This is a video reviewing the Elgato video capture device and the plethora of problems it caused me in my endeavor to get our home movies on the computer. Honestech Vidbox for Mac Review.
Video game recording, and live streaming, whether it’s from PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, or anything else has become very popular in recent years. Websites like Twitch and YouTube allow gamers to share all their crazy and awesome footage with the world. Others see people doing this and want to do it too, but are faced with a problem. How to record? As I’m sure you have found out right away, you need a game capture device, or PVR, but there are so many choices, which one is the best? I ran into this issue myself last year when I planned on starting a (Subscribe!), and was blown away by the amount of choice, and small differences between all the recorders. I have put together this list which will not only show you the best options out there, and what they can do, but help you decide which is the best for you.
Just because one might do a couple more things from another doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right one for you and your specific needs. A big thing people need to remember is most of the options below need a computer in order to record. The computer has to have pretty modern specs as well, and can get very expensive if you have to buy one specifically for this task.
The options below include many that need computers and a few that do not (last two). I will also be talking about which ones can, and which ones can not do live streaming. Just a final note before we get into the gaming recorders, all the recorders are basically normal HD PVR’s. They are marketed at video game consoles like the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii etc, but can be used to record pretty much anything. You can use them to screen capture your computer, your iPad, your Android phone, pretty much anything that can plug into a monitor, can plug into this first, and use it as a screen recorder.
Although, you may need special cables that are not included in the box to record devices such as Apple iPad or older devices etc. You should be able to use some of these to act as a VHS to DVD converter too for any old tapes you want to make digital. They must have the old component cable connections, however. The only problem you will have is some devices have copyright protection built in. The PS3, for example, doesn’t let you record through HDMI which is a huge downside.
Near the end, I list ways around this, and devices you can buy to record with the PS3, which I am currently using for my footage. Also, please make sure to check the links provided to see more detail and exact specifications for each game capture device. I am starting off with what I would consider the most popular game capture device of all time. Pretty much every major YouTube gaming channel uses one of these. They are small, record nice quality footage, and have great software. Elgato was a software company before getting into the actual devices, so it is no wonder why their software is the best out there. Some other pros are you can stream to Twitch or YouTube, no power supply need, and can hook up to virtually all systems to record footage.
They can record anything from 480p all the way up to 1080p. They can also use HDMI or component in order to record. That gives the a HUGE advantage when it comes to recording. Probably the biggest difference between this and others is the software. You obviously don’t want to be recording all the time since that will take up a ton of space on your hard drive.
What they have done is added a special feature that allows you to play without recording, and if something crazy happens you can go back and start recording. It’s really cool, it’s like going back in time so you never miss a moment. Obviously, this is huge for video game recordings. I can not count the times something awesome has happened and I missed it since I wasn’t recording. Some major downsides are they must use a computer at all times to record. There really isn’t anyway around this. If you do not have a computer right beside your system, or can move one that you already own, you are going to have to buy one.
The cost of this device plus a compatible computer becomes expensive. Specifications of EXACTLY what you need in order to use this device right from. As you can see, it doesn’t need a NASA level super computer to run, but it can’t be just any old computer you have laying around. Mac:. OS X 10.7, 10.8 or later for version 1.x of Elgato Game Capture HD software. OS X 10.9 or later for version 2.0 (or later) of Elgato Game Capture HD software. 2 Ghz (or higher, before Turbo Boost) Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, or 2 Ghz (or higher, before Turbo Boost) multi-core i3, i5 or i7 CPU.
4GB Total Installed RAM (or higher). Built-in USB 2.0 port Windows:. Either Windows 7, Windows 8, or later for version 1.x of Elgato Game Capture HD software. Also, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows 8, or later for version 2.0 (or later) of Elgato Game Capture HD software.
2 Ghz (or higher, before any boost or burst mode) dual core CPU, or 2 Ghz (or higher, before Turbo Boost) multi-core i3, i5 or i7 CPU. Sound card (if your laptop can play sound, then it meets this requirement). 4GB Total Installed RAM (or higher). Built-in USB 2.0 port Devices it can record: PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, even old systems like PS1, PS2, NES, Atari, anything you can think of. You can buy the on Amazon VERY similar to the regular Elgato Game Capture device listed above, but with a few differences. Everything is the same as the old one, so I am only going to go over the new features that it offers.
Number one is it records at 60fps, hence the name, HD 60. For regular recording, I would say it doesn’t matter, but for game recordings it will make a difference. How big of a difference is debatable, but your footage will look smoother and sharper when movement is going on. YouTube recently allowed users to upload video at 60fps making a device like this one a lot more enticing. It’s also smaller and lighter which doesn’t really matter since it will just be sitting, but still nice if you are moving it around a lot. Now with all pros there is are always some cons.
The biggest con is it only has HDMI input. This kills being able to record anything that doesn’t output HDMI. Only modern devices use HDMI making anything old unable to record from. A bigger problem with this is the PS3 and other HDMI copyright protected devices. You can not directly record them without buying addition devices making things a real pain. However, most new devices use HDMI, and companies have realized how stupid it is to put content blocks on HDMI outputs making most future products work fine. Sony, for example, turned off the HDMI blocking for the PS4.
Devices it can record: PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4, maybe Wii and Wii U. Virtually anything with HDMI output only. You can buy the on Amazon Hauppauge has a few models of almost all the same thing with small differences between them. They are seriously such small differences I had a hard time finding them. Like I did with the Elgato devices, I will talk about the main stuff here, and only the differences with the others. They all look the same, only differences visually is the backs where the inputs are. Much bigger than the Elgato devices, but also much smaller than the original PVRs.
It has a button on top of the device for easy recording. Instead of having to go to your computer and press record, you can just press the button on top of the device. This may or may not be useful to you depending on where you setup your device. For me, I set up my PVR right next to the TV and gaming system, so having to get out of my chair, walk all the way over to the TV, and press the button on the device isn’t as convenient as they make it seem. However, it also has optical audio plus IR blaster to control your cable or satellite set top box. That is definitely a cool feature if you want to record TV shows. Some other good things about this device is you can record pretty much anything.
Comes with many cables to allow you to do this. Does not come with PS3 or Xbox gaming cables.
However, like I have mentioned, PS3 can not be recorded with HDMI, so that may be a problem. If you have the component cables to your system this won’t be an issue. Also, has a cool shape and blue line that goes around the device that looks pretty nice. Can live stream to Twitch etc also. Does basically everything you could want.
The biggest con, in my opinion, is the software. It’s not bad per se, but it could be refined a bit more and it’s only for PC. It does everything you would want it to do and gives you a lot of control, but doesn’t seem as user friendly as Elgato’s, and lacks some features. You can edit your footage in the same program you record in which is nice.
This is great for people starting out, but if you are planing on becoming the next YouTube star, getting use to pro software should be something you learn anyways. It also takes a big brick style power supply. If you didn’t realize already, just like the Elgato you need a computer to use it. Unfortunately, if you are a Mac user you are screwed. Not because it’s impossible to use this device, but because they are dicks and charge you more money for compatible software.
Here are the requirements from. Similar to the Elgato’s basically, but needs a bit less power.