Review: Elgato Game Capture HD
Pros:
Hardware and software is simple to set up and use. Good price.Cons:
Can sometimes take long to export videos, especially if they are long clips.Review of Elgato Game Capture HD for capturing gaming moments from Xbox or PlayStation.
Any games out there, especially enthusiasts who play games on their consoles, be it Xbox 360 or Play Station, would have at soe point wished they captured that kill streak or that moment where they thought wow just so they can share it with friends and family or just the world in general thanks to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
For a very long time users have simple pointed their camera at the TV and hope for the best visual and audio quality until the arrival of devices just Elgato Game Capture Device; the HD edition allows you to record in real time your game play wether you use Xbox or Play Station. All you need is the device and a Laptop or Desktop computer to capture your game play unto.
Elgato Game Capture HD Unboxing and First Look Video
As you can see from the video above, you have all you need ready to go in the package and worse case scenario you probably just need to get a HDMI cable which you can pick up for as little as £5 in the UK. The device itself is snazzy, has a glossy finish and the connection is very simple; there are no configurations to perform, you simply plug the cables in which are also clearly labelled so you plug the right cable in the right places.
Accompanying the Game Capture device is Elgato’s editing suite which allows you to see what you are doing live, you also see the audio strength should you be talking or performing a live commentary as you play. You can also change variety of settings like where you would like your videos located, the video quality maybe you like different frame rates or HD quality. In the sample video below, I have opted for the very default settings including 1080p recording for the best display options for my YouTube audiences. The software packaged also allows you to edit directly or export to YouTube, iMovie for further editing and enhancements etc. Have a look at the test video below:
Elgato Game Capture HD Video Test (Xbox 360, Black Ops 2 1080p)
Verdict
Overall, the Elgato Game Capture device, is very simple yet does a great job of recording at different frame rates even ones for creating slow motion effects. Easy to install and takes little or no time to be up and running; for the price point it is definitely worth it for anyone who wants to relive those gaming moments, not just YouTubers. The only negative I have is the time it takes to export videos.
