> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.videodb.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start Capture Session

> Start an existing capture session with channel configuration

Start a previously created capture session with specific channel configurations. Define the audio and video channels to capture.

<Note>
  * `session_id` and `channels` are required
  * Each channel needs a `channel_id` and can be of type `audio` or `video`
  * Set `store` to `true` to persist captured media in VideoDB
  * Use `callback_url` for webhook notifications on session events
</Note>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Get Streaming Session" icon="wifi" href="/api-reference/capture/get_streaming_session">
    Get RTSP URLs for the session
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stop Session" icon="square" href="/api-reference/capture/stop_session">
    Stop the capture session
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


## OpenAPI

````yaml POST /capture/session/start
openapi: 3.0.3
info:
  title: VideoDB Server API
  description: >
    VideoDB Server API for video, audio, and image processing with AI
    capabilities.

    This API provides comprehensive video management, search, indexing, and
    AI-powered features.
  version: 1.0.0
  contact:
    name: VideoDB Support
    url: https://videodb.io
  license:
    name: MIT
    url: https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
servers:
  - url: https://api.videodb.io
    description: Production server
  - url: https://staging-api.videodb.io
    description: Staging server
security:
  - ApiKeyAuth: []
tags:
  - name: Authentication
    description: User authentication and API key management
  - name: Collections
    description: Collection management operations
  - name: Videos
    description: Video upload, processing, and management
  - name: Audio
    description: Audio management operations
  - name: Images
    description: Image management operations
  - name: Search
    description: Content search and indexing
  - name: AI Generation
    description: AI-powered content generation
  - name: Billing
    description: Billing and usage management
  - name: RTStream
    description: Real-time streaming operations
  - name: Utilities
    description: Utility endpoints
  - name: Meeting
    description: Meeting recording and management
  - name: Capture
    description: Capture session management for recording streams
  - name: Editor
    description: Timeline editor operations
  - name: Transcode
    description: Media transcoding operations
  - name: Assets
    description: Cross-collection asset listing
paths:
  /capture/session/start:
    post:
      tags:
        - Capture
      summary: Start capture session
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              required:
                - session_id
                - channels
              properties:
                session_id:
                  type: string
                  example: capture-12345
                channels:
                  type: array
                  items:
                    type: object
                    required:
                      - channel_id
                    properties:
                      channel_id:
                        type: string
                        example: mic
                      channel_name:
                        type: string
                        example: Microphone
                      type:
                        type: string
                        enum:
                          - audio
                          - video
                        default: audio
                        example: audio
                      store:
                        type: boolean
                        default: true
                        example: true
                ws_connection_id:
                  type: string
                  example: conn-123
                callback_url:
                  type: string
                  example: https://webhook.example.com/callback
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Capture session started
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                type: object
                properties:
                  success:
                    type: boolean
                    example: true
                  data:
                    type: object
                    properties:
                      session_id:
                        type: string
                        example: capture-12345
                      status:
                        type: string
                        example: starting
        '400':
          description: Validation error
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
        '402':
          description: Insufficient credits
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
      security:
        - ApiKeyAuth: []
components:
  schemas:
    Error:
      type: object
      properties:
        success:
          type: boolean
          example: false
        message:
          type: string
          example: Error message
        error_code:
          type: string
          example: ERROR_CODE
  securitySchemes:
    ApiKeyAuth:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: x-access-token
      description: API key for authentication (sk-xxx format)

````