Asus Transformer HDMI Screen Capture

I've been playing around with using my HDMI capture card to capture the video output from tablets. This is the result of testing it with an Asus Transformer running Honeycomb 3.1. As you can see (or rather hear) in the video, capturing over HDMI records both video and audio. I used Camtasia Studio to capture the video, because the software picked the HDMI capture up as a protected HDCP stream, and as such wouldn't let it record straight from the software (hence, Camtasia Studio to simply capture the stream as it was previewed).

UPDATE: I made a video showing how I did this from start to finish. Check it out here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vho_GVXd5xs

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Asus
• Transformer
• Eee Pad
• TF101
• HDMI
• capture
• screen
• demo
• record
• video
• audio
• tablet
• Android
• Honeycomb
• 3.1

[Hexydes]

@gogledoessuck Yup, near as I can tell. I wouldn't be too mad, all tablets (that I've tested) do it. This includes the Acer Iconia and the Apple iPad 2 (iPad 1 can't even send over an HDMI cable).

[Hexydes]

@gogledoessuck Yeah, I'm surprised by that too...though for all I know, maybe they have, and we just don't know, because the product isn't listed on western retailer sites...

As far as recording, welcome to the magic of Camtasia Studio! It captures a video of whatever is happening on your screen, so whether HDCP or not, if it's playing on the screen, it can (almost always) capture it! :)

[gogledoessuck]

@Hexydes So you are saying the Transformer is always sending HDCP regardless of what it is displaying?

[gogledoessuck]

@Hexydes I can't believe someone in the east haven't made a card which just ignores those rules. I also don't get why you can record it but just not with the official software.

[Hexydes]

@Hexydes There is no reason they should be reporting an HDCP stream when they are simply display the home screen, apps, etc. That should be reserved (legally; IMO HDCP should be abolished) for content like movies that flag the content as HDCP. So pretty much, this is the best solution out of a lot of bad options (thanks mostly to the content industry for their atrocious anti-piracy measures).

[Hexydes]

@gogledoessuck Unfortunately, your options are VERY limited in the HDMI capture card arena. Pretty much the only two in the reasonably-affordable range that don't require third-party software to display the screen are this card (AverMedia) and Blackmagic Intensity Pro. This card (AverMedia) is about half as much, and honestly, the software works better. The HDCP handshake isn't really their problem; they're forced to put it in to be HDCP-compliant. The real issue is more the tablets. (cont)

[gogledoessuck]

Which capture card and software? So we can be sure to avoid that crap for not recording a perfectly legitimate stream.

[Hexydes]

@odedbengigi No problem! :) And yes, you should be able to grab the 720p through KeepVid or something similar.

The framerate is almost perfect. Occasionally you might get a stutter, but it's almost always completely smooth.

[odedbengigi]

i have no words do describe your kindness ! thank you so much !!!!!!!!! if our world would have more people like you, it will be a better place :) ! thanks a lot really!

ill see if i can match it up to the Noogra Nuts trailer (hope the youtube grabber will let me download it at 720P) , btw was wondring if u have FPS drop when u plug it into the HDMI ?(i know when i plug it it drops a bit - making it abit hard to play with hdmi, or with your card its responsive as usual ?

[Hexydes]

@odedbengigi Ok, I was able to do a demo of your game, Noogra Nuts! I think the demo turned out pretty well! Since I can't link directly to it in a comment (argh, YouTube...), just go to my channel page and it should be one of the most recent videos. Feel free to use it however you wish.

[Hexydes]

@odedbengigi No problem at all. Yup, I'll keep playing around with it, and see what I can come up with!

[odedbengigi]

@Hexydes hey man thanks for the effort! when i plug my asus transformer with hdmi to a TV it seems perfectly fine so u might want to check out if it works with your tv, maybe your recording card hdmi need an update ? if it fix and u could record a quick gameplay vid id love that ! anyway thanks alot of all your help ! your an awsome person ! and upload more of your music ! :)

[Hexydes]

@odedbengigi Hey, cool game! I actually went to record a bit for you...but it appears since the last Transformer update, they've messed up the HDMI output a bit. I'm getting about a 20 pixel black bar at the bottom of my screen now when I plug the HDMI cable in that wasn't there before the update. If they address it, I'll see if I can do a quick capture for you.

[odedbengigi]

@Hexydes DarkCrystal HD Capture Pro here in israel cost alot ! and it is portable standalone device as i see here, i guess ill try my luck and wish for the best with "AVerTV CaptureHD Aver Media" its cost just so much and i just want to record 1 video...im one of the developer of an free android game called "Noogra Nuts" and i want to record just the gameplay... maybe u would be kind to help me out and record a gameplay video ? ill appreciate it so much ! then again thanks alot for the help! :)

[Hexydes]

@odedbengigi No problem! Yeah, AverMedia doesn't exactly do a good job explaining what their products are, lol. Again, I can't link on YouTube, but if you go to AverMedia's website, I think it is called "DarkCrystal HD Capture Pro" with a product number of "C027". I think that AverMedia only makes one card that has two HDMI ports on the back, so if you just look at the product on the box, and you see two HDMI ports (only one actually captures), then that's probably the right one!

[odedbengigi]

@Hexydes dude thanks alot for your kind and quick reply! since i live in israel its pretty expenssive to order from amazon (specially because of shipping and handeling costs) here in israel in a few store the card is marked as "AVerTV CaptureHD Aver Media " was wondering if it the same one you got. since i need to record with my asus transformer i dont want to buy something that will not work with it :) again thanks alot of your time and help :)

[Hexydes]

@odedbengigi Wish I could post a link, but YouTube won't let me. Anyway, if you go to Amazon and search "Avertv HD DVR High Definition / Analog Video Capture Card PCIe MTVHDDVRR", that's the card that I have. Works really well, and simple as can be to install. Just make sure you have an open PCI-Express slot. You'll also likely need a decent computer (dual core, 4GB, dedicated video should do it) and a copy of Camtasia Studio or Jing (to record the software that display the tablet screen).

[odedbengigi]

hey dude what kind of AverMedia HDMI capture card do you have ? i want to buy one that will work with the transformer and i need to know the exact model u have is it the 727 ? or something else ? how much does it cost and where can i get it ? thanks :))

[Hexydes]

@Fritzisor Weird, I guess I don't know. Maybe upload a video of what you're seeing to YouTube and post it, I'd be happy to take a look.

[Fritzisor]

@Hexydes Yep, did the double click. But even in that small preview the image is not whole. The only place it seems to be whole is when the TV is on and i'm browsing the settings for example and it shows up really small (200px width maybe) in the bottom left corner...

[Hexydes]

@Fritzisor This is in the AverMedia software, that it looks so small? Did you double-click on the preview of the tablet screen when it shows up? When it first makes the connection, you get this tiny screen (like 320 x 240), but if you double-click it, then it goes up to the actual resolution of the tablet. Is that it, or did I totally misunderstand you?

[Fritzisor]

@Hexydes I too have a Avermedia Avertv capture card. The things is that looking at the settings tab for instance and PIP enabled it seems to be the whole image displayed in that little window... :(

Can't find anything useful on this damn interweb :)

[Hexydes]

@Fritzisor Hey, not sure what's happening. What capture card are you using? I was using an AverMedia HDMI capture card to get the video on my computer screen, and then Camtasia Studio to capture the video.

[Fritzisor]

How did you manage to capture the whole screen? My capture device seems to display the image without about 5-10 pixels on each side. For instance on the home screen I can't see the text underneath the app icons... :-s

Of course there is no problem in capturing snapshots with the software the device comes with...