The Ultimate Guide to Buying Your First Capture Card (What Should You Get?)

Thinking you might need a capture card for your streaming and gaming setup? There are many capture cards out there that can accomplish this for you in high quality without breaking the bank.

A capture card is a device that enables you to record video and audio from a gaming console, computer, or other video source to your computer for live streaming, video recording, or other purposes. This focuses on some of the pros and cons of several different external capture cards that can be paired with your Mac and Windows computer.

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Timestamps
Intro (0:00)
Do You Need a Capture Card? (0:20)
Capture Card Pros and Cons (1:05)
Capture Card Lineup (1:58)
Max Pass/Recording Resolutions (3:21)
Highlight Features (4:16)
Picture Quality Comparison (7:28)
Capture Card Rankings! (8:18)
Outro (11:45)

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MY YOUTUBE GEAR!

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[MidnightMan]

Affiliate links to the capture cards!

[prodigy]

I wanted to take a moment and just really say how much I appreciate your videos. I’m new to the creating side of twitch and spent the past 4 days buying, replacing, and learning equipment, figuring out studios, and just overall a better understanding of things. When I tell you, finding your channel when I did, was such a blessing. Literally every single problem I ran into throughout this whole process, you had a video for and I’m happy to say I finally got everything working properly. Keep doing what you’re doing and Thank you again!

[sussyhecker]

"the price is ok with between 150-220$" me whos looking for an budget card around 20-30$ just to stream zelda on discord

[RSI]

I go old skool, I use a webcam pointed at my tv and use 2 altec lansing speakers from a rummage sale for true stereo sound😅

[MUCKLEECH]

Just discovered your channel and dude are you the real life Miles Morales!? Love it man, great content keep it up

[loon.z]

I’ve been recording through twitch on xbox for about a year and I’ve found it extremely frustrating. Only records in 720p but the video always glitches and the audio is always disappearing for no reason. I mostly twitch for recording gameplay with me and 4 friends, but even by myself it always finds a way to mess up. I don’t really recommend twitch, but it’s free so it’s better than nothing.

[notSWF]

Always giving us the content we need! 🔥

[ConLonDon]

Love your videos bro. This video wasn’t even relevant to me but still watched it. Great energy great video keep it up!

[JohnKing]

I just bought the Avermedia LGX3 after watching your video, can’t wait to plug it in and start recording my gameplay again. Thank you for the great video and helping me choose what card to get!

[gabeisawesome]

I just can't give Elgato a single cent after my HD60S became a literal paperweight just because I upgraded my motherboard.
Due to hardware oversights and bad firmware (that they still haven't updated, btw) the thing is basically incompatible with most motherboards that came out a year or more after the HD60S's release. The cause? They didn't bother to futureproof it for USB 3.1 ...despite usb 3.1 literally being out and used in consumer products at the time of the HD60S's development. Once motherboards released with only USB 3.1 and above and a couple 2.0 ports, it was game over. I made it work with a PCIe USB 3.0 expansion card for a while, but at some point, windows 10 must have updated the 3.0 drivers to be compatible with some 3.1 devices. The Elgato firmware is so dumb that it'll just automatically tell windows to use the 3.1 protocols that it doesn't support. If you rollback your drivers, the elgato USB handler will automatically update them again and un-fix the issue. It's almost designed NOT to work. It's been 3+ years since they acknowledged the issue and they still haven't done anything to fix the issue. they haven't even updated the firmware updater to check the USB connection before updating so you don't brick your device. They just put a warning on the download page for it.

[zuniful]

Thank you for telling me about playing off another monitor and not the preview window 🙏🏻

[SirKayn]

Thanks, a buddy sent me the link to this and it was explained and shown quite well!

[cubanthunder]

This is high quality content, thanks so much for this video. 🙏

[thriftygamer]

Nice video really enjoying the content. For me it’s retro gaming. Using different scalers and like running a card through its paces. Along with scalers through their paces. The looks of that basic USB capture card looks inticing.

[Jessica_Rose]

I’m glad to see this before buying one for my Nintendo switch. Seeing I’m only a console gamer, and will be using my New MacBook M2 Max. I definitely will be getting the first place winner. Unless you have any other suggestions for the M2 Max chip. Thanks.

[helix-blitzninja]

ok i have the elgato but um can get away with a capture card or any of them that’s more budget friendly nowadays which i’m happy even a usb stick one but yeah elgato best but i have another that’s not like or budget friendly records 1080p and something was good but yeah. this was very helpful midnight thx man

[nickturnal__]

Thank you for answering my question at 3:30. Very much appreciated video. Thank you

[darklynch]

Hey midnight man! I'm new to streaming and have been binging your content the past few days! Thanks for giving amazing and detailed explanations on each of your vids!
I'm looking for more detailed advice if you could give. I'm streaming from my ps5. I would like to be able to use stream labs and OBS on my laptop to improve my stream quality, including my mic quality. My gaming headset I use is a Astro A40 with a Mix Amp plugged in through optical out cable, but I also have a Blue Yeti USB microphone available for my laptop. My question is, would you recommend using your Remote Play method (if it works), or a capture card with a chat link Cable? I am willing to try either of they work.
Thanks in advance and keep up the great content!

[ChriTenTFF]

Great video i'm using Elgato HD60s and OBS but sometimes I stream direct to YouTube via my PS5

[LegendsSupersaiyajin]

Bro I watched it a few times now but still aint sure if I understood right😔
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So I want to record my gameplay while talking. I got a ps5 the new sony bravia tv which has all features hdr vrr 120hz sony self sais perfect for ps5 and probably gonna buy the new coming macbook pro( if not still have the new Macbook air 2022)

So which capture card is really the best, I mostly heard about elgato and wanted to buy that but you said the audio doesnt work or so I didnt really get what you exactly meant? So Elgato hd60 x isnt good for mac right?

But is the 1st place good for mac and guarantees mee good recordings with the named devices (Ps5, new mac, new tv)?

Would be really happy about your help

best regards