I've been thinking before ordering a couple of points that I expect from the device. These relate primarily to the functionality and flexibility of use. The Live Gamer Portable (LGP) AverMedia went to these criteria clear winner and to spoil before I am completely satisfied with the thing. These same but even more;)
So what I expect from the products
First I'd like to take this opportunity to explain those conditions which I have placed on the capture card and compare it to the LGP. Below is a corresponding list.
1. I want to be able to 1080p (FullHD) record at 30 FPS respectively 720p (HDReady) with very good 60 FPS record with a sufficiently good bitrate for the purpose of good quality. My videos will later end up on YouTube. A higher resolution or FPS rate is not necessary, since neither my current consoles, even my PC can display a higher resolution or intended. The LGP support both (up to 1080p at 30 fps or 720p and 60 FPS) as intended. For my purposes, ranging 720p recordings, which fortunately even work with full 60 FPS.
2. I want to have as many connection options. The LGP covers with an AV / component video cable and HDMI everything I could possibly need.
3. It would be handy to be able to accommodate gameplay even without laptop / PC from a single console. At best, with the sound of a studio microphone with an attached mixer. The LGP is one of the few Capture Cards that offers such a possibility. You can on the device itself flipping a switch and so switch between PC-supported recording and recording on SD card back and forth. A great thing, but not perfect. The device measures namely either only the sound from the HDMI input or instead when connected to the input jack. Means that if you record from HDMI and has its micro / mixer connected via jack, you only have the microphone sound track in the finished video on the SD card. This problem can, however, get round. One can make do "Audio Extractor HDMI" namely with an additional device, a so-called. This is the sound without sacrificing part quality through a branching-jack cable with an attached mixer could connect. I would have liked a more direct solution for this case, but you can come to terms with it. With the PC-supported modes is this issue not incidentally. There, sound track of the device with another microphone track can be recorded directly and save as desired in a separate .mp3 file or with the video.
4. Especially coupled with the last point: The device should also be portable in this case. This chunky big Recording "boxes" I have a priori not feed into the closer whale. Have already enough technical equipment lying around in the area because I welcome the small LGP.
5. Even if I do not intend it, the unit should be at least for the future the possibility to offer an easy way to stream. About the PC software that seems to offer these LGP. Can test and I will not, because my Internet currently insufficient for speed anyway.
6. Last but not least: The potential device should at least look for something and not to a plastic bomb, even if it should be a.
Design + Equipment
The LGP appear very valuable. It has a black and gray shiny, polished top (feels a little chilly at, it is made of aluminum?) With a red plastic edging. On the bottom there is a large area a non-slip rubber coating. On the front of the switch is to switch between the "PC-free" and the "normal" to switch shooting mode. On the left side then is a Micro USB input, necessary for either the PC mode or at least as a power supply. On the right side is the SDHC slot. On the back finally the AV Adapter Input, HDMI IN HDMI OUT + and 3.5mm jack IN and OUT. To connect it so that you put the console in a corresponding input (IN) and the TV / monitor to the HDMI output (out) and the sound output when used on a suitable output device (compact system, headphones, etc.). The exact content can you see the Amazon description. But it's all there, what you need to at least another HDMI cable. The enclosed is very short.
For recording without PC the way SD card should be used at a sufficient rate and production quality, because otherwise no recording is possible or the video quality suffers from this situation, when the SDHC card is too slow. Look for "class10" cards of well-known brands like SanDisk, Toshiba or Samsung to. Rather spend a little more to have to buy two times.
First Firmware Update!
Before I used the appliance for the first time, I wanted to bring the firmware the first up to date. I think in particular for products of this kind can save a lot of frustration that, as important error could be corrected. The installation was easy. These needed to download the software from the Internet and follow the instructions on the screen. After a few minutes you can use the device then already.
The Connection
Is simply child's play. Device you want to connect to the record card. Connect TV and connect via microUSB to PC or plug the USB cable into a mobile power supply and recording on an SDHC card. Then stop only either press the big button on the unit or start recording via PC software "RECentral". The LED around the circular recording head signaled while the operating status of the LGP.
Recording
Otherwise halt nor the software installed on the PC and placed first test shots. The unit has convinced me this immediately. It everything is just right. From the quality to ease of use - better can I hardly imagine. The recordings are made in .ts or .mp4 with good compression in just yet good quality thanks H264 codecs. But you should also save only in .mp4, if you do not want to process the output. Because this could not be in my video editing program (Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014er Version) import. The .ts files but as willed this worked - hence no problem with proper use. On the way you can render the videos as you wish in order to compression etc. Everything good.
So far I've only made recordings of a Wii U via HDMI. I will probably sooner or later replace with the LGP but FRAPS on the PC, because the recordings on the external capture card certainly run hardware gentler on the PC. In return, the device could indeed practicable just hang between the monitor or simple connect the second screen with split view.
Conclusion: On the whole, I could not be happier with the product. Only the price has kept me from earlier access to this product. That has indeed changed nothing, but as the competition is also not cheaper, I bit the bullet eventually. Has my opinion but worth it - the product is worth every penny. Who does not need the PC-free mode and the Adaptiermöglichkeit for component, therefore wants to include only via HDMI and laptop / PC as a tool anyway, can also draw on the slightly cheaper Lite version of the LGP. This was for me but not an option.
I will learn the product, of course, with further use also know more. Accordingly, I'll refine this review over time. Opinions and questions in the comments are welcome!
