Xbox gameplay recording hardware/software

jamesy505 · 13 Jan 2013 at 22:32

My son is interested in recording gameplay from his Xbox 360and uploading to YouTube, what is the best way to do this?

We do have a video camera but how is it done by those people who create videos for achievement guides etc?

Any advice on how to do this and what piece of kit I would need, do I need to hook the Box up to my pc somehow?

Cheers

stokecity_m · 13 Jan 2013 at 22:34

HD PVR .

My son wanted to do as yours, i looked at all the cheap ways and they are rubbish.

Drunzer · 14 Jan 2013 at 12:22

At the minute I think for ease of use, small size and quality no device can really compete with the Elgato Game Capture.

Sneakze · 14 Jan 2013 at 20:30

Drunzer said:
At the minute I think for ease of use, small size and quality no device can really compete with the Elgato Game Capture.

+1 to the Elgato. It's pretty easy to use and produces decent quality.

Bit Tech · 15 Jan 2013 at 13:24

Sneakze said:
+1 to the Elgato. It's pretty easy to use and produces decent quality.

True enough and the Time Shift function is very attractive.
I got a Roxio (non-HD) for Christmas but it is rubbish.
I am ordering a HD PVR 2 tomorrow. The reason on which I based this decision between the HD PVR 2 and the Elgato is that the HD PVR 2 produces a slightly higher quality image. I software that comes with the kit is kind of irrelevant because I will use After Effects and Sony Vegas.

Russinating · 15 Jan 2013 at 14:12

I've been thinking about getting a PVR 2 as well, just to record a few troll videos! Don't know if I can really justify it though.

Vanquish-Storm · 15 Jan 2013 at 14:13

Russinating said:
I've been thinking about getting a PVR 2 as well, just to record a few troll videos! Don't know if I can really justify it though.

Same, I bought one of those £5 usb capture cards and although it works it is a bit pants.

Can not justify £100 atm though!

Russinating · 15 Jan 2013 at 14:41

The three things swinging me are:

a) I have quite a few free Amazon vouchers to use. But then I could use them on anything
b) They hold their value well. Ones are selling used on eBay right now for more than they cost via Amazon brand new (mind boggles). The first versions still sell for £70+.
c) Every time I do something awesome in BF3 I'm like AMAGAWD?!

Equally if I do buy it I'll have to lie to the girlfriend about how much it cost, not that she cares about me spending £100 of my own money, just £100 on that...

jamesy505 · 15 Jan 2013 at 15:46

So the HD PVR2 costs about £100? A bit steep but if it was the only bit of kit he would need....

How easy is it to use?

Russinating · 15 Jan 2013 at 16:10

Well you need a computer as well obviously. No idea how easy it is but I'd imagine very. It's just a bypass for an HDMI connection which passes this to a PC as well as a TV.

Bit Tech · 16 Jan 2013 at 22:52

You just plug the HDMI from your Xbox into the HD PVR 2 and plug a HDMI from the HD PVR 2 to your TV/monitor. Then there is a USB cable which goes from the HD PVR 2 to your PC/laptop.
It comes with simple video editing software as well.
IMO the HD PVR 2 or the Elgato is as cheap as you should go, anything else will be disappointing.

jamesy505 · 17 Jan 2013 at 12:42

Bit Tech said:
You just plug the HDMI from your Xbox into the HD PVR 2 and plug a HDMI from the HD PVR 2 to your TV/monitor. Then there is a USB cable which goes from the HD PVR 2 to your PC/laptop.
It comes with simple video editing software as well.
IMO the HD PVR 2 or the Elgato is as cheap as you should go, anything else will be disappointing.

Probably a silly question...
Does the Xbox\HD PVR2 need to be connected to the PC in order to record, or can you record and then move the PVR box and connect to PC?

I havent read there is any HDD in the PVR box, so could you in theory connect to an external drive and then go and edit the recording etc on your PC?

wingman · 17 Jan 2013 at 12:48

jamesy505 said:
Probably a silly question...
Does the Xbox\HD PVR2 need to be connected to the PC in order to record, or can you record and then move the PVR box and connect to PC?

I havent read there is any HDD in the PVR box, so could you in theory connect to an external drive and then go and edit the recording etc on your PC?

It needs to be connected at the time of recording to "live" record to your PC (albeit a few seconds behind).

What the HD PVR is essentially doing is converting the recording to H.264 so your computer doesn't have to, it's doing the bulk of the work.

N.B. No such thing as a silly question.

jamesy505 · 17 Jan 2013 at 14:44

wingman said:
It needs to be connected at the time of recording to "live" record to your PC (albeit a few seconds behind).

What the HD PVR is essentially doing is converting the recording to H.264 so your computer doesn't have to, it's doing the bulk of the work.

N.B. No such thing as a silly question.

Thanks

Mr Jones · 17 Jan 2013 at 15:09

Very useful info from here, but I have a question - as I'm using the 'Old' Xbox 360, no HDMI output, both Elgato and HD PVR 2 require HDMI, what can I do if I want them instead of e.g. Rixio?

Windle · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:19

Mr Jones said:
Very useful info from here, but I have a question - as I'm using the 'Old' Xbox 360, no HDMI output, both Elgato and HD PVR 2 require HDMI, what can I do if I want them instead of e.g. Rixio?

Buy a 'new' Xbox 360?

jpm · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:24

Mr Jones said:
Very useful info from here, but I have a question - as I'm using the 'Old' Xbox 360, no HDMI output, both Elgato and HD PVR 2 require HDMI, what can I do if I want them instead of e.g. Rixio?

Get the Original HD PVR Gaming edition, it uses component. http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr-gaming.html

GregI · 17 Jan 2013 at 17:58

Mr Jones said:
Very useful info from here, but I have a question - as I'm using the 'Old' Xbox 360, no HDMI output, both Elgato and HD PVR 2 require HDMI, what can I do if I want them instead of e.g. Rixio?

You can still use Component with the HD PVR 2 (it's forced to really since only way to record from a PS3 in 720p is Component due to HDCP) although the Roxio GameCap Pro is the hardware of choice for people looking for H.264 direct feed video simply because of price and at least some traits of being a DirectShow device for broadcasting to Twitch.tv

Russinating · 17 Jan 2013 at 18:38

Think I'm going to go for this. Applied for an Amazon credit card a few days ago so just going to wait for that and then grab it.

Mr Jones · 18 Jan 2013 at 08:09

Windle said:
Buy a 'new' Xbox 360?

Bit silly to double spend just for recording game (mainly for my missus to make videos), especially with the next generation within sights.

jpm said:
Get the Original HD PVR Gaming edition, it uses component. http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr-gaming.html

Thanks, I'll have a look.

GregI said:
You can still use Component with the HD PVR 2 (it's forced to really since only way to record from a PS3 in 720p is Component due to HDCP) although the Roxio GameCap Pro is the hardware of choice for people looking for H.264 direct feed video simply because of price and at least some traits of being a DirectShow device for broadcasting to Twitch.tv

Does the 'PS3' cable that comes with it work for the Xbox via component then? If so, that's good news.