1080p60 Capture Card Recommendations

[TheThrillness]

How much CPU do you need to compress 250 MB/s (uncompressed 1920x1080 YUY2) down to something small enough to save to a hard drive that can write about 100 MB/s? And what codecs? UT Video Codec? Lagarith? Multithreaded HuffYUV?

I wrote a blog post about this: http://www.thethrillness.com/2014/01/1080p60-lossless-capture.html

[Brad]

Someone reliable has told me that the ExtremeCap U3 incorrectly records everything at 1080p60.00 despite being set to 1080p59.94 and being fed a 59.94 signal. I wonder if the extra duplicate frames can be easily excised with Avisynth.

This is similar to the problem with a previous AVerMedia model, the C127 PCIe card, which recorded 59.94 fps sources at 1080p30.00. (No one else cared.)

[jagabo]

Someone reliable has told me that the ExtremeCap U3 incorrectly records everything at 1080p60.00 despite being set to 1080p59.94 and being fed a 59.94 signal. I wonder if the extra duplicate frames can be easily excised with Avisynth.

You can certainly remove a random frame out of every 1001. But I doubt you can reliably locate and remove the specific duplicate frame caused by the wrong frame rate.

[vhelp]

or you can probably use avisynth's AssumeFps(59.94) if the plan is to rencode.

[Brad]

The dupe will be 100% identical with YCbCr input, at least.

TDecimate with sdlim=1000?

[jagabo]

The dupe will be 100% identical with YCbCr input, at least.

Nothing is ever 100 percent identical with analog input. And with film based material there will be many many duplicate frames. With games there will be duplicate frames any time the rendering frame rate drops below 60 fps.

TDecimate with sdlim=1000?

I don't think TDecimate will work with cycles that large. Maybe with 2 pass decimation? You can test this for yourself by making a video with a duplicate frame every 1000 frames.

or you can probably use avisynth's AssumeFps(59.94) if the plan is to rencode.

You'll still have a jerk from the duplicate frame. And you'll have to adjust the audio length.

<edit>

I just checked. TDecimate will work with 1001 frame cycles. At least with small frames:

ColorBars() #640x480
AssumeFPS(60000,1001) # 59.94 fps
ConvertToYV12() # for TDecimate later
ShowFrameNumber() # unique frame number on each frame
ChangeFPS(60) # duplicate 1 frame every 1000
TDecimate(cycle=1000, cycleR=1) # locate and remove the duplicate

I'll leave it up to someone else to try it with 1920x1080 frames!

[vhelp]

we need an actual sample from the hardware being discussed in order to test these theories. the one mentioned was from another forum board discussion and the samples were removed.

[Brad]

Yes, it would be nice. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get this guy to send a sample along.

The dupe will be 100% identical with YCbCr input, at least.

Nothing is ever 100 percent identical with analog input.

YCbCr is digital! I was talking about HDMI captures. I'm unsure about whether it would be a 100% dupe with an RGB source since the two AVerMedia cards that I have add dithering.

[djlerman]

Figured I'd just add to this thread as I'm looking for the cheapest capture card that can record 1080p/60fps videos. So far, the potential ones I've found are:

Adlink HDV62 $975.70
Aja KONA 3G $1,995.00
Aja KONA LHi $1,295.00
BlackMagic DeckLink 4K Extreme $945.25
DataPath VisionAV $1,020.00
DataPath VisionDVI-DL $1,464.00
DataPath VisionRGB-E1S $705.00
DataPath VisionRGB-E2S $1,985.00
DataPath VisionSD4+1s
Epiphan DVI2PCIe $999.95
iEi HDC-301 $369.00
iEi HDC-301E $369.00
iEi HDC-302E $708.50
iEi HDC-304E $1,142.90
iEi HDC-401E $447.00
Viewcast Osprey 920e $1,345.99
Skynet MonsterXX
Sinetrones VDB-510N1
Timeleak HD100C

Unfortunately, as I'm looking for recording uncompressed 1080p/60fps so those sub $500 iEi ones don't work for me. Links for any other 1080p/60fps video cards would be greatly helpful.

Is there an update to this list of capture cards?

[ezcapper]

Figured I'd just add to this thread as I'm looking for the cheapest capture card that can record 1080p/60fps videos. So far, the potential ones I've found are:

Adlink HDV62 $975.70
Aja KONA 3G $1,995.00
Aja KONA LHi $1,295.00
BlackMagic DeckLink 4K Extreme $945.25
DataPath VisionAV $1,020.00
DataPath VisionDVI-DL $1,464.00
DataPath VisionRGB-E1S $705.00
DataPath VisionRGB-E2S $1,985.00
DataPath VisionSD4+1s
Epiphan DVI2PCIe $999.95
iEi HDC-301 $369.00
iEi HDC-301E $369.00
iEi HDC-302E $708.50
iEi HDC-304E $1,142.90
iEi HDC-401E $447.00
Viewcast Osprey 920e $1,345.99
Skynet MonsterXX
Sinetrones VDB-510N1
Timeleak HD100C

Unfortunately, as I'm looking for recording uncompressed 1080p/60fps so those sub $500 iEi ones don't work for me. Links for any other 1080p/60fps video cards would be greatly helpful.

Is there an update to this list of capture cards?

