Xbox/X360 Capture/Recording Device Newbie Question

[AaronG]

Hello.

I've been trying to find out the best way I can record high quality footage from both the original Xbox and it's successor the 360. To help facilitate an easier time for anyone willing to help me I would like it to be under $200, but I'm not sure that will be possible. I've read up on the Hauppauge, Black Magic, Dazzle, Capture Cards, etc... But I'm kind of new when it comes to this and can't figure out which would give me the best results. I was thinking of getting a HD PVR2 Gaming Edition, but I'm not sure that will allow me to record from the original Xbox due to it's slots. Basically what I'm asking is if an internal Capture Card is better quality than a external device.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and I apologise if this is the wrong section to post this in.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[JackDanielZ]

I haven't tried it myself, but everyone I know use the HD PVR2 Gaming edition or the Elgato, I have heard that the HD PVR2 is really awesome.

picture of the connection:

[AaronG]

I know that it will record the 360, but I don't know if it will still record from the original Xbox in high quality. Which is why I asked if anyone knows if it is the best there is, or if there's something else.

[Brad]

I believe the highest quality output from an original Xbox involves modding the console.

If you step down to 480i, the HD PVR 2 can record the Xbox using S-Video and a $15 part: http://store.hauppauge.com/accessories2.asp?product=av_cable_set

[AaronG]

I believe the highest quality output from an original Xbox involves modding the console.

If you step down to 480i, the HD PVR 2 can record the Xbox using S-Video and a $15 part: http://store.hauppauge.com/accessories2.asp?product=av_cable_set

I thought the Xbox had a cap of 1080i as a native resolution? If so, wouldn't it make more sense to get the original HD PVR and record in 720p/1080i? I could be wrong here, but to me that seems more efficient.

[Brad]

The absolute best quality would be uncompressed (and for practical purposes, lossless) captures using an internal PCIe card. You need a fast hard drive to do this, and you run the risk of dropping frames if you try to do other things on the capture machine at the same time.

If you're going to edit your captures or take screenshots, it may make sense to capture using one of these cards. But if you're just going to upload a round of the latest FPS directly to YouTube, don't bother.

I'm not much of a gamer. I had no idea the original Xbox could do 1080i. That makes the Wii even more of a joke. I dug up this list of game resolutions from an old thread elsewhere.

In the HD PVR 2 diagram above, you would plug in the Xbox via component where it says PS3. But note that the HD PVR 2 can't capture 1080i correctly, at least not yet. They finally responded to my Support request today.

[AaronG]

The absolute best quality would be uncompressed (and for practical purposes, lossless) captures using an internal PCIe card. You need a fast hard drive to do this, and you run the risk of dropping frames if you try to do other things on the capture machine at the same time.

If you're going to edit your captures or take screenshots, it may make sense to capture using one of these cards. But if you're just going to upload a round of the latest FPS directly to YouTube, don't bother.

I'm not much of a gamer. I had no idea the original Xbox could do 1080i. That makes the Wii even more of a joke. I dug up this list of game resolutions from an old thread elsewhere.

In the HD PVR 2 diagram above, you would plug in the Xbox via component where it says PS3. But note that the HD PVR 2 can't capture 1080i correctly, at least not yet. They finally responded to my Support request today.

That is a most informative post. I appreciate that.

An internal capture card in a PCIe slot would be impossible since my computer is more than a few years old and my Motherboard is, well, dated. But that information is very helpful for when I finally get a new computer. The HD PVR1 can record 720p and 1080i, so would that be the best option for me at this point? I don't see myself updating my computer until 2014 at the earliest.

Appreciate all the help you've been.

[Brad]

The downside to the HD PVR 1 is no HDMI input. So you lose a bit of quality in digital -> analog -> digital conversion, and you have to swap out the cables any time you want to switch from 360 to original.

[yoda313]

But the upside of the hdpvr 1 is it has fiber optic in which the hd pvr 2 does not. That means no 5.1 sound recording from a ps3 since you can't use the hdmi from the ps3. That would be a reason to go with the hdpvr if you are also using a ps3.

As for the original xbox games question the original xbox was maxed at 480p if I remember correctly. That is what you would capture at with the hdpvr (either edition).

Hope that helps.

[AaronG]

Thanks both of you for helping me out.

Also, isn't 720p HD? 'Cause the PVR1 can record that from both the 360 and PS3, couldn't it? If not I'm more behind on tech than I thought, heh.

Thanks again for helping me out more than you know.

[yoda313]

720p is part of the hd world. Though 1080i/p is more hd sort of (the 1080p is what is touted as "full hd" when you see the lingo on hdtv and bluray players).

But yes the hd pvr 1 can do 720p and 1080i but not 1080p. You'll have to make sure your console is set to 720p or 1080i before dubbing or the hdpvr won't see anything.

[Brad]

But the upside of the hdpvr 1 is it has fiber optic in which the hd pvr 2 does not.

As I just learned today in the General forum, "proper" version of the HD PVR 2 that was released this year does have 5.1 support while the original Gaming Edition of it from last year does not.

Also I forgot that the HD PVR 2 flavours can do 1080p (decimated to 30 fps). Whether that makes a difference depends on the native resolution of the game engine. I think most are still sub-720p on consoles.

[yoda313]

As I just learned today in the General forum, "proper" version of the HD PVR 2 that was released this year does have 5.1 support while the original Gaming Edition of it from last year does not.

Actually my point was about the fiber optic input. From what I can tell that option is no longer available on the newer hdpvr 2 models.

[Brad]

All of the HD PVR models that support 5.1 have an optical input.

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr2.html

[yoda313]

All of the HD PVR models that support 5.1 have an optical input.

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr2.html

Thank you. I did not know that.

When I saw the pics on the amazon website I did not see a fiber optic port. I must not have looked closely enough.

That is good that it is not phased out.