There are very few joys in life that aren’t worth sharing with those you love, and video games are no exception. Video games can be a great bonding experience for families and friends, not only because they can be enjoyed by those playing, but also because they can be just as fun to watch. In the same way many families enjoy capturing moments on their
video cameras and then later gathering around the
television set to enjoy the recording, recorded video games can also be enjoyed. Enjoyment in video games isn’t limited to those who are actively playing; by being able to remotely observe the game everyone else can have fun cheering them on, offering advice or even learning when it’s their turn to play. From the gamer’s perspective, it can also be more than annoying when you perform a marvelous feat while playing and there’s no one to marvel at it.
The capture card is a tool that enables you to record videos from a wide range of devices. It enables you to record your gameplay as it happens, which you can then share this video with your family and friends, whenever and however you choose. No longer do you have to wait for the people you love to be there physically, or miss out on the joy of a shared video game. Many of these devices even let you stream live, which means that you can share your gameplay over long distances with your loved ones even as it’s happening.
There are also plenty of people whose occupations involve gaming. Playing games is no longer just about the simple entertainment value of the game; there are now several occupations carved out of gaming. These people consist of competitive gamers, game reviewers, walkthrough creators, game commentators and many others. A great deal of these jobs involve active gameplay and their work would be severely undermined if viewers cannot watch during or after the game is played.
A lot of these people have tried to show gameplay by using
camcorders, but this will mostly be a subpar solution since these recordings will rarely be able to give the viewers the same feeling of watching the actual game. This is why most of these gaming professionals have adopted the use of a capture card. Features such as its editing software, live streaming capabilities, and voice recording mean that it’s usually the better option.
Whether you play games as a professional or you play just for fun, it’s natural to want to share what you love. In this guide, we’ll help you find you the best capture cards so you never have to play alone.
Price
While choosing a capture card its price is one important thing that has to be considered. There are several factors that can affect the price of a capture card. Some of these include resolution, compatibility, and interface. In our research, we discovered that a good capture card costs somewhere between $80 and $300. We made sure to conduct a thorough research to ensure that the capture cards we offer will have the quality that’s proportionate to their prices.
This is a price range within which we feel more people can have access to good capture cards. There are certainly more expensive ones just as there are also cheaper ones. Whatever you do, avoid the cheap capture cards as they’re likely to underperform or even break down, resulting in a lost investment.
Features
A capture card is a great device to own. It can have an incredible impact on your gaming experience and possibly even your career. Still, capture cards can have very different features and purposes. Not all capture cards perform the same function, and they can work in a number of ways. This is why proper research must be carried out in order to find the one best suited to you. This can be done best by considering their features, and here are some of the more important ones to consider:
- Resolution
- Interface
- Compatibility
- Input/Output
- Internet Connectivity
- Microphone
- Size
- Editing Software
Let’s explain these in greater detail.
Construction and Design
Resolution can simply be defined as picture quality. Capture card resolutions can be 1080p, 720p, 480p and more at varying frames per second. The capture card captures videos in a resolution independent of the resolution of the device it’s connected to. This means that the resolution of the captured video won’t necessarily be the resolution it was on the laptop, TV or monitor it was connected to. The higher the resolution, the better the picture quality will be.
Interface here refers to the means through which data is transferred from the capture card to the laptop, game console, or other electronic device you’re using it with. The interface varies from one capture device to another; it can be USB 2.0, USB 3.0, PCIe, etc. The interface determines the speed at which the capture device receives or transmits data, which can be very essential in terms of how quickly the video is captured and the absence of lag during live streams.
It’s important to note the devices compatible with a capture card’s operating system. A capture card can be compatible with a TV, laptop, Xbox 360 and Xbox one, PlayStation 3 and 4, and Wii U. It can also be compatible with only one of those devices. You must be very careful in making sure that the operating system of the device you’re purchasing the capture card for is supported by the capture card.
There are certain cables that you use to connect the capture card to your chosen device. This cable determines the picture quality of the video transmitted and how quickly it’s transmitted. These can be HDMI, DVI, or any other. These cables are the means through which your capture card is connected to your device, so it’s important to make sure that they’re supported by your device.
Performance and Ease of Use
Many people use capture cards in order to post videos on the internet. Some capture cards have features that enable you to directly post videos online. These capture cards can be linked to your account on social media sites, which enables you to conveniently post videos on your page. Some capture cards also enable live streaming, which involves recording and sharing your videos online in real time — just call it a live broadcast. This can be an extremely useful and convenient feature for people interested in posting videos online.
A microphone input is also essential for certain people. By using a capture card with a microphone input, it’s possible to run a voice over commentary on whatever video is currently being recorded. This can be very useful for people whose videos require explanation or commentaries, and it can be great for letting your viewers hear your emotion on the video.
Most capture cards are relatively small in size, and weigh next to nothing. Yet, there are some more portable than others. If for some reason you need to move around a lot with your capture card a smaller one might be the best option for you.
When sharing videos or posting them online it might be important to you to first edit them. This might be to add your own commentary over it, to cut certain parts out, or to edit some things in. Whatever it is, you’ll need some editing software. Not every capture card comes with an editing software, and among those that do, some have editing software that’s more complex than others.
There are many capture cards out in the market with each differing from the other in one way or another. They all work in different ways according to their design. The capture card ideal for you will depend on the features that are most important to you. Having read through the guide to this point, you now know a few things that you need to watch out for and how they can impact your use of the capture card. Armed with this information, watch out for those important features as we begin to review our top five selection.
After considering all that we’ve shown you about some of the best different capture card brands and products, we hope you can now go out and make an informed decision. Have fun purchasing and operating your very own capture card.
