What capture device should I get...

[Dinotard]

I'm nothing special in terms of skill but I would really love to get into recording and streaming my smash matches. I feel it would be a good investment to stream and get feedback so I can be a better player.

I just want to know what hardware would you guys deem best to record wii u gameplay at 60fps? What do you guys use? And How has it helped you?

 

[The Game II]

There are a few options but most people get the Elgato Game Capture HD or Avermedia LGP. If you're picky about quality or worried others are picky about it, there are a few YT vids showing the differences. I have Elgato and it's worked well for me.

Elgato https://www.elgato.com/en/gaming/game-capture-hd60
Avermedia http://gamerzone.avermedia.com/capture-card-selector/

--GCII

 

[MadCanard]

Oooo one of those Avermedia ones is very nice. It has a "PC Free" mode so you don't need to hook it up to a computer while recording. That's great if you don't care about live streaming and just want to upload the videos to youtube.

 

[Waymas]

I got an Avermedia LGP but both are nice ;3

 

[Lamato]

I just got my Elgato HD60 in the mail today and the video quality is nice and all. However, be weary that you should have a pretty decent computer when recording or else it will have some choppy moments. My laptop barely handles 720p ;_;

 

[CoolBoyCorporate]

I use the elgato HD capture. Theres a new one for the ps4/xbox 1 but the older model Elgato HD runs perfectly fine. Very simple and easy to use. I have some videos on youtube u can see where I record both PC/Wii U/PS3 for quality checks.

Type in my name "coolboycorporate" and go to the most recent videos as they may be of some help.

as well, I always recommend to people to watch the reviews and those who put it in real action to get the best knowledge

 

[blaze1216j]

I been hearing that the Elgato is a good one to use, as for me, I use the Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket, it can record many formats and can do 60 fps. plus it's small enough so it doesn't take up space and you can take it to go anywhere.

 

[Conda]

I use the avermedia live gamer portable. Footage can be seen here: www.youtube.com/cobbsgames

 

[Captain Norris]

The Elgato hardware is great, but the software is not the best. Plus, you have to have a really good computer to take full advantage of it.

 

[DrizzyDrew]

el gato hd, the regular one. It works with current gen and old school systems like snes and can livestream. Does pretty much everything. There is an el gato that does 60fps but only works with ps4/xbone/ and i assume wii u. Depends if you wanna record old school games as well, but i would get the regular el gato. Great device but you need a decent computer to handle it. Compare your computer specs before buying.

 

[Ndukauba]

I just got my Elgato HD60 in the mail today and the video quality is nice and all. However, be weary that you should have a pretty decent computer when recording or else it will have some choppy moments. My laptop barely handles 720p ;_;

Easy fix. When you start recording, press the pause button. This will stop the video on the software, but it won't stop the video from recording. I used to have the same problem, but after I did this, I can now record in 1080p60 with absolutely no 'choppiness'.
I hope this helps =)

 

[Cthulhu_MD]

As everyone has stated, the Elgato is pretty much the best option. I have an old, old, old, old capture device: The Hauppuauge HD PVR 1212. It still does me good, although if you're going to be streaming or not, the Elgato is much more efficient.

 

[allhellbreaksloops]

Does anyone have experience with the Black Magic Intensity line and a Wii U?

 

[Rakurai]

I'm torn between whether or not I want to get an Elgato HD or the HD60 to start my streaming/recording with.

The latter is only $10 more then the former at the moment, but it seems like it requires a much stronger CPU to use properly, even if you're using a lower recording setting.

 

[Darklink401]

Live Gamer Portable works very nicely, can work with both AV and HDMI, and has a neat little button that you can press to start and stop recording.

 

[SlickWylde]

Like some others have said, the Elgato works pretty well. I am computer illiterate, but even i uploaded decent looking footage. You can watch this to see if the quality is good enough for you: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdOY1bJ8wiVdfm3Y47Cb_Q

 

[Captain Norris]

Like I have said, the Elgato hardware is great, but the software is rubbish at points.

 

[SlickWylde]

Like I have said, the Elgato hardware is great, but the software is rubbish at points.

Yeah, I think I'd have to agree with this statement. I'm still happy with it, because it accomplishes my goals, but as far as editing and stuff, it's pretty crappy. But you can save the footage to your computer and load it in an editor at least.

 

[Mazdamaxsti]

Is there anything that doesn't cost 100+ dollars? I have spent all the money I can afford to spend trying to get all the amiibos (only 5 haven't been ordered/delivered ) So I can't buy anything too expensive.

 

[Captain Norris]

Is there anything that doesn't cost 100+ dollars? I have spent all the money I can afford to spend trying to get all the amiibos (only 5 haven't been ordered/delivered ) So I can't buy anything too expensive.

If you are trying to get a quality, HD capture card, you probably will not. Maybe someone else knows of one though.

 

[Sixfortyfive]

I wouldn't even consider the Elgato because I don't bother with anything that has forced h.264 encoding anymore. I'd only use that if you need to get a USB 2.0 compatible device and can't do any better.

