Preface:
This review I write because I wanted to create a comparison report for ROXIO Game Capture HD PRO, because I am convinced that it will help many and because I want to keep my promise to some people.
The interminable report on the Roxio Game Capture HD PRO side so mine, so I refer it, if someone does not know whether to buy the Elgato or Roxio and hope to have bettered again.
Even this review is to provide through their comprehensiveness a clear picture.
I have invested in the Elgato Game Capture HD, because I do Lets Plays and would like to let off steam on consoles. Also, my decision was made for this nice thing, because I had big problems with the Roxio Game Capture HD PRO software.
Table of Contents:
1. Shipping / Arrival
2. Package
3. First impression
4. How does it work? (4A.Aufbau and preparation; 4A I.Auch other devices ?; 4B.Aufnahme; 4C.Live commentary; 4D.Zusätzliche information; 4E.Party/Sprachchat mitaufzeichnen {Xbox360 and PS3})
5. Recording Software settings
6. Processing and flexibility
7. Evaluation of final grade
8. CONCLUSION
My system properties:
CPU: Intel i7 3770K 4 x 4,4GHz (overclocked)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V PRO
Graphics card: Palit Nvidia GTX 670 Jetstream
Memory: 4 x 4GB 1600MHz Corsair Vengeance Black
PSU: Be quiet! 730 Watt
Drive: LiteOn BluRay burner
Hard drives:
1. 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3
2. 500GB Seagate Momentus XT
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Edit 04.01.2013:
As I have tested recently on my old notebook, if I can take it, I wanted to bring also this still later.
System features my old office notebook HP 6715s:
CPU: AMD Turion X2 TL-60 (2x2Ghz)
Graphics Controller: ATI X1250 (400Mhz - Office Chip)
RAM: 2.5GB DDR2-667 RAM (2GB + 1x 1x512MB)
Frestplatte: 80GB
It can hereby take pictures, but the preview in Game Capture HD program is somewhat jerky. However, the recorded videos are also finished in 1080p perfectly fine and usable
Edit end
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1. SHIPPING / ARRIVAL:
This time everything went well and Amazon delivered within 24 hours, super!
The box was, as usual, dampened with a large Papierknäul well against shocks. I'm not worried that Amazon anyway Goods from shipping damage but arrives the Elgato (Yes, I know, is actually the name of the brand;)) was even more well protected from scratches by building and with film in the actual packaging. The box is designed elaborately and weighted certainly somehow also in the price. (While this is not important, but I wanted to get it just to speak.)
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2. Package:
The delivery is nice manageable, neatly packed and consists of the following:
- Elgato Game Capture HD
- An approximately 50-80 cm long HDMI cable
- The special 80 cm long PS3 component cable that does not consist of the terminals 5 RCA at the end, but comes directly into the A / V port of Elgato.
- A Komponentadapter (A / V connector [RCA] -Komponent female)
- A Quick Start Guide that also has the download link for the software is given.
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3. FIRST IMPRESSION
After I'm gone with great expectations to the most expensive Game Capture Card, in addition to the ROXIO HD PRO and the Hauppauge PVR HD2 I was alone already impressed by the input image on the PC. Alone here the software made a very good impression by gave me a clear and good image.
I have made myself familiar with the user interface and immediately afterwards recorded a few minutes in Halo 4. (Of course, all settings on the best quality screwed).
I was then floored when I viewed the images recorded on the PC. 1: 1 is recorded from the console, nice and sharp and true color as you want it!
Definitely make the 30MB / s for 1080p something out!
I was only puzzled over whether the Elgato really is as good as it is praised, but I was very clear about it when I saw that a Component Adapter is and I could also connect the Wii.
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4. HOW DOES IT WORK?
4A.AUFBAU AND PREPARATION
Nothing can go wrong, if you can read, as well as the Quick Start Guide is available in 5 steps how to connect the unit and putting it into service. (Both for PS3, and Xbox360)
Example with a Xbox 360:
The order is not important per se in the points where the cables are connected. The main thing is that the HDMI cable from the Xbox 360 in the Elgato Game Capture HD HDMI Input comes and even provided by the users second HDMI cable is connected from the output to the TV.
Since the video data is recorded to the PC, after the USB cable comes with the mini USB port on the Elgato and with the usual type A USB connector to the PC.
This can now also be recorded to is also the Quick Start Guide on the download link (for some reason If an Amazon with [...] disappears.) Directed to download the free Game Capture HD software and install it.
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4A I. CAN ALSO OTHER EQUIPMENT CONNECTED?
Not to be forgotten is that the Game Capture Card not only can record console signals. (What Elgato would be quite negligent.)
This means that also the image of each other device (eg also PC) via HDMI with an unencrypted signal (without HDCP!) Can be recorded. The Game Capture is therefore felxibel!
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4B. RECORDING
Without making any further settings, the Elgato is detected and an image displayed on the left. Pressed the big red button and everything is recorded, which also already happened by the time shift function, when a signal comes from the console.
The picture on the TV is completely loss and delay, while the PC, the unavoidable delay of approximately 1-3 seconds is available, but the image is also super sharp and true color.
