BUYERS GUIDE - High Definition Capture Cards and Devices

[VoiD1x]

i bought avermedia cause it was a bit cheaper then hauppage . i have decent pc but quality wise whats better or are they the same ? im starting to regret it ..,

[K00LKILLER]

I would love to get one, but I'm having problems finding stores that sell them. Please Help.

[playinghalotoday]

@K00LKILLER

READ THE DESCRIPTION for links to various retailers.

[nstrike7]

@K00LKILLER ever heard of the internet

[iRayuLaz]

So the BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle is the best capture card..

Hmm.. I don't know if my computer has what's required..

I'm not too into computers, so I don't know what a "x58 motherboard" is.

I don't even know if my computer has USB 3.0. I guess it doesn't, seeing it's a year old already.

[JoeyDrunko]

@JBXpress Dazzle video capture. It's normally $50, but I got it on sale.

The only bad thing is, not all my s-video inputs would fit, cause the plastic molding on the front was a little too snug for some of them, so I popped it off, made it a little wider, and put it back on. Every s-video input fits now. :P

FYI, Dazzle saves the footage to .vob files, but if you simply rename them to .mpg, you can import them into Sony Vegas or whatever editing software.

[MoobiesPlayingCoD]

@JoeyDrunko That's because you had a female s-video connector I believe.

[JoeyDrunko]

These are all too fucking expensive. I got one that does S-video for $30.

I may consider once these are in the $60 range.

[rooneygy]

which ones would work with a laptop

[601metalmusiclover]

Will my capture card record voice??!?!?

[StewRevu]

For somebody posting this stuff on youtube, you sure do not give any help.

[playinghalotoday]

@StewRevu

We clearly told you where to find the specific answers to those questions, that is what GOOGLE is for. Aside from the clear and concise links in the DESCRIPTION section below the video CLEARLY linking to the Manfucturer's web site(s) product support FAQs and System Requirements pages.

We're NOT here to hold YOUR hand every step of the way. Grow up.

[xXxMBNxXxRAGE]

@playinghalotoday lol ur right haha i love these posters you rock

[StewRevu]

By x58 motherboard what do you mean? I'm not that computer savvy so I really don't know. And if so would it work with a HP Pavillion?

[dmana3172]

@StewRevu As an expert for computer for almost 19 years and that I'm computer savvy, X58 is the latest chipset on the motherboard and it's not really needed, unless if you're going extreme with high end gaming. However, X58 is the fastest chipset and is the newest, but you really don't need it if you're not going to do much gaming.

And for the Pavillion, it should work. I would recommend AverTV HD DVR or Hauppauge 1212 HD Pvr. :-)

[TheIMcHammer]

@dmana3172 if I don´t want the Hauppauge, what will you then recommend?

[ReachArchive]

If my current computer does'nt have 3.0, can i buy an external 3.0 hard drive to use it on?

[playinghalotoday]

@ReachArchive

If YOU have to ask, don't even worry about it.

[playinghalotoday]

@ReachArchive

The PCIe slot you use must support the full 5Gb/s bandwidth currently requested by the Intensity Shuttle. This is in addition to needing the USB 3.0 card to be in a x4 PCIe or x1 PCIe 2.0 slot of the motherboard.

The Intensity Shuttle will NOT work without it's requested 5 Gb/s bus speed. They are apparently working on a toned down update that will allow lower end 2.5 GB/s systems to use the Shuttle with obviously lower resolutions and compressed capture.

[Thelegitplaya]

thing is i want to record my xbox gameplay in the highest resolution i can but i only have a laptop to put it into and my home computer is slow and a piece of shit what should i do ????????????

[Timmieisblack]

The shuttle requires a mobo with USB 3.0. It does not have to be the x58

[h13g40]

I have Hauppauge HD DVR for over five months. It captures shows on HD mode, & saves on your PC hard drive. So far, so good. 

[h13g40]

I have Hauppauge HD DVR more for over five months. It captures shows on HD mode, & saves on your PC hard drive. So far, so good.