There are so many now. They basically fall into 4 categories:

1. Cheap ($130, h264 encoding) Elgato HD60 type: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elgato-Game-Capture-HD60-Xbox-One-360-Playstation-4-PS4-Wii-U-...item3cf9534dd1
2. Mid-Cheap ($160, compatible with hdcp streams) Aver ExtremeCap U3 type: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVerMedia-ExtremeCap-U3-CV710-1080p-60fps-Capture-Uncompressed...item2c9d19e500
3. Middle ($300-$315, linux compatible) Velocap U1 type: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Velocap-U1-HDMI-DVI-1080P60Hz-USB3-2-Video-Capture-Card-Mac-Li...item28022628aa
4. High End ($400-$415, linux compatible, h.265 encoding, doesn't need very fast computer, compatible with hdcp streams)
Shenzhen MINE type:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MPEG-4-AVC-H-264-H265-HDMI-Encoder-Replace-HD-...364544617.html

In the future, look for h265 recording boxes to become available with a usb otg port so a computer is not necessary.

[Cauptain]

New challenger is AVerMedia Live Gamer Extreme (GC550 - $170, Windows Only) - http://www.amazon.com/AVerMedia-Extreme-GC550-Stream-Design/dp/B00Y3U01RU



Capture in 1080p 60fps Uncompressed Video via USB 3.0
HDMI Pass-thru with Ultra-Low Latency
Personalized Cover Image
Audio Mix-In
Support PIP and Live Editing with RECentral V2
Its have full DirecShow drivers and works on Virtualdub, AmarecTv or any DS application.




Claudio

[Brad]

AVerMedia improperly captures 1080p59.94 as 1080p60.00 with duplicate frames.

The StarTech USB3HDCAP offers more versatility (HDMI, DVI, VGA, component, S-Video, composite) for about the same price ($170-185). You do lose out on the HDMI passthrough, but I consider an HDCP-stripping splitter to be a virtual requirement anyway.

Don't consider this a personal endorsement though. I've barely started playing with the thing.

[djlerman]

Does anybody have any knowledge of the iEi HDC 302E?

I can't find any reviews or live video captures online only game captures.

[Zetmor]

Hi.

I bought that AVerMedia Live Gamer Extreme (GC550-LGX) in order to be able to do 60 fps capture of both my games & camera.
I did not manage to make it work: it doesn't work at all on my streaming PC (Z68 chipset with Renesas USB3 ports, on which the ExtremeCap U3 is working just fine). And on my new PC (Z170 chipset with Intel USB3.1 ports) it works sometimes at boot time, but hangs very quickly.
And anyway, you can't just use two AverMedia capture devices on the same system: as soon I connect the other, the first hangs.
So back to my crappy (but working) Elgato Game Capture HD (with its 1.5s delay).

Now, that "issue" with the 59.94 ips issue with AverMedia is a bonus for me, and that's why I'm still using it. The LGX would have allowed me to remove the HDMI splitter, and use my ExtremeCap U3 for the camera (both at 60fps). But anyways. The point is I have games that run at 60 Hz only: I can't force them to 59.94, it's 60.0 Hz and nothing else. So my game capture is at 60 ips. And so, I use the AverMedia for the camera so that it outputs also a clean 60 ips (from my GH4 59.94 signal). In my case, that "issue" with duplicate frames is just a nice solution for my setup.

In the end, I still stream at 30fps, because I use the Elgato Game Capture HD for game capture ... which is only 30ips. Anyways... works.
(it was a real pain to sync the camera & game images & game sound & microphone sound... took me 2 days to sync to the frame)

BTW in case anyone is trying to use also a AverMedia Extreme Cap U3 with an Elgato Game Capture HD at the same time, here are my settings (on Open Broadcaster Software):
AverMedia Extreme Cap U3 used for camera capture (GH4 in 4K mode / HDMI output downscaled to 1080p)
Elgato Game Capture HD used for gaming pc capture (1080p60 image; 30 ips capture)
microphone sound from MOTU audio interface (firewire; latency <1ms)

Timings:
Mic Sync Offset = 1233 ms (to sync the microphone sound with game capture)
Camera buffering = 1066 ms (delay difference between camera & game capture)
Audio Sync on game capture device = 733 ms (to sync game sound with game capture)

With those all is sync to the same frame, under 10ms (both images / both sound streams).
(which, in the end, is even better than the live display: the final stream is better synced what I have in my headphones, hehe ...)

[Cauptain]

Very nice infos Zetmor.

I dislike ANY USB Capture card. No way.

My recommendation to capture 1080p@60 is Intensity Pro 4K.





Claudio

[sakra]

Where the hell is the download for the USB 3.0 Diagnosis Tool? Having it included with the device is nice and all, but sort of pointless if I can't check whether my motherboard is compatible before purchase.

Found on AVerMedia @AVerMediaGZ twitter:

@AVerMediaGZ also, is there a download. for the diagnosis tool for the USB 3.0 compatibility? Or would I have to open the box to do that?

@LBPNATION You can go to http://gamerzone.avermedia.com , go to downloads then Extreme Cap U3 and download that ver of REcentral. It's built in.

And the direct URLs are (if permitted here):
http://gamerzone.avermedia.com/support/download/extremecap_u3#application_and_driver
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avermedia/web_release_www/C877/CV710_RECentral_1.3....3_20151210.exe

Also I see here older bundle for w8.1 (also beta):
http://gamerzone.avermedia.com/support/download/extremecap_u3#recentral_beta
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avermedia/web_release_www/Beta/RECentral_13112102_7...31202_beta.zip

[Brad]

That was a random bump, but thank you.

Looking at the Mac user manual for the software confirms that the tool cannot be used to check whether one's motherboard is compatible before buying the device.

Connect your capture box to the USB 3.0 port.

Looking at the Windows user manual, it appears they have removed the option altogether.