Capturing HD From Another Computer's HDMI Out

[brandondrury]

Hello,

I'm looking to create HD tutorials of Cubase, an audio recording program.

I keep my recording computer squeaky clean and really do not want to even attempt to install any software on it. (Audio engineering is my day gig.) I'd much prefer to have a dedicated video computer that I would use to capture the HDMI out from that computer using something along the lines of the Blackmagic Intensity or equivalent.

The demands of audio mixing put high demands on the recording computer anyway.

Has anyone had any problems capturing the HDMI out from a computer's video card? I've heard horror stories of HDMI protection schemes and figured I'd ask first.

Thanks!
Brandon Drury

[usually_quiet]

I don't have any personal experience with recording HD video via HDMI, but my present understanding is that if the music and video to be output by the video card are not copy protected in a way that requires HDCP to be applied, a computer will not apply HDCP.

[brandondrury]

Thanks! That makes me feel a whole lot better. I've done some research and determined that there are gadgets around (possibly on the naughty side of the fence) that will change HDMI "permissions". I'm not doing anything illegal. I just want to make tutorials, but I may have to pursue such routes. Hopefully, you are right and I won't have to.

Brandon

[yoda313]

Wouldn't screen recorders be a better route for you? I don't know if any do "high def" but you should be able to get very good resolution out of these. I'd try that first.

[brandondrury]

Are you referring to hardware devices or screen capture software?

I'm trying hard to avoid screen capture software. A common mix may have 40 tracks of wav files (sometimes as much as 70) and be using a large majority of my CPU power. I'm not sure how much oomph would be left for gliche-free video capture of a 1080p screen.

I'd be up for looking at hardware devices if I could easily export the file to my video computer and edit it in Premiere.

Brandon

[yoda313]

Yes I was referring to software.

I don't know what impact heavy cpu use would have on it.

[brandondrury]

The CPU issue can often be worked around. It'll be a pain, but I can get around it. I'm more concerned with the total motherboard bandwidth. Snagging data for 40+ wav files AND capturing at 1080p can get taxing even if I toss in a new hard drive for the capturing.

I think I may just chance it and hope I can capture straight from a video card.

[mufunyo]

What's your budget? The Datapath VisionRGB-E1 goes for around $1000 and can capture VGA, DVI or HDMI up to 1920x1200.

[unclebud]

The new Hauppauge Colossus HD-PVR has HDMI capture for non HDCP content. They say its for use with cameras with HDMI.
It's an internal capture card for a desktop.
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_colossus.html

[lacywest]

Has the USB version been canceled ... ??

Oops ... never mind ... I see it is still there ... under the external category ...

[handyguy]

Play it on your computer, record your computer screen with your video on your digital camera

[brandondrury]

What's your budget? The Datapath VisionRGB-E1 goes for around $1000 and can capture VGA, DVI or HDMI up to 1920x1200.

That doesn't tell me how deals with HDCP. My budget is really whatever it needs to be. I'm willing to pay more if I have to, but I'd certainly prefer for this to cause as little damage to my wallet as possible.

The new Hauppauge Colossus HD-PVR has HDMI capture for non HDCP content. They say its for use with cameras with HDMI.
It's an internal capture card for a desktop.
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/produc..._colossus.html

Cool. Thanks. I'll look into that for sure.

[jagabo]

What's your budget? The Datapath VisionRGB-E1 goes for around $1000 and can capture VGA, DVI or HDMI up to 1920x1200.

That doesn't tell me how deals with HDCP.

http://www.datapath.co.uk/visionrgbE1.html

HDCP not supported

If you need to capture HDCP content, get the Avermedia HD DVR and use the old driver with the HDCP loophole.

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/332189-HDCP-compliant-HDMI-capture-card?p=2059193&v...=1#post2059193

[brandondrury]

http://www.datapath.co.uk/visionrgbE1.html

Ah, but that does. Thanks, I wasn't sure if you were just spamming the thread if what you were saying was useful.