[xDBZLegacy]

Which Ones The Best One, Like Number One?

[playinghalotoday]

@xDBZLegacy

That's entirely dependent on your source, computer, and what you plan on using it for.

The Intensity series by Blackmagic Design are the only one's that can record lossless quality.

[Gamingsince1997]

For cheapness buy easycap for quality buy happauge

[Budzyjr]

@playinghalotoday i checked their website for HD PVR Hauppage and it does not work with a MAC

[playinghalotoday]

@Budzyjr

You can buy ELGATO's EyeTV software and use that with the Hauppauge HD PVR. Elgato also has their own HD PVR, but it doesn't have any outputs.

[LtSurge659]

AverMedia is gay if you are using PS3.

[MrBLACKNINJA510]

can you please do a video of great hd capture cards for mac cause im getting one in about two months and my dazzle doesnt work with mac....i subscribe just incase you do the video :)

[playinghalotoday]

@MrBLACKNINJA510

You can use the HDMI Intensity Pro, Hauppuage HD PVR or Elgato EyeTV HD PVR with a MAC.

[MrBLACKNINJA510]

@playinghalotoday thanks how about for a macbook laptop lol.......if theres not alot then ill just get a sony vaio

[playinghalotoday]

@MrBLACKNINJA510

GOOGLE is your friend.

We don't use MACS, so see what others have done and whether or NOT your system in compatible.

[iDaMaGee]

the avermedia avertv usb HD DVR can u use hdmi cables and splitters to record with? or is it component only

[playinghalotoday]

@iDaMaGee

READ THE DESCRIPTION.

[iDaMaGee]

@playinghalotoday cmon you have one when u record with it do you use component or hdmi?

[playinghalotoday]

@iDaMaGee

This specs of this device are clearly listed in the description. READ IT.

[gangrel2555]

Can you tell me what's the best Capture card??

[playinghalotoday]

@gangrel2555

That's up to YOU to decide based on YOUR own budget, intended use, and setup of course. Good luck.

[rowdyonez]

Nvm I installed FME 3.1 and it seemed to do the trick. I swear I almost through my shuttle out the window 5 mins ago very annoying.

[rowdyonez]

Man Ive been fiddling with this thing all night. Do you have any tips to make FME read the shuttle Decklink correctly. On my FME I am unable to change the Frame rate (stuck at 25 fps), the input size(stuck at 720x576 for some reason). and also when I change the device settings for Decklink on FME it goes right back to PAL - 8 bit 4:2:2 YUV. It is wierd because media express is reading it just not FME.

[rowdyonez]

Does the shuttle work with hdmi on the xbox 360?

[playinghalotoday]

@rowdyonez

Yes, up to 1080i.

[iProScopesQuick]

@playinghalotoday its 1080p. in my opinoin

[Doofunator]

@iProScopesQuick 1080i is interlaced, 1080p is progressive, 1080i is technically 540p so with that using the 720p capture function is the best bet anyway.

[FoodOnCrack]

internal capture cards are the best, high prices, get a job if you want serious hd videos, if you want to make 1 sniper montage of mw2...than waste your money on a dazzle..but if you want to make big halo 3 machinima series...get internal

[Braandon1995]

I am planning on buying a HD PVR that is also made by Elgato. Is it the same thing as the Elgato EyeTV HD Video Recorder? I checked on Apple.com and that's the best that came up. I am going to buy it but I just want to make sure that this is the same as the one you are recording with this one..? Would that be all I need in order to record in HD like your video?

[playinghalotoday]

@Braandon1995

We do not use the Elgato EyeTV HD PVR.

[Budzyjr]

@playinghalotoday or the black magic intensity pro does it fit in a Mac pro?

[SpepsyBoy]

AFFORDABLE???? Are you mad!!!!

