Possible to record stuff onto a laptop?

je11693 · 1 Jan 2022 at 16:47

Hi everyone,

Is it possible to record several hours of footage directly onto a laptop? The thing I need to record is a tabletop board game and I need to be able to pause and restart the recording throughout the game, and then edit it afterwards - I have editing software on my PC, but I need to be able to actually record the gameplay in another room e.g. could I connect a webcam or some other type of camera to a laptop and the footage would automatically save onto the laptop's memory? I can't use my phone as the camera is broken on it. I have a clip on microphone too which I would like to be able to plug into the laptop/camera to record the audio.

If so, are there any cheap laptops/cameras that you could recommend that would give a reasonably good quality video? (ideally in the <£200-£230 range)

Many thanks in advance.

Donnie Fisher · 2 Jan 2022 at 08:06

Buy a camcorder and plug the mic into it. Will run off mains, fill it with a big memory card and it should be fine. Then once captured and complete transfer into the laptop.

StarShock · 2 Jan 2022 at 08:43

Obs can do that. Its free, it can handle multiple sources and scenes, and even be set up to be controlled remotely from a phone

je11693 · 2 Jan 2022 at 11:56

StarShock said:
Obs can do that. Its free, it can handle multiple sources and scenes, and even be set up to be controlled remotely from a phone

But I would need a laptop and webcam for that? I was hoping there would be something in the sub-£200 range?

je11693 · 2 Jan 2022 at 11:58

I kind of n

Donnie Fisher said:
Buy a camcorder and plug the mic into it. Will run off mains, fill it with a big memory card and it should be fine. Then once captured and complete transfer into the laptop.

I kind of need a laptop so I thought it might be better to get one rather than having to buy both a camcorder and a laptop? I had been using my phone and plugging the mic into that and even had a remote shutter and micro SD card inserted into the phone, but the camera on my phone doesn't work anymore so trying to find the best solution..

Donnie Fisher · 3 Jan 2022 at 08:23

Ah, sorry, didn’t realise you didn’t have the laptop. Re read and see that now.

Why not fix your phone as that worked for you before and wouldn’t be that expensive to do, freeing up money to get a laptop.

je11693 · 3 Jan 2022 at 12:28

Donnie Fisher said:
Ah, sorry, didn’t realise you didn’t have the laptop. Re read and see that now.

Why not fix your phone as that worked for you before and wouldn’t be that expensive to do, freeing up money to get a laptop.

The camera on my phone works for short periods (keeps cutting out when I try to film longer periods of time), however what I want to record is multi-hour usually (tabletop game), and I don't need the camera on my phone but do need a laptop, so my thinking was why bother fixing the camera since I don't actually need it, and instead just get a cheap laptop/webcam which can do the job and allow me to do other stuff like web browsing, email, etc. I just wasn't sure if it was possible to hook up a webcam to a laptop and record directly onto the laptop's hard drive, and if it is possible then can I pause the recording and restart it etc. The ones I was looking at were the HP Stream 11 (64GB eMMC storage) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i (also 64GB eMMC). I have no idea about laptops as I haven't had one in years so thought I should ask for advice here..

MagicBoy · 3 Jan 2022 at 12:35

Camera on your phone will likely blow the webcams on those laptops away for quality. You'll be struggling for storage space on something with only 64GB if recording hours of footage, as Windows/preloaded crap will use most of that.

je11693 · 3 Jan 2022 at 12:53

MagicBoy said:
Camera on your phone will likely blow the webcams on those laptops away for quality. You'll be struggling for storage space on something with only 64GB if recording hours of footage, as Windows/preloaded crap will use most of that.

Yeah I was thinking of getting a 4k external webcam and plugging it in. And then using a 64GB microSD card in the laptop. I used to use the microSD card when I used to record on the phone and it was plenty of space. Interesting point about the space required for Windows - I think the additional 64GB from the SD card would be enough, but I assume the Chromebook one wouldn't need the Windows storage?

