Hauppaug HD-PVR. - Ok, here is the basic idea of how this works. You feed this device a HD component video feed, and it records it in the same resolution your giving it.(it has various features, please check the site for more details.) It also has a component video out that goes back to your TV, so no need for complicated splitting here. If you are using only a component video out from the PS3 then this is pretty much it. But if your using HDMI and want to figure out how to record using this box from your HDMI output, then please read on below.
HDMI recording, how to: If you read about the other methods of recording in SD while playing in HD and what to know how to do that with HDMI, this is how. And this also allows you to utilize the HD-PVR in recording in HD.
Ok, so let me explain a little bit about HDMI. HDMI is a all digital signal, and nowadays this is becoming more of the standard. The thing with HDMI is that it can easily be protected and the data sent over it encrypted. Making HDMI the better choice for anti-piracy by utilizing a copy protection also known as HDCP. With this, is why you don't really see any HDMI recorders on the market. And while there is a few (mentioned in next segment) they are quite strict in what you can and can't record. If the source of copy protected at all, you will not be able to record it. So due to this, there isnt many HDMI recorders on the market, at least none that are relatively good priced. But, there is a solution to this and that is converting the HDMI signal to a analog signal and using a analog recorder to record. This is also useful for when you have a HDMI device, but no HDMI input on your TV.
NOTE: Please do not use the next method for piracy, it is not intended for that so and I hope you are responsible enough not to do it. Please only use this for non-copywrited materials. Namely, recording your gameplay.
Alright, enough of the boring stuff. Here's how you do it. First you will need a few accessories. I will explain later what they will be used for.
- HDMI splitter. Splits 1 HDMI source, into 2 HDMI outputs. I personally purchased this one (link)
- HDMI -> VGA -> Component converter(with audio). You can get one of these from this ebay seller. The guy has 100% positive rep and almost 9000 buyers...he has 100%+ for a reason. . (link) If this listing is gone when you read this, here is his eBay store (link)
- And you may also want to pick up a extra HDMI cable and any other cables you may need
NOTE: the eBay item above comes with the cables needed for it, so don't worry about those.
NOTE #2: There is another way to get the HDMI digital signal to analog. Which involves using a HDMI -> DVI adapter and then DVI -> VGA converter. But you will be paying a little more for this and it doesn't include audio.
EDIT: Thanks to BulletMagnet for the mention of HDFury EDIT on 8/29 - Ok, I am removing HDFury from this post, and all my posts. This product will NOT easily work for the application of recording your PS3's gameplay. Now while you can pay upwards of $400 to make it work, it will NOT work with a HDMI splitter. So if you intend to use a splitter and don't want to be ripped off, forget about this product. The people on the HDFury forums are also completely useless, they could not help me at all and treated me very poorly when I asked questions. The customer service for this product is absolutely horrible, and you must pay a arm and a leg to get this to work right. Because not only do you have to pay $150 (now reduced from $200) but you also have to pay another $150 for the RGB -> Component converter. The HDFury will not work by itself in conjunction with your component devices, you have to buy many extra accessories and cables only from the HDFury creators to get it to work. If you absolutely must buy this product, buy it from monoprice. They are selling it for $80 cheaper than the official HDFury website is, and its the same exact product, except for less. So I warn you, AVOID HDFury at all costs! Its practically useless unless you feel like wasting a lot of money to get a device that will only work by itself. If you want HDMI to goto your HDTV, forget about it...the Fury does not work with ANY HDMI splitters.
Hooking it all up: Once you have all these accessories, the process is pretty simple. Firstly, you need to split the HDMI connection into 2 HDMI connections (use the HDMI splitter). This will allow one HDMI to goto your TV (or receiver, however you have things connected) and the other HDMI will goto the HDMI -> VGA converter. After you have done this, the VGA converter will have a VGA to component adapter (which is included in that eBay package BTW), then from the component you go straight to the HD-PVR box. From here, your ready to rock and roll. Record from the HDMI source upto 1080i to your computer. Oh and the ebay HDMI -> VGA converter also includes a red/white audio out that you can also connect to the HD-PVR for audio. But you could also use the optical IN to the HD-PVR from another source for better quality audio.
NOTE: If you are wanting to use the non-HD recording methods with HDMI and with the Blitzbox/HAVA, you simply connect the component video and audio to those boxes using the above method.
