Capturing Xbox 360 using VGA

[bigboss50]

Is it possible for me to capture my xbox 360 if I connect it via VGA to my GPU and then my GPU to monitor using DVI. If not what are cheapest alternatives?
Thanks

[edDV]

NO. VGA capture is not supported by a GPU.

There are inexpensive solutions for SD capture.

For HD resolutions, an alternative is the Hauppauge HD-PVR. See demos on YouTube. You will need to use an analog component loop to an HDTV for gaming.

[bigboss50]

thanks, can you detail the inexpensive SD solutions and would I still be able to play in HD through my VGA and monitor?
Thank you

[neomaine]

Is it possible for me to capture my xbox 360 if I connect it via VGA to my GPU and then my GPU to monitor using DVI. If not what are cheapest alternatives?
Thanks

What is your complete system specs? What you have now isn't much to go on. What is your experience with capturing video?

[edDV]

thanks, can you detail the inexpensive SD solutions and would I still be able to play in HD through my VGA and monitor?
Thank you

No, the XBox will not output HD and SD at the same time so for the SD option you need to play games in SD. You would need to use the composite output cable to a TV for watching and capture SD at the computer.

[neomaine]

The 360 component/composite cable will output both at the same time.

[edDV]

The 360 component/composite cable will output both at the same time.

In SD yes.

Or are you saying a model of XBox360 will output HD on component and SD on composite?

[neomaine]

Yes, I'm saying the combination component/composite cable will output on both. Its not what the OP was directly looking for, but just wanted to clarify that there's at least one native way to watch/play in HD and SD simultaneously.

[edDV]

Yes, I'm saying the combination component/composite cable will output on both. Its not what the OP was directly looking for, but just wanted to clarify that there's at least one native way to watch/play in HD and SD simultaneously.

Which model XBox360 do you have? Others have reported this doesn't work.

[neomaine]

It was with the original 360 that came out. We've been using an Elite the past few years since the original had (surprise) the RROD, and so, been using HDMI since. My son uses the Black Magic Intensity Pro for captures now. Actually the BMIP has a tail for analog captures which include component. If I find some time this weekend I'll see if it still works and verify if its HD or not.

[bigboss50]

well if its not HD play and SD capture I won't be doing it. Anyway I hope you're right neomaine.
btw my computer specs are Intel Celeron E1400 @ 2.0GHz, 2GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4600 all running on Windows 7

[DaOneEnOnly]

well if its not HD play and SD capture I won't be doing it. Anyway I hope you're right neomaine.
btw my computer specs are Intel Celeron E1400 @ 2.0GHz, 2GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4600 all running on Windows 7

I'm trying to do the same thing as you, HD play SD record. I was going to do a VGA to a powered VGA splitter then from the splitter to the monitor and my SD recording device. However, I'll need to down convert my HD VGA resolution to SD using a converter. My native res is (1680x1050) the problem you'll encounter here is that there aren't any (save maybe one) that can do 1680x1050 to SD down conversion. Then at that point you're running around $100 in converters plus if you don't already have a SD recorder you'll need one of those which will cost at least another $100. At which point you're up to the price of some HD recording (Black Magic Intensity capture card $200 or so) options. I'm not sure how you'd setup a capture card, I personally would do a VGA split again before sending a signal to my computer. (Because going into and out of computer will have lag for sure)

edit:
However, if you have a lower native resolution than mine you should be able to find a VGA to SD converter that will work. However the whole thing is anything but cheap.

