Best Capture Cards To Record Your Gameplay
As somebody who regularly uploads videos of Call of Duty gameplay to Youtube, I often get asked the question: "How do I record my Xbox / PS3 / Wii gameplay?"
Well, you could go the ultra-cheap route and record footage of your gameplay with a cellphone or a some sort of video camera, but that's just nasty and you'll quickly find out that nobody takes you or your videos seriously.
The proper way to record your gameplay is to buy a capture card. A capture card basically records whatever is being played on your television and stores it on your computer. Some capture cards are extremely cheap, but they can give you less-than-favorable video quality. Other capture cards are pricey, but they can give you great HD video. The choice is yours!
Here is a list of popular capture cards. Make sure that you that you choose one that suits your needs.
Posted in Electronics
HD PVR - Gaming Edition
The HD PVR is by far the most popular capture card among those that record and make gameplay videos. I own one of these myself and I can honestly say that I have never had a problem with it. What's great about the HD PVR is that you don't need a powerful computer to run it. The main box that comes with it does all of the tough processing work so that your computer / laptop doesn't have to. There are a number of things that you need to know about the HD PVR. Firstly, it DOES NOT work with HDMI cables. You MUST use component cables (red, blue and green cables). If your HD TV does not use component cables, then the HD PVR is not for you. Secondly, it is rather pricey. Usually, the HD PVR costs about $200 or so, which might be more than what some people are willing to spend on a capture card. However; if you're serious about recording your gameplay and your TV accepts component cables, then the HD PVR will quickly become your best friend.
EasyCAP DC60
The EasyCAP DC60 is a much cheaper alternative. This is the standard "economic" capture card among budding Youtube commentators. Usually, the EasyCAP costs about $7 or $8, so it's a good choice for somebody that just wants to mess around and/or test the waters of recording and making gameplay vids. You should note that the EasyCAP won't give you good quality and you won't be able to record in HD. In fact, when I had it (before I upgraded to the HD PVR), the video and sound quality was often terrible. Still - this is definitely worth looking at if you're wondering about whether or not you want to make regular gameplay videos.
EZCap
I'm not too sure if the EZCap is the same as the EasyCap. I'm guessing that it's probably not. Although, this pack does contain a capture card and a number of cables that you will need in order to set everything up and record your gameplay.
Black Magic Intensity Pro
This is another HD capture card. A few of the big Youtube commentators use the Black Magic Intensity Pro. It costs about $180-$200. If you're wanting to record in HD, you will need to have a TV that uses HDMI cables. You should also note that the Black Magic Intensity Pro needs to be slotted into a desktop computer (not a laptop). Before you buy this, make sure that your computer meets the specifications!