With a direct, "pixel-perfect" recording of digital HDMI signal, a capture device that is connected via component, of course not keep up, as expected, the pictures are a whole corner blurred. The built-in upscaler is also not that great, but this is not in every situation and actively applies only to the by-led television image, not the recording.
Nevertheless, I would rather recommend a Let's Player or other entry this device because AVerMedia has put together a good start package. Noticed particularly positive to me the enclosed universal cable, by the owner of XBOX360, Playstation 2/3 of Wii or save additional purchases. Images from other sources such as components of a PSP, of course also work if you have appropriate cable. Unlike my Intensity the Game Capture device also supports 480p60, allowing recording in the best SD quality of Wii and PS2.
Direct connection of an external hard drive worked flawlessly, even with the NTFS file system. It is the most outstanding feature of this unit to draw and truly a real relief, not having to first boot the PC and cable across the apartment, if you want to record gameplay. Worry about asynchronous recordings no longer have to also make that everything remains within the device until you want to process it.
A rather strange choice is the recording format H264 video and VBR MP3 audio in an AVI container. Even after installing the VFW codecs X264 some editing programs come with this combination just not good clear. After all, YouTube is able to process the AVIs directly, VirtualDub can open it after installing X264VFW. The codec is not settled, but to quickly find free and with Google.
The supplied MP4 Transcoder is more of a crutch because the sound part again has to be re-compressed (MP3 to AAC) and actually does only what should make the device on its own. In individual cases, the transcoder has already screwed up with me and I needed to use FFMPEG. Since AVerMedia probably wanted to save a few cents royalties and has taken it into account end-user problems.
Therefore, despite recommendation only 4 stars - if the manufacturer redesigned the firmware and videos writes directly to a more suitable container such as MP4, MOV or MKV is there still a star more in it. If it absolutely must be AVI, then please only ASP instead AVC (H264) and CBR MP3. Other settings such as the complete deactivation of the scaler or more cog and a screw for influencing the Aufnahmnequalität were not wrong when you're really hooked.