[edDV]

well if its not HD play and SD capture I won't be doing it. Anyway I hope you're right neomaine.
btw my computer specs are Intel Celeron E1400 @ 2.0GHz, 2GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4600 all running on Windows 7

I'm trying to do the same thing as you, HD play SD record. I was going to do a VGA to a powered VGA splitter then from the splitter to the monitor and my SD recording device. However, I'll need to down convert my HD VGA resolution to SD using a converter. My native res is (1680x1050) the problem you'll encounter here is that there aren't any (save maybe one) that can do 1680x1050 to SD down conversion. Then at that point you're running around $100 in converters plus if you don't already have a SD recorder you'll need one of those which will cost at least another $100. At which point you're up to the price of some HD recording (Black Magic Intensity capture card $200 or so) options. I'm not sure how you'd setup a capture card, I personally would do a VGA split again before sending a signal to my computer. (Because going into and out of computer will have lag for sure)

edit:
However, if you have a lower native resolution than mine you should be able to find a VGA to SD converter that will work. However the whole thing is anything but cheap.

And the S-Video conversion will be lower quality than 640x480.

[DaOneEnOnly]

And the S-Video conversion will be lower quality than 640x480.

What? 640x480i? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video The goal is to play in HD using a monitor (via VGA cable) and rec for a reasonable price, so SD is fine, and do all of this without causing the video to have a 'lag-time'.


Anyway I figured out how to do it:

Recording-an-Xbox-360-using-VGA-without-inducing-lag
The above topic will be updated if anything changes. can't guarantee this one....

Summary:

UPDATE: I figured out how to do it and how to do it economically. It'll cost you ~ $35

This is assuming that you have a SD recording device. (as this is my situation as outlined above) If you don't then you can pick up a Dazzle Capture Card, which seems to be the most popular SD recording device, for around $80. You can explore other SD recording options yourself if you wish.

So from my situation:
I'm going to pickup a Grandtec PC-to-Video EZ (GEZ-1000) from Amazon (click here to see price) for ~ $35. So the hook-up will go VGA from Xbox 360 -> GEZ-1000 -> monitor
GEZ-1000 -> SD recording device

Since the GEZ-1000 has a VGA pass through this is possible. Here a link to a (crappy) youtube video of the setup. The important take away from this video is that in the comments he claims it causes no 'lag'. I will have the final say on that, but even if it does its easily fixed using a VGA splitter (~$30).

This will not get you up to the ultra-high resolutions as the maximum supported resolution is 1280x1024. This still considered 'hi-def' unfortunately not the 'highest-def'. This means that you'll have to have your xbox set to 1280x1024 under the display settings in order to record. While not ideal, I've decided that the trade off is exceptable; you can't notice the difference that much (but it is noticeable) and for the money it's worth it. I won't be recording all the time, and when I'm not I can play in 1680x1050 if I want to by just connecting directly to the monitor.

There are a couple other options, but none that would allow you to save by avoiding the cost of a VGA splitter.

I will update this thread when I get the parts and set them up if I need be.

[edDV]

And the S-Video conversion will be lower quality than 640x480.

What? 640x480i? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video The goal is to play in HD using a monitor (via VGA cable) and rec for a reasonable price, so SD is fine, and do all of this without causing the video to have a 'lag-time'.

S-Video is interlace PAL (576 lines, 25 fps) or NTSC (480 lines, 29.97 fps).

VGA is progressive analog RGB at various resolutions so let's say 1280x1024 at 60Hz. A typical display card will use the RAMDAC to output the selected resolution to the DB15 connector and will downscale a 640x480 output to the NTSC encoder. Then it will interlace to 480i for Y luminance and and encode an NTSC subcarrier for C. The U and V resolution will be in the 1 MHz range or about 80x480 each. This is why S-Video from a display card looks so crappy for game or computer display.

A VGA to S-Video converter box can go the high road or the low road. The low road would use a cheap A/D and similar RAMDAC components used for display cards. These are very cheap. A high end converter would use a quality A/D on each of RGB, three 1280x1024 memories, high quality H and V scalers to allow up to ~854x480 for wide NTSC or 1024x576 for wide PAL luminance. Then they would interlace and encode an NTSC or PAL subcarrier still with under 1.5 MHz U and V (~120x480 at best) C resolution.