In today's digital age, game streaming and recording have become an important way for many players to share the fun of games and show their skills. As a key tool in this process, capture cards are gradually gaining favor with more and more players.
What is a capture card?
As the name suggests, a capture card is a device that can capture and record external video signals. With a capture card, players can use a PC or Mac to record the game process of external gaming devices (such as game consoles, cameras, etc.) and save it to the device's internal hard disk in the required file format. In addition, the capture card also supports direct transmission of video signals through online platforms such as Twitch and YouTube, allowing players to easily broadcast games.
Unlike computer motherboards and graphics cards, which usually only have HDMI output functions, capture cards are equipped with at least one HDMI input port for receiving external video signals. Each capture card has a built-in encoder that converts the incoming video signal into a file format that can be edited on the computer and ensures that the file can be recognized by the streaming portal and upload platform.
Types of capture cards
There are currently two main types of capture cards on the market: external capture cards and internal capture cards.
An external capture card connects to the computer via USB, usually at least USB 3.0. They draw power from the computer and transfer recorded material to a hard drive via USB. Many external capture cards are available for both PC and Mac, giving gamers more options.
An internal capture card plugs directly into a free PCIe slot on the computer's motherboard and is seen as a more reliable solution. However, using an internal capture card requires a PC with a free slot, and internal models are not compatible with Macs.
Why do you need a capture card?
For gamers who play games on a PC, if they only need to occasionally stream or record gameplay on their computer for editing, a capture card is not necessarily necessary. Current game consoles such as the Play-Station 5 or Xbox series already offer the ability to directly stream games or record smaller video clips, and if these options meet the needs of gamers, a capture card is not necessary.
However, for professionals who regularly stream or publish Let's Play videos, capture cards have become an indispensable tool. They often use a more complex setup, using a separate computer equipped with a capture card to stream or record while playing the game on another computer or console. This division of labor allows each device to perform only one computationally intensive task, improving overall efficiency.
How to connect a capture card?
The process of connecting a capture card is relatively simple. Players only need to place the capture card between the device where they are playing the game and the monitor or TV where the game is being displayed, and then connect the cable from the console or gaming computer to the HDMI input port of the capture card, while connecting a second cable from the HDMI output port to the monitor or TV. Finally, connect the capture card to a USB port on the computer or directly into a PCIe slot on the motherboard to complete the connection.
As a must-have artifact for game streaming and recording, the capture card is bringing players a more colorful gaming experience with its powerful functions and convenient connection methods.
