If you are passionate about network games and want to stream some of your games with friends or opponents, then you should know that there are video capture cards to record or broadcast video of your games with high quality.
These subtle and small devices (also available in PCI card format), allow you to record your game and analyze its streaming, so that your console's CPU or PC can dedicate its power to running the game.
As you know, both PS4 and Xbox One can currently stream and record footage directly, but their capabilities are limited and game performance may be affected by a specific game set.
The video capture card will help ensure that you can get the game images as fast as possible and without the delay of fps playback (frames per second), it is important to remain competitive.
In the case of Nintendo switchch owners, the console can only record a few seconds of video without transmission, so the use of the app analyzed here becomes a priority for the entire user community.
Here we show you a complete list of video capture solutions in which you can stream your games and grow followers on your social media platforms, YouTube or at Twitch.
The best 2020 video captors
Elgato Game Capture HD60
Many people who are interested in photographing cards may expect to stream live streaming to services like Twitch. If you come from this group, the solution Elgato HD60 S It's one of the best you'll find.
It is exterior, but very light and compact, as it does not accommodate an external hard drive SSD. Ready to transfer from anywhere and anytime. It also has a simple look: a little black, with only one small line to show when it is in use.
The ports are quite small, but cover what you need: HDMI input and output, USB to connect to the PC, and a 3.5mm audio jack to enable you to connect your headphones and comment on streaming video.
Designed especially for streaming, the HD60 S using USB 3.0 streaming ensures low latency of up to 1080p and 60fps – smooth enough that you can play using a streaming PC with the same screen.
However, the HD60 S is slower in recording images, so we wouldn't recommend it if that's your best move. It can record images, but may have to reduce the resolution and frame rate.
The HD60 S comes with Elgato Game Capture software, which is a very simple and easy to capture software (recommended for beginners), though it lacks some of the deep features of its competitors.
However, it is ideal for anyone new to this technology, making our HD60 S a recommendation for any novice who has just started broadcasting, proving it to be enough for most users.
Razer Ripsaw HD
The Razer Ripsaw HD solution offers a simpler way to use it than its previous version, removing certain features that allow for easy rendering.
Keeping this in mind, the ports are simple: HDMI installation and release, USB-C to connect to the PC (and power off), audio input to put the microphone in the video mix, and headphones out
Mixed it with simple and elegant design and high quality cables (HDMI cable, USB-A to USB-C and 3.5mm audio) you'll see how the Razer feels like an application without question the premium, as expected by the product.
Streaming and recording are done at speeds up to 1080p and 60fps, but HDMI streaming still offers 4K, so your video quality does not need to be compromised for streaming reasons.
So what's the problem? Software. The Razer Synapse Center is still interesting but without taking advantage of every product opportunity, that doesn't mean it's not a viable suggestion made by applications such as OBS and XSplit.
We've had trouble using it, even though the Ripsaw Razer has always been the case plug-and-play, but it's actually not as easy as it seems. Once you get started and working, the Ripsaw HD offers excellent quality.
Interested in those with the most advanced knowledge of hardware streaming and video conferencing.
Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro
Previously we saw the power of the model in an external format, and here we bring you a scanner in the form of a PCIe card that you can integrate into your PC computer. You won't need much computer skills, because it has only one location.
Obviously, that means it only works if you have a PC desktop you want to use for photography, and if you feel comfortable opening your computer to install it, (or know your friend who does it for you).
This means that it is a good choice for anyone with a single desktop gaming platform that wants to use a PC at once to play and capture images, without affecting your CPU performance.
Now keep in mind that there will still be some performance impact – this may not completely load up all the image processing, but it will do something good to light up your CPU and GPU.
Given the type of setup, efficiency depends on your computer (which is technically true on all cards, but more here), or it should generally be able to record at 1080p and 60fps, acceptable performance.
Like other Elgato cards, you'll find it software The company's Game Capture, which is also compatible with third-party alternatives.
StarTech USB-C
Elgato's options are excellent, but you have to decide on your purchase whether you want to prioritize streaming or filming and not both. With that being said, why can't you have both? Fortunately, the capture device StarTech USB-C UVC provides.
It comes at a slightly higher price, but in return, you get an amazing performance by streaming and recording together. In fact, the device offers 1080p capture at 60fps with HDMI.
If it turns out that you don't have a USB-C port on your PC, the grabber also comes with a high-speed USB-A 3.0 cable. The device itself is a power supply, with a metal insert in front of the plastic body of others discussed here.
In addition to the ability to record seamlessly and stream the game, the highlight of the StarTech capture device is UVC, a supported video measure not only for Windows and Mac, but also for Linux.
In addition to providing traditional support for various operating systems, the advantage of using UVC is that it supports a wide range of live streaming software, from Streamlabs OBS to XSplit Broadcaster.
That's good too, because the StreamCatcher-installed Windows operating system is a bit basic. It will do the recording work, but for live streaming and live streaming, third-party software is the way to go.
Is it worth it for its high price? If you need a multi-device that works with almost any platform and video capture software, then yes, or there are less expensive options available if you don't need streaming and recording at the same time.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Lite
Another external solution is the popular product version of AVerMedia bringing us years after it about producing audio and video PC devices. In the meantime, he provides us with an embedded video document.
Its handling is easily appreciated because there is a button that can be used to record and transfer with a single click. H.264 encoding technology enables the flexibility of the object, as well as the LED indicator to quickly detect its status.
It has video input with HDMI connectivity and ensures screen capture quality in Full HD and 60 fps, so you can choose the best version of the video you recorded.
The format of the video is similar to MPEG4 (H.264 + AAC), where the image files are not going to be a problem to keep on your computer, as well as the handling of the product for exporting.
Its specialized product software, AVerMedia RECentral, makes it easy to connect to the main game streaming platforms directly, without having to manually configure each account associated with its service.
As it is also an external solution, you can make the AVerMedia Live Gamer Lite scanner work with your PC, laptop, and Xbox One / 360, PS4, Wii U or other sources.
How to use a video grabber
Now, let's briefly review how a video capture card or external device works. We have seen that you can find it in both ways.
Most of them are external devices that must be connected to a PC, Mac or console for capturing or streaming video sequences, while taking pictures or recording game sequences assist with HDMI type communication.
So, for example, if you want to transfer from a PS4, you have to plug a grabber into one of its HDMI ports, and allow the connection to go to your display screen to see what you're playing.
The card is connected to a PC or Mac via USB, where it uses your favorite capture software to record sequences or move them to sites like Twitch, The mix, YouTube Games either Facebook.
If you want to get pictures on a gaming PC, the process is very similar, but remember that the external card only helps if you want to play on the PC and record or broadcast on another computer (for example, a laptop).
If you want to do everything from the same PC and don't be afraid to install your computer, it makes more sense to insert a video capture card inside (discussed here), which will allow you to spend with an additional external device or use of multiple ports.
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