General Category > General Discussion
Game Recording Advice
Thom Grayson:
I've been looking into game recording, and I was looking for some recommendations for capture cards - I'd like to be able to record pretty much any console, so if there are any particular issues with some system or another, I'd like to know.
And if anyone knows, I'd like to know what kind of options I have for handheld games.
Thanks in advance for whoever knows!
Desolis:
I'm not sure how you want to do non-hdmi capture... (older systems) There are very cheap solutions for this (diamond vc500) otherwise I found this video helpful. I have the VC500 which I use for classic system streaming. I use it in in conjunction with Open Broadcast Software and notice some occasional flickering of the captured video (I guess that's what you get for less than $40) . It's rather minor though, and works pretty well.
Standard:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/13215178?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227000295837&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=41942996590&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=34443129910&veh=sem
High Def Options:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90uE3RltQA8
Thom Grayson:
The video review mentioned that the Elgato comes with cords for component - if there's such a thing as component-to-composite, wouldn't that mean that just one of these boxes could take care of any home console?
Desolis:
It looks like the component to composite converter is going to run you an average of about 50 bucks. (quick amazon search to look this up). So the VC500 ends up being a cheaper option.
Or you could get one of those cheapy HDMI to composite converters, but I'm not sure how well they work.
larryinc64:
The Elgato Game Capture works with basically every system, The component adapter will accept Composite, just plug the Yellow into the Red, and the 2 audio into where it would normally go. There is a Composite cable for sale on the site as well, but it is not necessary.
(Taken from the Elgato Card)
It has great output, but can be flaky, I've lost a couple recording sessions due to some errors, like glitched video or it just not creating a video file. This is a problem if your settings are set a certain way, I'm still working out what works best, but pushing video quality all the way up and what format it is saved as seems to cause it. It works more times than not though.
You can ad mic audio to the video file, but I like to recorded separately in Audacity and sync it up later.
For a cheaper option, the Dimond GC500
WAL-MART
Huge downside: It will not work with N64, PS1, or Genesis. The included software does not support the resolutions. Though if you find some other capture software, you might be able to get it to work. Video quality is a mixed bag, very blurry. To see it in action, watch some of my Let's Plays made with it. Mario Kart 64 and Sonic Adventure DX was recorded on a Wii with a component input. Castlevania was recorded on an NES.
https://www.youtube.com/user/PowerPlaid/videos