Our pick of the bunch is the Hauppauge WinTV-quadHD PCI Express TV Tuner that can record up to four programs at a time and is complemented by a versatile software hub in WinTV. If you are a gaming content creator who wants to make the most of their new video capture card, you may want to check out our list of the best current gaming consoles, so you can start collecting a backlog of footage for your projects. You’ll also be able to choose which shows to watch while you record others and schedule your favorite programs to be recorded using the software, which adds to its versatility. Regarding compatibility, the Hauppauge card supports ATSC HD TV and Clear QAM digital cable TV standards, so you can find all of the shows you love quickly. Low system requirements make it easy to use with most modern computers, too, as it needs just 1GB RAM and a Core2Duo 2.93 GHz processor at minimum to efficiently run. You’ll also get a remote control and a set of brackets in the box to ensure that the Win TV-quadHD can fit in desktop computers of varying sizes. It’s a great choice if you want a no-nonsense TV content capture solution at a great price. Connection Type: PCIe | Software: WinTV | In the box: IR remote control, IR receiver cable, half-height bracket Installation is simple. The DIGITNOW card is a plug-and-play device that doesn’t require any driver installation, and once you’ve got it set up, it integrates well with popular programs such as OBS Studio and XSplit. This will let you record TV or gaming content and quickly set up live streaming to social media channels. While Mac-focused in this roundup, the card also supports other devices such as consoles, PCs, and Linux computers for added versatility. One drawback of the device is that it can only capture a single video signal, but if you’re looking for an affordable, small, and efficient Mac capture card solution, this is a great choice. Connection Type: USB 3.0 | Software: Supports OBS, VLC, and more | In the box: USB 3.0 cable, HDMI cable Complemented by an accessible software package in Game Capture HD, the ElGato HD 60 S features integrated streaming, so your Twitch and YouTube feeds are only a few clicks away. A screen within the Game Capture software also provides the user with a constant low latency feed of their gameplay to record, edit, and commentate over. Even if you miss a significant clip while lost in the moment gaming, you can use the built-in replay buffer to scrub back and secure it in your video library. As well as being extremely convenient to work with, the HD 60 S is also very portable, weighing in at just 3.7 ounces. You can sling the HD 60 S in a bag with a few cables and have a highly efficient game streaming and recording solution anywhere in the world. The downside is that it doesn’t support 4K capture or passthrough, but unless you’re a power user focusing on fidelity, you won’t need this feature, and it helps keep the price down. Connection Type: USB-C 3.0 | Software: Game Capture HD | In the box: USB 3.0 cable, HDMI cable The device supports ATSC HD TV and QAM digital cable TV streams in standard and high definition, so there’s no compromise in stream quality. It’s also easily integrated with an existing Plex Media Server. The card comes with an antenna in the box for picking up local signals, as well as a USB extender so you can easily fit the small but weighted device in busy desktop setups. Portability is also a significant asset of the tuner—it could fit in your pocket for easy transport. Connection Type: USB 2.0 | Software: WinTV | In the box: IR remote control, portable DVB-T antenna As well as ingesting live camera footage, you can use the device to record up to 2160p 30 FPS footage, and it features a fan directly on the board to keep it cool while it’s churning through video signals. While the Decklink Mini Recorder 4K is most useful in professional video production, you can also hook it up to OBS and other streaming apps or create custom capture setups using the Blackmagic Desktop Video SDK. Connection Type: PCIe | Software: Supports DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Creative Suite & more | In the box: 4GB SD Card, Low profile bracket The PCIe slot-in setup is simple, and there is support for multiple cards on one system. This means you can have your PS5 and Xbox Series X linked up to one computer and swap between them on the fly when you want to stream or record on a specific device. The 4K Capture Utility software is easy to use and offers support for live commentary and retroactive recording, so you don’t miss any critical in-game moments. It’s also compatible with popular apps such as OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS and XSplit, so you can quickly pull an external video signal to one of your live streaming scenes. Of course, all of this power comes with a price tag and some serious system requirements. You’ll need at least a 6th Generation Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor to make the most of it, so those who don’t already own a powerful rig should look elsewhere. Connection Type: PCIe | Software: 4K capture utility | In the box: High/low profile bracket, HDMI Cable If you’re more concerned with recording and streaming game footage, the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S (view at B&H) is the best option due to its portability and compatibility with all major consoles.
What to Look For in TV Capture Cards and Video Capture Cards
Price
One major thing to consider when looking at capture cards is price. These devices range from cheap and cheerful to serious investments, so it’s worth thinking about what you need them for. If you’re just looking to record some live content or capture gaming highlights, then cheaper cards will suit your needs. However, if you’re an industry professional who will need to use a capture card on a daily basis, then getting more bang for your buck may be worth it.
Compatibility
When you’re in the market for a capture card you need to make sure that it will work with your current setup. This means taking into consideration your operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux) and the devices you plan to use the capture card with, as some are more tuned to TVs or cameras while others work best with game consoles. Similarly, you want to make sure you have free USB or PCIe ports so that you can actually fit your graphics card into your machine.
Software
Many capture cards come with their own software so it’s worth evaluating which creative suite suits your setup and use case best. Gaming content creators can get a lot of mileage out of ElGato’s complementary software as it integrates well with services such as Twitch and YouTube, for example. You also want to make sure it is compatible with any software that you already rely upon within your workflows such as OBS or the Adobe Creative Suite. However, if you’re playing a game on the PlayStation 5, this is an external device, so the process is different. If you want to live stream from a console or other external device, you will have to use the device’s built-in live streaming tools or get a capture card to send the video feed to your computer. From there, you can manage and edit the feed from the capture card on your computer in your live streaming software and beam it to your audience.
