Revolution "console capture area"

I would like to offer as far as "small", but also detailed views of the device here. Let's start from the outside and work our way inwards.

First of all, the Live Gamer comes Portable (short LGP) in a chic matt cardboard, the product on top of it with your name and manufacturer, are on the one hand already the first tech specs as: connectivity, programs / system requirements. On the other hand, some consumer information, as is conventional for electrical appliances. On the bottom more specs about the device itself: support standards, Hardware Tools, PC-free mode and the package contents.

Welding film is removed and taken cover, this beauty (weight 70mm (D) x 22mm (h) x 131mm (b), 117g) is already in front of us in a plastic shell. Here again the surfaces sealed with protective film on the side in "Info Strip", the AVerMedia SD card with min. Class 10 and FAT32 format is recommended. The latter should not be a problem, as this is the "usual" format in portable flash memory as an SD card or a USB flash drive. The Class 10 specification, however, defines the speed of the SD card, so you should here the best Note obey and use a correspondingly fast card unless you want to use the PC-free mode. Otherwise for describing the card this may be too slow and therefore is erratic or does not happen to save the recording.

After the screen protectors are down the LGP seen in its full glory, the top is made of brushed, black aluminum and feels very valuable and looks classy. In the middle of this page then emblazoned the logo also represents a basic button (more on this later). Trappings is a red plastic frame of at corresponding points then has cutouts for the ports. The underside is skilfully gummed, so the device will not scratch and better yet, it does not slide back and forth.

Okay now let's look at the rest, taking time so the dish with the LGP out is including a coupon code for XSplit, a streaming and video editing software (the voucher licensed the program for 3 months and must be redeemed by 30 June). Taking the voucher in the form of a small card out, is including a hole, here you can pull the cardboard box with your finger.
In this box you will find the rest of the promised accessories:

- Special HDMI cable (intentionally kept short [20cm], with gold plated connectors and red connectors)
- Component Video / Stereo Audio Dongle Cable
- Mini USB cable (for connection to the PC or the power source [Xbox, PS3, TV, etc.])
- PlayStation 3 Cables
- Cloth bag (the buffer)

Under the cardboard box is an info sheet on which a web address for the purchase of the latest drivers and software.
At the bottom is still a manual in many languages. Here are the exact connectivity for PC, Xbox 360, Playstation. (In combination with TV) and an explanation of the LED Status Indicator

Now we come back to the main unit of the LGP:

The special feature of the LGP over other capture cards is that these can be fully operated without a PC! This is useful when there is no appropriate PC is directly related to disposal or this in another room / other location is.
For this you just have to push on the card to switch on the side of the SD card icon.
This note is in contrast to the pass-trough resolution the course, as high as the input resolution, the maximum recording quality but at 16Mbit / s at 720p with 60fps is (PC-Free mode!).
In plain language the true 1080p signal from the connected HDMI device is passed on, and so will also appear on the TV, you can only record in 720p.
In my case not so bad because 1. 720p is still HD and looks still very good with 60fps and 2. the current Xbox 360 (Slim) anyway 720p outputs natively.

Who wants to relieve his PC and in contrast to the software screen recording like Fraps or the like, a hardware screen recording with the LGP power can of course get in touch with Full HD (1920x1080) with 30fps at 60Mbit / s.
The software can also still some set / do, the communication is working simultaneously with the power supply via the USB cable.
For the PC, there is the software which can be downloaded on the manufacturer site, a function which is called TimeShift. Here, the map will continuously 2 hrs. On (the 2 hrs. "Full" is the beginning of the recording overwritten), which also saves space.
If you have something you would like to "retain", for example, a particular scene or a great game action this may mark the TimeShift function and thus is firmly "recorded", this area in the 2 hours.. For the enthusiasts among us has the Live Gamer has the chance to stream directly, only at the margins.
Note: The Live Gamer Portable does not support 1920x1200 monitors!

The card is easy to connect. It makes sense to put the included short HDMI Cable to the console / PC and the other end into the LGP. Is The cable has gold-plated connectors and as I said above is specially shielded. Your existing / available HDMI cable carries her then from the map to your output device (TV / monitor). All feasible, all interfaces are labeled. Finally, the box still needs power, for you close the included mini-USB cable to your PC or simply to a free port on the console / TV.
Now you have you just decide whether to record with or PC-Free, as I at home still a small 10GB had flying around memory card of course I wanted the feature of AVerMedia LGP ​​test (please note again: a Class 10 card is required / strongly recommended)

Now, the LGP is ready (scenario console): For the case that all required equipment is now turned on, the lights LGP already red to the "hot-button". Whoever wants to record directly must be simple and simple plain only the big button on the top in the middle of the unit press (AVerMedia Logo [see above]). Then the LGP begins to take on, everything you do, the complete screen content and without the slightest sound. Here now pulsates the red-lit LED circle around the button.

Speaking of noise, as well as via HDMI sound is transmitted, this will of course be recorded, AVerMedia has here decided to give a stereo AAC codec that is saved simultaneously with the video recording in a .TS file.
If the video codec of H.264 is used, an H. standard for audiovisual and multimedia applications for high-efficiency video compression. This guarantees the high quality possible video (720p / 1080p) can be stored extremely compact, large SD cards are finally quite costly.

Whoever wants more can connect a 2-jack headset and simultaneously talk / comment to gameplay that makes work easier for example YouTube and save the subsequent recorden its own sound track. The device has this audio IN and OUT with 3.5 mm jack with 3.5 mm jack, so common standard.

After a few test shots was clear that the SD card principle is quite thoughtful and works well. A 15 minute recording of the Xbox 360 (Slim) at 720p was about 1.5 GB large / small. Does that mean you in 60 min. about 6GB disk space consumed at the quality and simplicity of the whole system that is absolutely top notch. So is long gamer sessions on LAN's or friends, also like all night (with an appropriate SD card [32/64 / 128GB] or the possibility of this always in between to "empty" [to a PC / HDD]) nothing in the way.

As you can in the review I think clearly visible, I am in all areas were very convinced of the LGP, certainly offer other cards similar functions, but the idea of ​​the unit has to make portable, at least, been an instant hit with me - so that others can Game capture cards does not measure up.
Memory card in, plug it in and press the hot-button, it's really easy in my opinion for Konsoleros barely. I think of exactly this target group the unit is also directed, PC enthusiasts are probably enough hardware facilities have to accommodate with software solutions.

In order to give all 5 stars!

I answer questions like in the comments.

[Update]

The manufacturer has released an update to its firmware and an appropriate tool (for the PC) out hand with which you can set the recording quality. Now up to 1920x1080 at 30fps enables (PC-Free mode!).