(The delay is not an issue, as this is really normal! The device and the software need namely time to process the signal! No external capture card creates the display on the PC nearly instantaneous.)
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4C. Live Commentary
Who also still wants to give live commentary on the software, it can easily since version 1.2, by choosing his microphone and clicks on the Mikofon icon.
Personally, I still recommend voice recordings via a different program to make and later synchronize with the video, because the live commentary function on the Elgato the quality of language, unfortunately reduced. While not extreme, but clearly in my studio microphone anyway.
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4D. ADDITIONAL INFO
!!! Important !!!
Since it since version 1.2. the possibility is composite and can connect the yellow RCA plug to the Composite / SCART connectors into the red component adapter port of Elgato and receive a picture record S-Video.
(Thus, recordings of video recorders or old consoles like the Gamecube and N64 now would be possible)
!!! Nintendo Wii !!!
It is you probably noticed all that there is nothing in the product description on the Wii, but that does not need to worry, because I had already mentioned that the Wii can be connected with it. It can also record and edit here on the same principle. Just great!
!!! Flashback Recording !!!
Once the Game Capture HD was launched and an image arrives at the Elgato, everything is recorded. (Since version 1.2 it is also possible the Flashback feature off also.) As I've read by any limit, I think that will be recorded until no more space is available.
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[Edit of 15.02.2013]
4E. PARTY / Voice Chat Text
LIVE PARTY OF XBOX360:
The Party of the Xbox360 can aufzeichen only by a fact and this would be that you spend under the "Guide Menu" at default / language the party voice chat via the TV speakers. (The own voice must still be added later either via the live commentary function of Elgato Capture Software or recorded separately in another program and.)
The Elgato ONLY draws up what is given to her in the INPUT and therefore this should be evident to everyone that it is not simple.
The more elaborate alternative is to buy an adapter for the controller and to connect it to a PC sound input and thus separately record the chat.
Voice chat OF PLAYSATION3:
Unfortunately I can not offer any information because I do not have PS3. I suspect, however, that there are similar features and capabilities.
[Edit End]
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5. Recording software settings
I noticed from the beginning that the user interface of Game Capture HD is clearly designed and easy and an Apple OS look has. This is particularly striking in the newly added microphone button since version 1.2, the very reminds me of the microphone icon in the iPhone.
But that is probably the fact that it is available for both Mac OSX, and Windows is available.
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BREAKDOWN
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Left window
Here's just the picture of the console to see and so does pretty much 4 / 5ths of the entire window a.
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Right window
At the top of a gear and an exclamation mark next to the name of the program are attached.
Under the gear icon, you can enable the following:
Location of the Game Capture HD library
Checkbox to disable the Flashback Recording / enable (since version 1.2)
Checkbox New videos always convert with dropdown menu or 1080p MP4 Original
Use check boxes 1080p for export to iPad and Apple TV
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Where the action can be selected to provide video selection window:
YouTube; Facebook; Twitter; E-mail; AppleTV; iPad; iPhone; Movie Maker; MP4 Original; MP4 1080p
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Search checkbox Automatically check for updates
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SHOOTING AND CAPTURE MODE
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Below you can switch between Capture and Edit, with a changeover between shooting and the cutting mode.
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In recording mode, including
The device options for resolution and input (to the point I'm specifically a)
Game Audio volume can be adjusted as a virtual wheel. Lautsräke visible as a virtual LED display
Live commentary microphone on the PC can be used to talk to comments on the video.
Insert Live Streaming Account from Twitch TV channel and stream from a server with a set bit rate.
Name tags video or provided for YouTube with day and Description
Set.
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In Edit mode can be
The library location of the video
Videos The individual listed recorded video
and providing Render choice for iPad, YouTube, or simply for the PC in MP4 or MP4 1080p Original
. Select
In Edit mode, Files can be easily and smoothly cut, play in cut form and eventually render also about providing a finished video.
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EQUIPMENT
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The settings for recording under the item device in the Capture mode are as follows:
In GRID RECORDING:
Input Device Xbox360; Playstation3; iPad; iPhone / iPod touch; WiiU; Other
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Input (varies according to input device)
[Xbox360] HDMI; Component
[PS3] Component only
[IPad: iPhone / iPod touch] HDMI; Component; Composite
[Wii U]: HDMI only
[Other]: HDMI; Component; Composite; S-Video
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Composite and S-Video are since version 1.2 set (Juhu!)
HDMI Color Space: Standard or Advanced
Profile: mobile; Standard; HD 720; HD 1080
Quality: slider of Good - Better - Best (sub 1080p up to 30MB / s, 720p up to 15MB / s)
1. Selection box: get original format
Adjusting the picture format for standard definition: 2. Selection box
In a raster image:
Here you can control for
Brightness
Contrast
Saturation
Hue
Set.
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The grid AUDIO:
Here you can adjust the analog audio reinforcement in a regulator between -12dB and + 12dB.
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In GRID ADVANCED
Because of compatibility problems with some remote Sehrn / TV sets here two controllers called "Component Compatibility" and "TV Compatibility" have been added, which are designed to prevent a black screen or flicker.
