Standalone HD DVR that's easy to transfer to PC?

[Sephiroth666]

I'm wondering if there's some kind of DVR I can get to easily capture video footage as I game/watch TV in HD and be able to transfer it to PC when the need occurs. I don't run windows unless I absolutely have to, and I've never been fond of actual video capture devices (nor do I like wasting PCI Express slots). I'd like a standalone device that records whatever it's fed (even DVDs) and can be transferred to PC easily by ethernet, USB, pulling the HDD and hooking it up directly, etc. The other point being not tying up my computer constantly while capturing the video, but rather to just copy over a few gigs of whatever I need at the time.

[jagabo]

See the Avermedia Live Gamer Portable:

http://www.amazon.com/AVerMedia-Portable-Capture-Xbox360-60Mbps/dp/B00B2IZ3B0/

But beware, most HDMI sources require HDCP encryption (like cable boxes, satellite boxes, the PS3, Blu-ray players, upscaling DVD players, etc). HDMI capture devices won't record HDCP encrypted content. You will need a HDCP stripper -- which can't be legally sold in the USA. Or, at least, they can't be legally advertized as HDCP strippers. But this device (and its 1x4 and 1x8 brothers) will do the job:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-520-splitter-switcher-XBOX360/dp/B0089DSLMY/

[usually_quiet]

I'm wondering if there's some kind of DVR I can get to easily capture video footage as I game/watch TV in HD and be able to transfer it to PC when the need occurs. I don't run windows unless I absolutely have to, and I've never been fond of actual video capture devices (nor do I like wasting PCI Express slots). I'd like a standalone device that records whatever it's fed (even DVDs) and can be transferred to PC easily by ethernet, USB, pulling the HDD and hooking it up directly, etc. The other point being not tying up my computer constantly while capturing the video, but rather to just copy over a few gigs of whatever I need at the time.

Such stand-alone devices do not exist in N. America. There are some HD DVRs that will record HDTV from cable/satellite and others that record HDTV via antenna, but they don't have HDMI or analog inputs. They also do not allow recording to disc or USB video transfer to a computer and they encrypt recordings stored on their hard drive.

I know there is at least one more stand-alone HD game capture device, the AVerMedia Game Capture HD, which records from analog component video to a hard drive, but some users are dissatisfied with the quality of its recordings. You might be able to use it for recording HDTV from an HD cablebox or HD satellite receiver too, but you can only operate it manually.

I forgot there is a similar device for recording TV that does allow timed recordings: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100149

[Sephiroth666]

Interesting. So what exists in other parts of the world? I import every bloody thing else. I even imported a japanese Xbox360 last month.

[usually_quiet]

Interesting. So what exists in other parts of the world? I import every bloody thing else. I even imported a japanese Xbox360 last month.

Blu-Ray recorders if you want to record to optical media, but good luck finding one that will work here for what you want to do. Blu ray recorders sold in N. America are tools for professional videography and will only work for recording standard definition analog input, SD cards, and a camera's Firewire or USB connection. Blu-ray recorders sold elsewhere for recording TV only record the output from their TV tuner, and the tuners are for the DVB or ISDB DTV systems rather than ATSC/QAM DTV system used in N. America.

If you want to look on your own, try S. Korea. They are about the only country outside N. America that uses a similar TV system to ours.