MagicBoy · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:10

Relative had an HP Stream with only 32GB storage, that didn't even have enough free space to update Windows - had to plug in an external hard drive.
MicroSD would solve your issue assuming the card reader is fast enough. Probably won't want to record at 4K though on those bottom of the barrel laptops. Decent 1080p webcam like a C920 is probably good enough.

je11693 · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:16

MagicBoy said:
Relative had an HP Stream with only 32GB storage, that didn't even have enough free space to update Windows - had to plug in an external hard drive.
MicroSD would solve your issue assuming the card reader is fast enough. Probably won't want to record at 4K though on those bottom of the barrel laptops. Decent 1080p webcam like a C920 is probably good enough.

Thanks. Perhaps a Chromebook might be a better option then..

I only mentioned 4k as that was in the title of the webcam description. Is it possible to just choose to record in a lower quality on a 4k-capable webcam?

MagicBoy · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:22

je11693 said:
Thanks. Perhaps a Chromebook might be a better option then..

I only mentioned 4k as that was in the title of the webcam description. Is it possible to just choose to record in a lower quality on a 4k-capable webcam?

Yeah, should be multiple options. Although with no-brand cheap chinesium all bets are off as to if it works properly!

Can't help on the Chromebooks, never used one.

je11693 · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:24

MagicBoy said:
Yeah, should be multiple options. Although with no-brand cheap chinesium all bets are off as to if it works properly!

Can't help on the Chromebooks, never used one.

Ah ok, that's fair.

How much space does Windows take up? Seems crazy that 64GB of built-in storage might not be enough.. Or am I missing something?

Vince · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:25

je11693 said:
The camera on my phone works for short periods (keeps cutting out when I try to film longer periods of time), however what I want to record is multi-hour usually (tabletop game), and I don't need the camera on my phone but do need a laptop, so my thinking was why bother fixing the camera since I don't actually need it, and instead just get a cheap laptop/webcam which can do the job and allow me to do other stuff like web browsing, email, etc. I just wasn't sure if it was possible to hook up a webcam to a laptop and record directly onto the laptop's hard drive, and if it is possible then can I pause the recording and restart it etc. The ones I was looking at were the HP Stream 11 (64GB eMMC storage) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i (also 64GB eMMC). I have no idea about laptops as I haven't had one in years so thought I should ask for advice here..

How about a raspberry pi and a pi cam? That would keep it well within budget and is a decent option.

je11693 · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:28

Vince said:
How about a raspberry pi and a pi cam? That would keep it well within budget and is a decent option.

I have no idea what they are... What are they/how do they work/how do you buy one?

Vince · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:35

je11693 said:
I have no idea what they are... What are they/how do they work/how do you buy one?

They are a linux based mini computer. search for Raspberry pi3 they cost about £30 and you can put an sd card in them/usb storage. The Pi cam is probably £5 and you can get a mini lcd for them for pence... there you have it everything you need at sub £100. Pi's are incredibly well documented and if you search record video with pi and pi cam you will get 10 million youtube hits. You also might learn something cool in the process. win, win.

je11693 · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:39

Vince said:
They are a linux based mini computer. search for Raspberry pi3 they cost about £30 and you can put an sd card in them/usb storage. The Pi cam is probably £5 and you can get a mini lcd for them for pence... there you have it everything you need at sub £100. Pi's are incredibly well documented and if you search record video with pi and pi cam you will get 10 million youtube hits. You also might learn something cool in the process. win, win.

They sound awesome! Can you use wifi/ethernet, get online and browse the web, use email/Youtube/Netflix/etc on them too?

Vince · 3 Jan 2022 at 13:43

je11693 said:
They sound awesome! Can you use wifi/ethernet, get online and browse the web, use email/Youtube/Netflix/etc on them too?

yes to all of the above

and as with everything Pi you will find youtube videos to guide you on exactly how to install etc. There is even obs on the Pi if you wish. If you dont want to use the pi cam which is actually pretty good you can plug in any wab cam as well. I have one with a pi cam attached to it that records my 3d printer.