCaptureCoreX(VideoView1)
        AddHandler VideoCapture1.OnError, AddressOf VideoCapture1_OnError

        ' Enumerate video sources (webcams)
        Dim videoSources = Await DeviceEnumerator.Shared.VideoSourcesAsync()
        For Each source In videoSources
            cbVideoInputDevice.Items.Add(source.DisplayName)
            If cbVideoInputDevice.Items.Count = 1 Then cbVideoInputDevice.SelectedIndex = 0
        Next

        ' Enumerate audio sources (microphones)
        Dim audioSources = Await DeviceEnumerator.Shared.AudioSourcesAsync()
        For Each source In audioSources
            cbAudioInputDevice.Items.Add(source.DisplayName)
            If cbAudioInputDevice.Items.Count = 1 Then cbAudioInputDevice.SelectedIndex = 0
        Next

        ' Enumerate audio outputs (speakers)
        Dim audioOutputs = Await DeviceEnumerator.Shared.AudioOutputsAsync()
        For Each audioOutput In audioOutputs
            cbAudioOutputDevice.Items.Add(audioOutput.DisplayName)
            If cbAudioOutputDevice.Items.Count = 1 Then cbAudioOutputDevice.SelectedIndex = 0
        Next

        edOutput.Text = Path.Combine(
            Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos), "capture.mp4")
    End Sub

Listing Available Video Formats and Frame Rates¶

When the user selects a webcam device, populate the available video formats:

    Private Async Sub cbVideoInputDevice_SelectedIndexChanged(
            sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles cbVideoInputDevice.SelectedIndexChanged

        If cbVideoInputDevice.SelectedIndex = -1 Then Return

        cbVideoInputFormat.Items.Clear()
        cbVideoInputFrameRate.Items.Clear()

        Dim videoSources = Await DeviceEnumerator.Shared.VideoSourcesAsync()
        Dim device = videoSources.FirstOrDefault(
            Function(d) d.DisplayName = cbVideoInputDevice.Text)

        If device IsNot Nothing Then
            For Each videoFormat In device.VideoFormats
                cbVideoInputFormat.Items.Add(videoFormat.Name)
            Next
            If cbVideoInputFormat.Items.Count > 0 Then cbVideoInputFormat.SelectedIndex = 0
        End If
    End Sub

Starting Webcam Recording to MP4¶

Configure the video and audio sources, set the MP4 output, and start the recording:

    Private Async Sub btStart_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btStart.Click
        Try
            ' Configure video source
            Dim videoSources = Await DeviceEnumerator.Shared.VideoSourcesAsync()
            Dim videoDevice = videoSources.FirstOrDefault(
                Function(d) d.DisplayName = cbVideoInputDevice.Text)

            If videoDevice IsNot Nothing Then
                Dim videoSourceSettings As New VideoCaptureDeviceSourceSettings(videoDevice)
                VideoCapture1.Video_Source = videoSourceSettings
            End If

            ' Configure audio source
            Dim audioSources = Await DeviceEnumerator.Shared.AudioSourcesAsync()
            Dim audioDevice = audioSources.FirstOrDefault(
                Function(d) d.DisplayName = cbAudioInputDevice.Text)

            If audioDevice IsNot Nothing Then
                VideoCapture1.Audio_Source = audioDevice.CreateSourceSettingsVC(Nothing)
            End If

            ' Configure audio output for live monitoring
            Dim audioOutputs = Await DeviceEnumerator.Shared.AudioOutputsAsync()
            Dim audioOutput = audioOutputs.FirstOrDefault(
                Function(d) d.DisplayName = cbAudioOutputDevice.Text)

            If audioOutput IsNot Nothing Then
                VideoCapture1.Audio_OutputDevice = New AudioRendererSettings(audioOutput)
            End If

            VideoCapture1.Audio_Play = True
            VideoCapture1.Audio_Record = True
            VideoCapture1.Video_Play = True

            ' Configure MP4 output
            VideoCapture1.Outputs_Clear()
            VideoCapture1.Outputs_Add(New MP4Output(edOutput.Text), True)