[playinghalotoday]

@SpepsyBoy

With prices ranging from $/£80 to sub $/£200, we can easily say that these are affordable products. Compared to equipment costing in the upper hundreds if NOT thousands of dollars/pounds. Professional grade equipment from Blackmagic-Design such as the Intensity series ARE affordable given the features they offer.

Then again, if you cannot afford a reasonably priced HD catpure device/card, you could easily get a SD capture device/card for $20/£20 if NOT less.

[h8o2]

you manx?

[khalsagamerr]

so i wanted to buy a monitor that's full hd with the vga blah blah and hdmi for my ps3. i wanted to have some sort of capture card, so would the aver work?

[R313NT135S]

Too all the people asking stupid questions, read the description he has kindly put together for you all. For everything else Google Is Your Friend!

[patriotsman45]

dose the BLACKMAGIC INTENSITY SHUTTLE USB 3.0 wok on a mac?

[playinghalotoday]

@patriotsman45

READ THE DESCRIPTION.

[TheGreatCoNBoB]

Would any of these work on windows XP

[AKAspaceHAVIK]

does the AVERMEDIA HD PVR PC-E x1: have to be put in your computer?

[playinghalotoday]

@AKAspaceHAVIK

You can get external PCIe enclosures for a desktop, but those still require the use of a PCIe controller to be installed inside the desktop, so why wouldn't you just install the card itself.

As for laptops, there are external PCIe enclosures that can be connected via an ExpressCard slot.

Regardless, these enclosures cost upwards of $300-$600+. It doesn't make much sense to spend $80 on a capture card only to spend hundreds more because you don't have a FREE PCIe slot.

[JordanVickerz]

Got a hauppage pvr for recordin my gameplay im not relly happy with it because of you cant record with hdmi, can this blackmagic intensity shuttle record gameplay in good quality and hdmi?

[AKAspaceHAVIK]

@JordanVickerz read description

[playinghalotoday]

@JordanVickerz

Yes. Even the compressed MJPEG codec is practically flawless. However, you need to make entirely sure you meet the minimum system requirements that Blackmagic Design has outlined.

It's NOT like just hooking up the HD PVR or a cheapo capture card. This is professional grade equipment.

[iTzExpLiiiciT]

@JordanVickerz it can but if you have a laptop you cant use it

[CoDMoDzHD]

is there an HDMI out for the black magic intensity shuttle?

[playinghalotoday]

@CoDMoDzHD

READ THE DESCRIPTION.

[iTzExpLiiiciT]

@CoDMoDzHD yes it does have hdmi out. i have the black magic intensity shuttle currently but sad thing is i can not use it due to the fact that i have a laptop and i bought an express card to use usb 3.0 but the express card does not have enough bandwidth.. if anyone could plese tell me how to expand my bandwidth on my express card that would be amazing thanks

[playinghalotoday]

@iTzExpLiiiciT

In order to use a laptop with the Intensity Shuttle, you need to have USB 3.0 built into the mobo, and Blackmagic has stated that they recommend the HP Envy.

As you said, the USB 3.0 Expresscard Adapters do NOT have enough bandwidth.

It's ALWAYS a good idea to read up on the System Requirements of a product before buying said product, especially when it's NOT cheap.

This information is also posted on the Blackmagic Design web site and in the description of our video.

[rxmako]

i wnt buy intesity shuttle

i ve hd pvr

but wtf

they make hdmi in out

and not spdfi in out

bms input 1080p is ok from hdmi or not

coz i read that no accepted

[FPSGamer847]

is any of the 2 aver media or black magic cap cards compatible for mac?

[LegitSnip3D0WN]

out of the six, which would be the best? (i want the best!)

[playinghalotoday]

UPDATE: Blackmagic-Design has stated that PCI-e cards can be used in a Windows desktop provided they are put in a PCI-e version 2.0 slot.

Conversely, they have stayed that USB 3.0 Expresscard adapter do NOT have enough bandwidth to work with the Intensity Shuttle.

[2mustange]

@playinghalotoday Still? damn....well with it still work? or will it not even transfer the video at all?

