Capturing Xbox 360 Video Using Component HD AV Cable

[FrankieB]

Hi everyone,

In the past I have been successful getting my system to capture decent quality video of my Guitar Hero/Rock Band/video game runs using the standard composite cable for the 360, splitting the video to the TV @nywhere Plus and sending the audio directly into my motherboard. You can see an example of one of these videos here.

Now I would like to capture at 640x360, to properly fit into the YouTube dimensions for widescreen. I got rid of the old television I was using to split video to (a small 13 inch television) and now want to use my HDTV to play while my PC captures.

I was able to do this for a little while last night. However I cannot figure out the best possible settings to 1) make the videos sync up properly and 2) for the damn Xbox to actually work now. I had to switch to capturing with VirtualDub and using the Xvid codec because DivX would not let me capture at 640x360 and neither would my TV @nywhere Plus.

I had some good success last night getting videos to capture through this method (hooking the component into my TV, splitting audio both ways, and sending the yellow composite straight into my PC). I went to bed and figured I'd play with the settings a bit more today.

However now, when I boot up the Xbox, turn the TV and VirtualDub/TV @nyhere Plus to start capturing, the video doesn't appear on either screen, or just the monitor or TV, and the Xbox keeps rebooting.

I pulled some things out of my power supply thinking it might have been a power issue but the problem persists. Last night I was able to split and capture (albeit shitty quality) and now I can't do either.

I'd just like to note playing under HDMI on the television by itself still works flawlessly.

If there's anyone that can help me out here I'd be really happy. I just want to be able to record at a somewhat decent quality at 640x360, play in whatever shitty quality on my TV and capture that video.

Thanks everyone

[NOKYARD]

the component video cable for the 360 does not split the video signal like the composite cable did - there is a SD/HD switch on the cable's head and you must move the selector to HD to activate the component cables

in your situation it would be best to use a component distribution amplifier (with audio) so you can simultaneously record and play in HD without having to swap out cables when ever you wanted to record, and play without any additional lag

[FrankieB]

Well to be completely honest...I don't care if its in HD. I have that specific cable set to TV right now just so that the same signal can be sent to the TV and computer. That and my PC cannot currently capture anything but composite or S-Video...so the component cables themselves being plugged into the TV are only so I can see whats going on without lag and let my computer capture the rest.

At some point I'd like to have HD but I am going to wait until I can afford something like one of those Black Magic Intensity things...I was also looking at one of those Haupauge products but I can't think of it off the top of my head. Both are in the $300 range and thats just out of the question for now for video game videos.