Question / Help Looking to Add Capture Card For Live Video

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eldiablo

Member
I have A normal setup for streaming to twitch.
OBS + Game Capture via OBS + Some overlays via OBS

I am wanting to install a Black Magic Decklink capture card to cap the live shot of my Sony NEX-VG30H and then overlay that source onto my OBS scene.

Is this possible?

Am I looking at the correct hardware for this?

I am using a Microsoft HD-5000 USB webcam and it works alright - but would like to use a real video camera for my video capture device via capture card
 
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Jack0r

Jack0r

The Helping Squad
Hmm the Camera is awesome, but I am not totally sure you will be as happy with a Black Magic device. To my experience they can be a bit finicky when it comes to accepting inputs. For example if you set them to 60fps/hz but input 59.97 you will get a black screen. Devices from other manufacturers seem to be a bit more flexible.
In general, when their devices work they are great though and solid.
 
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eldiablo

Member
Thanks for the prompt reply, Jack0r!
I am going to be live streaming in 720p @ 60fps.
I will also have my NEX cam set to these settings as well.

But I see your point.
Is there a capture card you would recommend for this type of application?

EDIT: Thanks for the compliment on my cam! It is an amazing piece of gear. Here is the first bit of footage I shot with it. (not the best shot and I was still playing with settings but HEY! 3m views!) http://youtu.be/5SwQLjRBRXs
 
Boildown

Boildown

Active Member
It looks like that camera outputs HDMI at 1080p60 at best. Are you sure it has other output formats (I wasn't going to download the manual to find out myself)? If you can run the camera at 720p60 and won't use 1080p60, then one of the Avermedia capture cards should be fine.

If you want to capture 1080p60, then your options are more limited, since a lot few capture cards can manage that, as its more than a PCIe 1x slot can handle. There are some USB3.0 capture devices that can work, but I personally like the Datapath VisionRGB-E1S, which can occasionally be found on Ebay in the $200-$300 range. Datapath cards are notable for being extremely flexible in what input signals they'll accept. They basically are able to adapt to any resolution and framerate, as long as it don't go over their datarate. Downside is that it requires a PCIe 4x (or better) slot available.
 
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eldiablo

Member
Boildown said:
It looks like that camera outputs HDMI at 1080p60 at best. Are you sure it has other output formats (I wasn't going to download the manual to find out myself)? If you can run the camera at 720p60 and won't use 1080p60, then one of the Avermedia capture cards should be fine.

If you want to capture 1080p60, then your options are more limited, since a lot few capture cards can manage that, as its more than a PCIe 1x slot can handle. There are some USB3.0 capture devices that can work, but I personally like the Datapath VisionRGB-E1S, which can occasionally be found on Ebay in the $200-$300 range. Datapath cards are notable for being extremely flexible in what input signals they'll accept. They basically are able to adapt to any resolution and framerate, as long as it don't go over their datarate. Downside is that it requires a PCIe 4x (or better) slot available.
Click to expand...


Aw great information! I am able to shoot in 720p @ 60fps with my NEX cam. I will be looking into the Avermedia line.I am looking at this one atm http://solutions.avermedia.com/?q=en/products/capture-cards/hd/darkcrystal-hd-capture-sdk-ll
Would you have a specific cap card in mind? I would like to keep it in the PCI form factor but not opposed to USB 3.0

Thanks again for all your great and insightful replies!
 
Boildown

Boildown

Active Member
I'm unfamiliar with that Dark Crystal line of products, looks interesting though.

The Live Gamer HD, Live Gamer HD Lite, and Game Broadcaster HD can all do 720p60 over HDMI as I recall. The latter is only $120 and is a popular choice, and all these need only a PCIe 1x. I've used the Live Gamer HD personally and it was a good card, the downside is that at 1080p resolution its limited to 30 fps... it can see 60fps, but it drops every other frame to reduce it to 30fps so it will fit over the PCIe 1x bus. 720p60 however is not a problem.
 
Jack0r

Jack0r

The Helping Squad
Oh the darkcrystal would limit you to 1080p30 or 60i. In that range the Avermedia Game Broadcaster HD (c127) or Avermedia Live Gamer HD (C985) would also be interesting. They allow you to input 1080p60 but record it at 30.

A pretty good device would be the Micomsoft SC-512N1 which is apparently also available as a DVP-7012HE from Advantech (http://www.thethrillness.com/2014/01/micomsoft-sc-512n1-ldvi-capture-card.html) but at that price range, if you could get a Datapath card from ebay, that wouldnt be bad either. Or you stick to the Decklink and accept a bit of work to find the right settings in some cases. (It could of course just run flawless, but as mentioned, the Black Magic devices want to get exact inputs as set in their driver, while other manufacturers seem to be a bit more flexible)
For USB devices I can probably only recommend the Micomsoft XCapture-1.
 
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eldiablo

Member
I have done the research and consulted the gods of OBS (you guys) and have decided on the Avermedia C985.
I am ordering a card today and will report back on my experience.

Thanks again for the assistance!

OBS has been a great piece of software and the community, so far lol, has been more than friendly.
 
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eldiablo

Member
my apologies @unseeingeye for the late reply. I have been going pretty hard with my stream lately.
I have been using the crap out of my C985 and I can say 9/10.

I have it running on a dedicated capture PC and it has lived up to its name.
Definitely a great buy.
I don't use any of the crazy software it comes with or the giant red button. (which is cool..but just not viable for my setup)

I will say, it does not do well with capture of an actual video camera source.
Initially, I had it set to capture my sony NEX Handy cam but the results were bleh. (fps and quality was fine, color was off) It could just be my type of camera - idk.

But, if using to screen cap, it is an excellent piece of gear.
Would recommend.
 
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