[playinghalotoday]

@2mustange

Being specific is generally a good idea when asking a question.

[2mustange]

@playinghalotoday sorry. Will using a USB 3.0 Express Card adapter still work for the intensity shuttle? It still capable of transfering data...

[playinghalotoday]

@2mustange

It's NOT recommended by Blackmagic because of the limited bandwidth in such devices. You are really going to want to have a USB 3.0 port on the laptop already. They specifically list the ENVY series by HP as the currently only recommended laptops and that they are looking at others.

The USB 3.0 PCIe cards can work when they are in a PCIe version 2.0 slot on a mobo that has the necessary bandwidth.

[playinghalotoday]

@2mustange

Blackmagic Design has stated that USB 3.0 ExpressCard adapters will NOT work with the Intensity Shuttle.

If you have a desktop with a P55 or X58 series mobo, you can use a PCIe USB 3.0 card, but it has to be in a X4 lane or X1 2.0 PCIe slot.

The Intensity Shuttle requires a lot of throughput even when capturing compressed footage. You really need to meet the minimum System Requirements before investing in this product.

[MrBoomStein]

Is the Intensity Shuttle out yet?

[playinghalotoday]

@MrBoomStein

Supposively shipping to resellers and will be available at early July but maybe even the last week of June. Given that the more expensive Ultrascope Pro from Blackmagic is now shipping at resellers, the Shuttle cannot be too far behind.

[nismojoe]

Little more info on the shuttle, apparently the BMI reps are telling me the minimum requirements for a shuttle require a mobo with an x58 chipset and an i7.

[Ronin6330]

Hey is the Avermedia USB recorder Mac compatible? I couldnt find that out on the link.

[playinghalotoday]

@Ronin6330

It's a forgone conclusion when ONLY Windows drivers are listed, that MAC drivers are NOT availalbe.

BOOTcamp is your friend.

[cadonkey]

i really want to get a black magic intensity shuttle , but i don't know if it does hardware encoding juste like the avertv usb dvr hd ,anyone can tell me that ?

[jeffrey1101]

when will the shuttle come out?

[Super1Wilson]

Which would be the best 4 starting and recording xbox 360 +/ Desktop Gaming? i'm unsure which would be best ( prefer the Black magic products tbh )

[Doofunator]

so for the PCI's, AVermedia vs the Intensity Pro, which is better?

if there is not much of a difference, im going for the avermedia which is about 115$ cheaper.... lol

[medonte3]

So the intensity shuffle is better then intensity pro and hdpvr?

[MrBrodieCromar]

damn i want an intensity shuttle and also looking for a new laptop, only problem is apparently usb 3.0 doesn't exist on laptops

[MrXaFx]

intensity shuttle is amazing 100 times better the hd pvr

[ToXXsiiKGaming]

"Yes. Existing USB 2.0 peripherals will continue to work with 3.0 ports and vice-versa. However, plugging in a USB 2.0 device into a 3.0 host will only be able to achieve the maximum speed and power allowed by the 2.0 standard. In other words, the speed and power allowed will be limited by the slowest standard connected." - techreviewsource

[ToXXsiiKGaming]

hey i know the usb 3.0 is backwards compatible with 2.0 slots , but the thing on my mind is: if the hdpvr is 2.0, if i were to get the shuttle and just use the capability of 2.0 would the shuttle run as well, better, or worse than the hdpvr, if you're not defiite, just an idea/ estimation would be great :/

[playinghalotoday]

@ToXXsiiKGaming

The Intensity Shuttle is NOT compatible with USB 2.0.

[SmurfTube252]

@playinghalotoday where can i even find desktop or laptop with 3.0?

[playinghalotoday]

@SmurfTube252

At the desktop or laptop store.