Smash 4 is a 1080p 60fps game. Get something that can actually do uncompressed 1080p60:
http://gamerzone.avermedia.com//game_capture/extremecap_u3
http://micomsoft.co.jp/xcapture-1.htm
http://micomsoft.co.jp/sc-512n1.htm
http://www.startech.com/AV/Converters/Video/usb-3-0-video-capture-device-hdmi-dvi-vga~USB3HDCAP

Does anyone have experience with the Black Magic Intensity line and a Wii U?

I had an Intensity Shuttle before I traded up for an XCAPTURE-1. I liked it well enough for the time.

 

[pikazz]

for my recording, I am using Haupagge HVR 1.0 (the one without HDMI), sadly it forces me to record it to 720p or otherwise it will not record!

I am planing to get myself a Elgato HD 60 so I can use Haupagge for my Wii and Elgato for Wii U!

I wouldn't even consider the Elgato because I don't bother with anything that has forced h.264 encoding anymore. I'd only use that if you need to get a USB 2.0 compatible device and can't do any better.

actually, (me and my old media school opinion) think and still thinks h.264 are the best encoding for HD stuff, but it is all about the tastes in formats o:

 

[B_Rocka]

just got an elgato, records in 1080p at 60fps. i do reccomend it

 

[Sixfortyfive]

actually, (me and my old media school opinion) think and still thinks h.264 are the best encoding for HD stuff, but it is all about the tastes in formats o:

It's bad when it's built into the hardware and forced because it tends to cause all kinds of other issues: video/audio lag, lack of DirectShow compatibility in third-party video software, and lower quality because the video is always compressed before it's even sent to your PC (often resulting in even poorer quality because that footage will be compressed again when using livestreaming software like XSplit or Open Broadcaster).

If you're using a card that feeds uncompressed video to the PC, you tend to avoid those issues and can still compress the footage however you like in software. Don't settle on USB 2.0 if you don't have to.

 

[crcsmash]

I have the AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable and works really fine, really easy to record and the price is really competitive here in Spain.

 

[PotatoChief]

well as I host Tournaments in different locations and my PC is not very portable I use AVerMedia Game Capture HD II. good quality and you can record from just the device here is some gameplay from a tournament

(Video has been editted and compressed a little the raw gamplay looks even better)

if you have a good laptop maybe get the Elgato but this is a nice portable choice.

 

[Insiviq]

Like others have said, the ELgato should be the best bet.

 

[Tobi_Whatever]

Bought an Elgato HD60 and I can recommend it. The software isn't without faults but it works great when it works.

 

[Joaco]

Don't buy AverMedia, I have LOTS of issues with it.

 

[PotatoChief]

Don't buy AverMedia, I have LOTS of issues with it.

what issue you been having? i havent had any yet?

 

[Joaco]

PS3 doesn't show up image to the TV when i'ts connected to lgp and if I record in 1080p on WiiU i get laggy gameplay. 720p WiiU works fine though, this is the best result I can get (raw):

And I have all firmwares up to date

 

[PotatoChief]

PS3 doesn't show up image to the TV when i'ts connected to lgp and if I record in 1080p on WiiU i get laggy gameplay. 720p WiiU works fine though

thats odd did you get the "AVerMedia Game Capture HD II" me and my friend have it and we both get 1080p and no lag I use it at tournaments

this is editted footage taken from my Avermedia

 

[Joaco]

AVM Live Gamer Portable

 

[PotatoChief]

AVM Live Gamer Portable

oh ok thats not the one I have. that sucks hope you get it working soon

 

[CrazyPerson]

Hope it's ok I piggy back on this thread.

I have been thinking it would be nice to get a video capture thing that doesn't involve my digital camera and whatever the heck I can find to stack it on... quite a pain and quite low quality.... and I have no desire to preserve all the noisy distractions & interruptions that have a way of happening at key times.

Friends and I try to do a monthly smash tourney (not the normal competitive rules) and this has been brought up... and I'd think it would help to be able to go back later and watch my games and look for places to improve.

At this point I have no interest in doing any live streaming... may or may not upload some stuff to youtube later however.

My tv is ancient standard def, but the person who usually hosts has an HDTV... I think 1080p but I am not sure.
I'd like a device that can connect to either.

I don't have a laptop... went desktop to save money and make upgraded a cheaper option... so something that doesn't require a computer connection would be nice. Obviously, Ill need to be able to transfer it to one after the fact.

I don't know if it makes a difference, but something that could work on the Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, and maybe even older systems would be nice.

Any suggestions?

 

[SamBlueBox]

I use an El Gato and I love it!! highly recommened it.
It makes everything so simple, I used to use a Dazzle and then a HDPVR.
The El Gato is so simple and Its really easy to stream from.
I don't have a powerful laptop but the El Gato streams and records like a BEAST!!

 

[K7Sniper]

What are the options available for those who don't have $150+ to spend?

 

[Aus10K]

I use an Elgato to record and stream most of my smash matches. My computer isn't the best but somehow I can drop some pretty decent videos at nice quality. So if you can find a deal somewhere on a used or refurbished one that's what I'd suggest.

 

[K7Sniper]

Does the Elgato allow offline recording?

 

[Azazel]

IF you want a cheap solution you can try this.
Basically it makes the Wii U think your computer is the gamepad. and you can record the stream sent from the Wii U to the Gamepad.
This obviously limits you to the quality of the gamepad. 854x480 or 480p