Question / Help DSLR/Compact → HDMI-out → OBS = 1h Livestream?

M

Moowgliie

New Member
Hi, newbie here.

I want to create a high-quality livestream. The planned stream has a duration of 1 hour (minimum). I want to use a camera, either a DSLR (e.g. Sony a5000) or a Compact camera (e.g. Sony RX100). Therefore, the camera has to be able to charge while in use.

Here is my question: Can I use ANY camera with the HDMI-output feature as a camera for livestreaming via OBS? What hardware do I need - just a HDMI-cable?


Thank you,
Moowgliie
 
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B

Bamse

Member
you will need a capture card that will take HDMI with specs that matches what the camera outputs ... and a cable :)
 
M

Moowgliie

New Member
What is the cheapest and best external capture device (for laptop) you can recommend? It only needs to capture 30 fps.
 
Harold

Harold

Active Member
The Elgato USB devices are USB 2.0 devices and plagued with MASSIVE amounts of problems.

The Startech (specifically the model I specified) is USB 3.0 and is built on a known to be good chipset based on an existing brand that performs well (micromsoft)
 
M

Moowgliie

New Member
Harold said:
The Elgato USB devices are USB 2.0 devices and plagued with MASSIVE amounts of problems.

The Startech (specifically the model I specified) is USB 3.0 and is built on a known to be good chipset based on an existing brand that performs well (micromsoft)
Click to expand...
Besides the massive problems, how does USB 2.0 affect quality? Lower bitrate?
 
FerretBomb

FerretBomb

Active Member
The "massive problems" with Elgato USB devices are a 1.5-2 second capture delay, mostly. As full-frame 1080p@30 video will not fit over a USB 2.0 connection, the device has to pre-compress the video, then de-compress the video on the machine, which causes a big capture delay, and then more issues with trying to sync your mic audio back up with the camera's video if you aren't using audio from the cam (and likely shouldn't be, given the state of most DSLR internal mics).

That said, the USB3HDCAP, or original XCAPTURE-1 would be preferable, as Harold noted. That or a non-laptop and internal capture device if at all possible, as streaming from a laptop can have a number of down sides, or not work at all (in the case of AMD Switchable Graphics laptops).

When it comes to capture devices, 'you get what you pay for' is extremely true. I've heard good things about Magewell, but they're a relative newcomer to the scene, so even with generally positive reviews from owners, are a bit of an unknown quantity.
 
M

Moowgliie

New Member
FerretBomb said:
The "massive problems" with Elgato USB devices are a 1.5-2 second capture delay, mostly. As full-frame 1080p@30 video will not fit over a USB 2.0 connection, the device has to pre-compress the video, then de-compress the video on the machine, which causes a big capture delay, and then more issues with trying to sync your mic audio back up with the camera's video if you aren't using audio from the cam (and likely shouldn't be, given the state of most DSLR internal mics).

That said, the USB3HDCAP, or original XCAPTURE-1 would be preferable, as Harold noted. That or a non-laptop and internal capture device if at all possible, as streaming from a laptop can have a number of down sides, or not work at all (in the case of AMD Switchable Graphics laptops).

When it comes to capture devices, 'you get what you pay for' is extremely true. I've heard good things about Magewell, but they're a relative newcomer to the scene, so even with generally positive reviews from owners, are a bit of an unknown quantity.
Click to expand...

Great answer, thank you so much. I am considering the Startech. I guess it would be possible to resync the audio using OBS, but I'd rather have the most raw and uncompressed image possible, in case I am going to upgrade the camera. I will be using an external mic, btw.
 
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