[iBreedLvL50s]

@playinghalotoday If you have a laptop you could just buy an pci express card. O.o That always works and i found one kinda cheap 70$

[Kiba1335]

@playinghalotoday how do you know? huh? huh? huh? huh? lol jk

[Kshef169]

@ToXXsiiKGaming The only reason the shuttle can work outside the computer is because it can transfer all this uncompressed footage so fast with USB 3.0 with 2.0 being 10x slower than 3.0 there is no possibility. If you have an extra PCI E slot in your desktop motherboard you can get that for the same price and it captures the same quality.

[LieutenantMog]

i was just wondering, for the intensity shuttle, must the PC be x58? if so, why is this the case? could it possibly run on a non x58 PC with USB 3.0?

[playinghalotoday]

@LieutenantMog

As per BMD, the x58 mobo chipset fully supports the USB 3.0 super speed spec, thus powering the bandiwidth needed for uncompressed 10 bit HD capture and playback.

It's possible that compressed capture using MJPEG would be less sstringent in it's bandwidth requirement. However, you are still going to at least need a USB 3.0 port.

[LieutenantMog]

@playinghalotoday

so i could get a non x58 but native USB 3.0 machine as long as i don't need the 10 bit HD capture? i'm building a new PC, doing an i3/i5 with USB 3.0 is much cheaper than the x58 i7's

[playinghalotoday]

@LieutenantMog

One can only make assumptions on the results of NOT using the recommended if NOT required minimum system specs, considering the Intensity Shuttle is NOT yet released let alone reviewed by anyone.

We wouldn't recommending building or buying a new system around mere assumptions. Wait for reviews, you aren't the only one thinking using NON x58 mobo's and/or NON PCI Express 2.0 USB 3.0 connections might work, at least for compressed capture/playback.

[TheXeroNegative]

Does the BLACKMAGIC VIDEO RECORDER USB 2.0 work with the Playstation 3?

[XxEpicGaming]

@TheXeroNegative yea

[GoodGriefing]

i've got a question...

I'm looking into purchasing a HD capture Card for capturing gameplay footage from the Xbox 360. Right now, I have an iMac and a Laptop PC running Windows Vista, each with 4 GB or RAM. My question is, the Blackmagic Shuttle requires USB 3.0, and my laptop only has 2.0. Could I get an expresscard adapter to make it 3.0 compatible? and also, how do I know if my laptop has a x58 motherboard for uncompressed capture?

[GoodGriefing]

@GoodGriefingAlso, do you think you could tell me the general requirements for the AVERMEDIA USB 2.0 HD PVR?

Thanks A lot :)

[playinghalotoday]

@GoodGriefing

We've included links to the manufacturer's web site's for all of the products featured in the video. You'll find minimum system requirements on said product pages.

[playinghalotoday]

@GoodGriefing

You have to remember that even with the expresscard and pci-e USB 3.0 adapters, you are NOT going to be getting maximum superspeed 3.0 bandwidth. You can easily find benchmark views of the various products using any Search Engine.

Uncompressed capture and playback using such devices may NOT be possible. At least NOT at this generation. Then again, compressed Motion JPEG looks just fine and should have much less read/write requirements as with the PCI-e Intensity.

[Acidice09]

@GoodGriefing here's the thing, usb 3.0 is backwards compatible so the other end of it can plug into ur laptop, its just one end that is different and would be plugged into ur shuttle. while the connecction will still work, u wont get the full capabilities of usb 3.0 without a usb3.0 computer which there aren't very much of. the good thing is that u dont really need these super speed. ur capture card and uploads and recording and watever else will run just fine.

[FluffySanchito]

@GoodGriefing The Blackmagic intensity Shuttle requires the full USB 3.0 bandwidth to run. The only viable solution would be a USB 3.0 card running in at least PCIe 4x in a desktop or an x58 motherboard (desktop) with USB 3.0 onboard. no other options will work with the Shuttle.

[playinghalotoday]

The AverTV USB HD PVR is available now! We've added a product link in the description below the video. Thanks.

[Ikeagames]

thank you very much for making this video! i am looking forward for the shuttle. does it record via hdmi cable?

