Capture gameplay direct to PC?

[roflmao]

Does anyone have suggestions on capturing gameplay from real hardware directly to your computer?  About a year ago I picked up one of these USB capture devices, but there is a slight lag so playing shooters is really frustrating.  I'm "turbografxnerd" on Youtube and I haven't uploaded anything in awhile because I really dislike my current capture device.  Is there anything good out there that I can plug into my computer (via usb or one of the internal slots) that will allow me to capture and view in realtime?  Otherwise I guess I'll invest in a DVD recorder and run my systems through that to my TV.  Then rip the discs.

As far as my computer goes, I've got an i7 920 overclocked to 3.3Ghz with 6 Gigs of RAM and (2) 10k Raptor drives in a Raid 0 configuration for my system drive, so I would think it's capable of recording in realtime.  I capture and edit HD video all the time and have done some live internet broadcasting using Wirecast and a 3 HD sources on this machine without any complaints.

Thanks!

[SuperDeadite]

I use a DVD recorder.  But the limitation is most only do S-Video at best.  Works fine for Youtube, but not the best.  If you want to use component or pure RGB for ultimate quality, there is only one option really:

http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/sc-500n1.htm

Expensive, but the only consumer capture device to exist that take pure RGB currently.

[SignOfZeta]

Well, you could just split the signal so it goes to a TV as well as your crappy capture device. Then it wouldn't matter how much lag there was. This method would cost about $3.

[_joshuaTurbo]

Well, you could just split the signal so it goes to a TV as well as your crappy capture device. Then it wouldn't matter how much lag there was. This method would cost about $3.

That's exactly what I do.
Sample:

[roflmao]

I use a DVD recorder.  But the limitation is most only do S-Video at best.  Works fine for Youtube, but not the best.  If you want to use component or pure RGB for ultimate quality, there is only one option really:

http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/sc-500n1.htm

Expensive, but the only consumer capture device to exist that take pure RGB currently.

Yeah, that's a little too rich for my blood. And all of my older consoles output only composite or s-video anyway.

Well, you could just split the signal so it goes to a TV as well as your crappy capture device. Then it wouldn't matter how much lag there was. This method would cost about $3.

If only I had my gaming TV next to my computer...  I tried that once using my netbook, but it couldn't keep up and the captures looked like a slideshow.

That's exactly what I do.
Sample:

You need to do more TiD videos.  I really like 'em.   

Thanks for the suggestions, though.  I have an old P4 with a video capture card and if I ever rearrange my gaming area to make room for it, I will.  I swear my house is getting smaller...

[Joe Redifer]

Keep in mind that if you go the DVD recorder route the horizontal resolution will be halved.  That's how DVD recorders work.  Also there will be a crap-ton of compression artifacts and the format it records in does not lend itself to editing very well.  For s-video stuff I use a Sony DSR-25.  For component and HDMI stuff I have a Blackmagic Intensity card.

The Micomsoft thing is awesome, too bad it's Windows only and not in English.

[SignOfZeta]

Well, you could just split the signal so it goes to a TV as well as your crappy capture device. Then it wouldn't matter how much lag there was. This method would cost about $3.

If only I had my gaming TV next to my computer...  I tried that once using my netbook, but it couldn't keep up and the captures looked like a slideshow.

Well then go to the Salvation Army store and buy a crappy little $30 13" TV to set next to your machine temporarily while you make the videos.

[roflmao]

Well then go to the Salvation Army store and buy a crappy little $30 13" TV to set next to your machine temporarily while you make the videos.

Space is pretty limited in my office for a TV, though I've thought about trying to find room in here of one...  That's probably my best option for now.

[RegalSin]

What I do is use a capture card. It gets the job done pretty good, threw the composite, to get the voice I would have to probably use another recorder with something to combine the sound channels. I have not done this in a long, long time. Then I would combine the sound and video in a
video editing program.

I like the Dvi idea instead. I think they sell those little boxes that can capture MPG, with video and sound together and then you could transfer it over to the computer, and edit from their. I remember seeing them around alot.

Fire wire was implimented earlier for high-end camcorders, digital records, and television cameras, and they do a great job.

[Joe Redifer]

I would like to try a Framemeister for game footage capture.  I have no idea if it does SCART RGB or not (EU configuration).  A friend of mine has a SCART to HDMI converter that works with EU RGB but it messes stuff up, adding interlacing artifacts where there was no interlacing and things like that.  Looked awesome as hell, but when things started moving... ug.  Also wondering if the Framemeister has that stupid HDMI flag which prevents you from recording the signal like the PS3 does but the Xbox 360 does not.

[soop]

Any reason you don't want to use emulation?  You can get a USB > PCE adaptor for the pads, just seems like that might be the easiest option.

[SuperDeadite]

Naturally the Framemeister is wired for the Japanese 21pin spec.  But a simple Europe SCART->JP21 adapter can be easily had on ebay. 

[Joe Redifer]

Hadn't thought of that.

[roflmao]

Fire wire was implimented earlier for high-end camcorders, digital records, and television cameras, and they do a great job.

Yeah, I've got a camcorder with firewire and have tried using it to record gameplay, but I have to play on the little screen attached to the camcorder, which I think Is smaller than an Express' screen.   I once tried using "Y" adapters to split the video to the camcorder and my TV, but then the picture got all wonky.  Maybe the signal wasn't strong enough to go to both sources?

Any reason you don't want to use emulation?  You can get a USB > PCE adaptor for the pads, just seems like that might be the easiest option.

Maybe if I had one of those USB > PCE adapters that would be a viable option, but it just doesn't feel right OBEYing without a standard controller.  I do have USB > Playstation adapter on the way, and maybe that'll work better than the crummy USB gamepad I currently have.  Do you happen to have a link to the USB > PCE converter?  That sounds pretty cool.

[sunteam_paul]

I do have USB > Playstation adapter on the way, and maybe that'll work better than the crummy USB gamepad I currently have.

I use an old PS1 pad and I find it pretty comfortable to use. And if I ever get thumb ache I just switch the analogue stick on (good for Gomola Speed).