The scale is from 0 - 12th
How this works and what are the pros and cons, I can not say unfortunately, because I could no longer see Elgato.com.
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6. EDITING AND FLEXIBILITY
As mentioned above there in Game Capture HD to edit mode, where you can remove excess before finished renders the video. The raw data are then rendered by election in an appropriate format to either play on Apple devices or in MP4 to it without loss for further editing.
The raw data will be played in .ts format from the Game Capture HD and can only be played. Hardly a machining program should be able to process this format. At least it does not work with Sony Vegas 12 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS6.
That's not so bad, because the data are rendered MP4 lossless and can be used anywhere. I could not find anything in a direct comparison of Ts and .mp4 video. And I say this as a quality fanatic, I want to mention that I have not compared compressed screenshots of the ts and .mp4 video right where I'm close to the screen and pure zoome. I almost doubted it that the video is rendered, but thought that it will be renamed only in mp4.
(Personally, I have, however, no other deployment functions used except MP4 Original or 1080p.)
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7. Scoring:
Grade system 1 - 5 stars, with 1 being the worst and 5 is the best.
Ex .: 4 + 2 + 2 + 5 Stars => 13/4 = 3.25 = 3 stars
A. The Capture Card:
Very classy!
So the device seems to me, since I have it. The glossy lacquer makes me worry though, because of danger from scratches, but just looks beautiful.
The device acts robust and has been assembled clean, because the edges are all well together. Toll is also that the device has two elongated rubber feet and thus stands on its own patch.
The connections are tight, do not wobble, and are within easy reach.
It is 11cm long, 7.2cm at its thickest point (curvature) wide and 2.3 cm high, making it nice and small and handy. In length to the Elgato 1.5cm shorter than the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S3, but is of the same width in the hand.
- NOTE: 5
B. Quality of the videos:
1st picture:
Frequently mentioned above, the picture is very, very good, sharp, color fidelity and accurate. It is likely to top quality setting a 1: 1 image arising from the console. Raw data, and MP4 data do not show any differences.
- NOTE: 5
2.Ton:
Here me no difference from the original is noticed from the console. As the sound bass, middle and treble situation have occurred, seems not to have to continue to be told. (Basses are compared to ROXIO HD PRO in the Elgato very good and available)
- NOTE: 5
C. Ease of Use:
Anyone with a little common sense can connect the unit and the software operation. For any instructions or the like are necessary.
It only lacks settings for key shortcuts, which I personally do not feel bad.
Otherwise can be when Elgato Support on the web find the shortcuts, keyboard shortcuts and optional features, as well as descriptions of the operation.
Important for Mac users is that they should work there too immaculate.
- NOTE: 5
D. Software and flexibility:
Game Capture HD recognizes the Elgato always easy, starts and works fast and stable. I have found no dropouts during recording or editing. (ROXIO can because what abschauen)
The data can be with any editing program edit them with synchronized sound and image and re-use.
Before I even forget!
Flashback / Timeshift function is really a blessing! I press now no longer on the record button, there will anyway be recorded continuously and every situation is captured. Nothing is lost!
However, one should press the record button when the recording session is more than 2 hours, because then deletes the Flashback feature from the time the oldest material again to record on.
Super I find particularly since the update that you can also receive signals Composite and the Nintendo 64 also has a chance to send his picture on the PC! For this, a +!
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-note: 5 recording program
-note: 5+ flexibility
E. Support / Help:
Still, I had no contact with the support, because there were no problems. Therefore, the assessment is on the help pages, I have searched for more technical data, shortcuts or options. All found and therefore very good!
In addition, within 1 month 2 updates since I have been the Elgato Game Capture HD own published and that means Elgato to care that the product lives.
[EDIT 20.01.2013: Elgato is amazing, from the purchase (19.11.2012) To date, more than 5 updates come and the software have increasingly embellished. Great Praise.]
-note: 5
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ENDNOTE:
5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 35 + 5 =
35/7 = ===> 5 Stars
Very clear!
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8. CONCLUSION
The Elgato has made me completely satisfied and there is no question that it is the Game Capture Card, which I will keep! I experience rare that hardware and software as well as get along here and this may well mean what if then also the overall quality is so good.
Compared to the competition ROXIO Elgato has nothing to fear. I would have been somewhat happier if the price difference would not have been quite as extreme and one-third higher. However, this is I do not care in the end, because it was worth it. It is true too sometimes here again that it is always better a little more money for something good to spend.
Thus, I wish to express a clear buy recommendation for the Elgato Game Capture HD! I knew honestly hardly how should it go better, unless you want to adjust every little thing, and even select the codec, because there you would have to more than 1,000 expensive device access.
Have fun with it and do not give the unit the blame when things go wrong the same, because the negative reviews below 4 stars my Vorrezensenten are just thoughtlessly or been given by ignorance. A defect in individual cases is not a reason for poor rating. Nor is it a reason to give the Elgato blame if the PC, exaggerated said, comes from the Stone Age.
My Elgato running at least like clockwork for a month!
(I'll have to think about Nutella now, Hmm tasty XP)