            ' Start recording
            Await VideoCapture1.StartAsync()
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(Me, ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        End Try
    End Sub

Stopping Webcam Recording¶

Stop the recording and release resources:

    Private Async Sub btStop_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btStop.Click
        Try
            Await VideoCapture1.StopAsync()
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(Me, ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        End Try
    End Sub

Saving Screenshots from Webcam¶

Capture still images from the live webcam feed:

    Private Async Sub btSaveScreenshot_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btSaveScreenshot.Click
        Dim saveDialog As New SaveFileDialog With {
            .Filter = "JPEG|*.jpg|PNG|*.png|BMP|*.bmp",
            .FileName = "snapshot.jpg"
        }

        If saveDialog.ShowDialog() = DialogResult.OK Then
            Dim format As SKEncodedImageFormat = SKEncodedImageFormat.Jpeg
            If saveDialog.FileName.EndsWith(".png", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) Then
                format = SKEncodedImageFormat.Png
            End If

            Await VideoCapture1.Snapshot_SaveAsync(saveDialog.FileName, format)
        End If
    End Sub

Cleanup on Form Close¶

Properly dispose of resources when the application exits:

    Private Async Sub Form1_FormClosing(
            sender As Object, e As FormClosingEventArgs) Handles MyBase.FormClosing

        If VideoCapture1 IsNot Nothing Then
            Await VideoCapture1.DisposeAsync()
            VideoCapture1 = Nothing
        End If

        VisioForgeX.DestroySDK()
    End Sub

    Private Sub VideoCapture1_OnError(sender As Object, e As ErrorsEventArgs)
        If Me.InvokeRequired Then
            Me.Invoke(Sub() mmLog.Text &= e.Message & Environment.NewLine)
        Else
            mmLog.Text &= e.Message & Environment.NewLine
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

Preview-Only Mode (No Recording)¶

To preview the webcam feed without recording, simply skip adding the MP4 output:

' No output added - preview only
VideoCapture1.Video_Play = True
VideoCapture1.Audio_Play = True

Await VideoCapture1.StartAsync()

Output Format Options¶

While this guide focuses on MP4 recording, you can save webcam video in other formats:

WebM Output¶

VideoCapture1.Outputs_Add(New WebMOutput(edOutput.Text), True)

AVI Output¶

VideoCapture1.Outputs_Add(New AVIOutput(edOutput.Text), True)

For detailed format configuration, see the MP4 format documentation and WebM format documentation.

Sample Applications¶

Complete VB.NET sample applications are available:

Simple Video Capture VB.NET (WinForms) — full-featured webcam capture application

Frequently Asked Questions¶

How do I convert C# webcam capture examples to VB.NET?¶

The Video Capture SDK .Net API is identical in C# and VB.NET — only the language syntax differs. Key conversions: replace += event handlers with AddHandler/AddressOf, replace C# lambdas (x) => with Function(x) or Sub(x), and use Async Sub instead of async void. All classes, methods, and properties shown in C# documentation work directly in VB.NET with these syntax adjustments.

Does VB.NET support async webcam recording with Await?¶

Yes. VB.NET fully supports Async/Await for all SDK operations including StartAsync(), StopAsync(), and Snapshot_SaveAsync(). Mark event handlers as Async Sub and use Await before each SDK call to keep the UI thread responsive during webcam recording. The VB.NET async pattern is functionally identical to C# async/await.

Which VB.NET project types support webcam video capture?¶

The SDK supports VB.NET WinForms and WPF applications on .NET 8+ and .NET Framework 4.7.2+. WinForms is the most common choice for VB.NET webcam projects because it provides the VideoView control via the visual designer. For WPF, add the VideoView control in XAML. Console applications can record without preview by omitting the VideoView parameter.

How do I handle webcam errors and device disconnection in VB.NET?¶

Subscribe to the OnError event using AddHandler VideoCapture1.OnError, AddressOf VideoCapture1_OnError. Inside the handler, use Me.InvokeRequired and Me.Invoke() to safely update the UI from a background thread. Wrap StartAsync() and StopAsync() calls in Try/Catch blocks to handle device disconnection or permission errors gracefully.