[Sakotius]

The Blackmagic USB 2.0 Capture Device is not HD

[TheJuvenileKiller]

Hey, I've got a question. I was thinking of getting the Intensity shuttle.. But I have a netbook and a isb 2.0 to 3.0 converter. Will I be able to record my gameplay in SD for it to work on the netbook (Asus Eee PC 1000he)? Or is it possible to record in HD as well? I'm kinda stuck because I'd like a capture card that is $200 or less, but that can record in full hd, but that will also work with a netbook (I'm getting a gamin PC in about 5months)

[playinghalotoday]

@TheJuvenileKiller

It's possible that you may be able to use an expresscard USB 3.0 adapter.

Uncompressed capture is most likely out of the question regardless. If you cannot capture compressed directly with Blackmagic's software without framedrops or screen tearing, you'd probably be able to used GraphEdit to create a graph and record at a lower bitrate, or through some other similar 3rd party process.

Good luck.

[SuperMeltedGamer]

Do you need usb 3.0 for the shuttle?

[playinghalotoday]

@SuperMeltedGamer

Yes, and a x58 motherboard for uncompressed capture.

[SPARKZHD]

for the intensity shuttle i'll be getting it as soon as it comes out and I would not rival it to the pvr for those of you who dont know you need a x58 chipset motherboard and usb 3.0 otherwise its not compatible

[b0JABER]

@playinghalotoday is there any lag effect by doing that ?

[playinghalotoday]

@b0JABER

There is no lag if that is done with that and that.

Being vague when asking a question doesn't help you either.

[b0JABER]

@playinghalotoday my capture card has a lag when it displays the picture on TV thats why i asked and there is no need to be cocky its just a simple question

[playinghalotoday]

@b0JABER

Cocky? A simple question indeed... You are posting vague and incomplete comments asking for help. No one here can read your mind.

As if we are suppose to know what it is your are referring to or what your current setup consists of..

Once again, being vague doesn't help you either. Cocky indeed... to expect anyone to provide an answer to a vague and incomplete comment. Not only once, but twice.

Good luck with "that"...

[containsmediumpeople]

this guy is soon going to take over youtube, hes the most helpful guy on the planet...

[XxEpicGaming]

Blackmajic Intensity Shuttle... I dnt have an imput 4 the pro... lol =]

[HottestMusicTV]

Hey PHT I got a important question about the BLACKMAGIC INTENSITY PRO.. Does HDMI input and output mean i can play xbox 360 on my tv AND record the game footage on my computer at the same time??

[playinghalotoday]

@HottestMusicTV

Yes. You can input the signal from your Xbox 360 into the card to display on your monitor and use the output on the card to display on your tv. Either way, you'll still be able to use the monitor to view what you are recording.

[MadGorillaProduction]

so your telling me this hooks up to my computer and i can use my hdmi on my playstation to capture my gameplay? damn. i need this fucking beast. Im really going to get this now

[playinghalotoday]

@MadGorillaProduction

The PS3 is encrypted with HDCP over HDMI. You would have to use Component, S-video, or Composite Video... Or simply do a screen capture of your computer screen with a 3rd party program.

[TheProWaffle]

The best is black magic intensity pro...but the best value for money IMO is happauge HD PVR (which I have)

[PkBlackSniper]

whats the best one?

[nintendojoe]

Add some music to the videos...

[playinghalotoday]

@nintendojoe

Feel free to turn on the radio.

[Dreadscorpion]

Is playinghalotoday a company, group, or just one single person?

[fpswtfpwn]

@Dreadscorpion I've had that exact same question since I first subscribed.

[NomNuggetNom]

Thanks. Hey, do you know any really good monitors I could hook my Xbox up too?

[playinghalotoday]

@NomNuggetNom

DELL ST2410 24".

[MistahOwn]

i <3 PHT...

PHT F.T.W!

[jonracer54yahoo]

thanks, this should help me with my decision on which one to choose

[playinghalotoday]

@jonracer54yahoo

Good luck.