2 HDCP not supported

I assume this means that it ignores all HDCP protection.

This HDCP business gets a bit complicated. It seems that HDCP can be limiting (me not being able to capture the HDMI stream) but not having it can be limiting (me not being able to capture the HDMI stream). I can't figure out if I need a video card wtih HDCP in some special mode with "privileges" (if that's even possible) or if I need a video card with no HDCP at all.

I went ahead and rolled the dice on a Blackmagic Intensity. So we'll see what happens. If I need to escalate, I know there are better options out there.

Thanks guys,
Brandon

[mufunyo]

None of the capture cards support HDCP, and you will only ever encounter HDCP when trying to record your media player playing back a BluRay -- HDCP is switched off in all other cases, even if the graphics card says HDCP on the box. I'll mention that the Intensity is an excellent VIDEO capture card, not so much a COMPUTER capture card. If you want to capture your computer output with an Intensity, you will need to use a HDTV resolution instead of a PC resolution, so instead of for instance 1024x768@60Hz or 1920x1200@60Hz you will need a specific resolution like 1280x720@59.94Hz. In the case of the Intensity, you are also limited to interlaced mode for 1920x1080, further complicating matters if you want high-res video. So-called "frame grabbers" like the VisionRGB are specifically designed for PC output and support progressive output at any resolution at any framerate (as long as it's below the max spec) so you are likely to run into less hassle there. If you consider yourself tech-savvy and want to save the money then I would still go for the Intensity though.

[Brad]

None of the capture cards support HDCP

Sigh.. AVerTV HD DVR. What you say about resolutions is absolutely true however.

[brandondrury]

you will only ever encounter HDCP when trying to record your media player playing back a BluRay -- HDCP is switched off in all other cases, even if the graphics card says HDCP on the box.

Great! I was fully assuming that all computer functions would be protected. I'm surprised any thought actually went into this based on previous DRM cluster messes.

So-called "frame grabbers" like the VisionRGB are specifically designed for PC output and support progressive output at any resolution at any framerate (as long as it's below the max spec) so you are likely to run into less hassle there.

Ah ha! "Frame grabbers" is the keyword I was missing. Thanks a ton for that!

If you consider yourself tech-savvy and want to save the money then I would still go for the Intensity though.

Yeah, I watch planet documentaries for fun so that makes me qualified. We'll see. This interlacing business is interesting and so the Intensity may be the wrong choice for me. I'm assuming that this video capture vs frame grabbing is kinda sorta similar to jpeg vs gif.

Brandon

[jagabo]

2 HDCP not supported

I assume this means that it ignores all HDCP protection.

I take it to mean the device does not have the ability to decode an HDCP encrypted data stream and does not include a public encryption key with which to negotiate the HDCP handshake. Meaning any device that requires an HDCP protected path (Blu-ray player, cable box, satellite box, etc.) will not send a video signal to it.

Normal Desktop activity and game play on a computer do not require HDCP protected output. Only certain software, like Cyberlink's Blu-ray player, will require the HDCP handshake.

[yoda313]

game play on a computer

I don't mean to go too off topic but is that necessarily true in all cases? I know that ps3 games require hdcp for full 1080p output. I just checked my copy of Final Fantasy 13 and it says it requires hdcp for 1080p.

Have any pc games started implementing this?

I know its not directly related to the posters question but frankly I'm curious myself on the pc side if the ps3 has already done this.

[jagabo]

game play on a computer

I don't mean to go too off topic but is that necessarily true in all cases? I know that ps3 games require hdcp for full 1080p output. I just checked my copy of Final Fantasy 13 and it says it requires hdcp for 1080p.

Have any pc games started implementing this?

I'm not aware of any PC games that require HDCP. But it's possible there are some.

[yoda313]

Thanks jagabo. Just thought I'd bring it up.