Hi folks!
We've been busy researching Capture Cards to help you figure out what you need to make
your best audio and video content and stay on budget.
Links to all the products in the review are in the description box below, where you'll
find current pricing for your region wherever possible.
The video has timestamps so that you can jump straight to the Capture Card that interests
you the most.
Now before I move on, we'd love to hear what Capture Card you're using right now and what
you think of it.
Let us know in the comments!
Okay, let's get into it!
Here are the top five best Capture Cards.
The fifth product on our list is the ASUS TUF CU4K30.
The ASUS TUF CU4K30 is an excellent capture card for gamers and content creators.
It comes with a sleek exterior as a capture card box.
It has a durable aluminium chassis with RGB lighting that looks good and is also functional
as it indicates your current status.
The TUF CU4K30 is also compact with a palm-sized body to help keep your workspace tidy.
There are three connection ports on the back.
There's HDMI in and out, plus a USB-C connection.
On the front is where you can connect your headset and controller.
This keeps your wires from getting messy and is a convenient way to connect your capture
card to your setup.
The passthrough video support of the ASUS TUF CU4K30 is impressive as it supports 4K
up to 60 hertz, 2K up to 144 hertz, and full HD quality up to 240 hertz.
Video streaming is where this card shines, where it delivers 4K video up to 30 hertz
with near-zero latency to give you a smooth gameplay or content stream.
Pros will be happy to hear that the CU4K30 is OBS Studio certified, which means that
you can expect optimal video quality on most of your favorite streaming platforms.
Here's something you should know before buying the ASUS TUF CU4K30:
Some users note that setting up the audio on OBS can take some tweaking.
If you're looking for a high-quality capture card for gaming, the ASUS TUF CU4K30 is an
excellent choice.
The fourth product on our list is the AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt: Thunderbolt 3.
The AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt: Thunderbolt 3 is a capture card that will take your streams
to the next level.
It comes in a compact black box with RGB lighting that adds a fun touch to your set-up.
There are four connection ports on the back.
From left to right, you get the Thunderbolt 3 port, an HDMI out for pass-through, an HDMI
input and a 3.5-millimeter Line-in for audio.
This effectively keeps your wires organized as they're all placed on the back of the device.
Multi-platform users will be glad to know that the AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt is compatible
with both Mac and Windows operating systems.
It also works with RECentral 4, OBS, Streamlabs, and XSplit, among other live-streaming software.
Of course, video quality is one of the most important aspects of the card.
The Thunderbolt 3 boasts a high frame video recording at 240 frames per second.
This keeps your recording crisp and full of rich detail.
Live streaming is also a breeze with this AVerMedia capture card as it supports 4K video
up to 60 frames per second.
It has ultra-low latency of under 50 milliseconds, so you can stream comfortably without worrying
about lag.
Finally, you'll love that the Thunderbolt 3 supports 7.1 surround sound pass through
to immerse your viewers in your content fully.
Here's something you should know before buying the AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt: Thunderbolt
3: Some users note that the capture card can
be difficult to set up again after a firmware update.
If you're looking for a reliable capture card to help you stream at 4K quality at up to
60 frames per second, the AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt: Thunderbolt 3 is the way to go.
The third product on our list is the Elgato 4K60 S+.
The Elgato 4K60 S+ is an external capture card with a high-quality construction you're
sure to love.
First off, it features a sleek black body with thoughtfully arranged port placements
to keep your wires organized.
You get USB, power, and HDMI in and out ports on the back.
The front panel houses the line-in port and a record indicator in the middle, so you know
when your capture card is engaged.
Next to that is an SD card slot, so you can externally record your videos.
As its name suggests, the 4K60 S+ can record high dynamic range videos at 4K quality and
up to 60 frames per second.
This results in detailed content that looks great on streams.
This Elgato capture card also boasts an impressive HEVC chip on board.
This has an impressive encoding capability that allows you to record up to seven hours
of high-dynamic-range video to a 256 gigabyte SD card or your PC's hard drive with ease.
Traveling streamers will also love the ease of use that the Elgato 4K60 S+ provides.
It can work without software using the SD card.
Finally, this capture card is compatible with popular streaming apps, including OBS studio.
Here's something you should know before buying the Elgato 4K60 S+:
It is Windows only.
If you're a Windows user looking for high fidelity streaming and recording, look no
further than the Elgato 4K60 S+.
The second product on our list is the EVGA XR1 Pro.
The EVGA XR1 Pro is a capture card that's perfect for professionals.
It features a compact body with a sleek black design that features RGB lighting on the top
panel of the capture card.
The port locations are thoughtfully placed, as it utilizes three sides of the device,
so your wires aren't crowded.
On the left side is where you'll find the HDMI out port.
On the opposite end are the USB-C port and HDMI in.
The front panel is home to a headphone out or microphone in jack.
Next to that is a chat-linked party controller input.
This ensures that you can also stream your game's chat without missing a beat.
The first thing that stands out about the EVGA XR1 Pro is the control dial on the top.
This dial works as an audio mixer.
The RGB lights are helpful indicators of the different modes and audio levels you're currently
using.
The XR1 Pro is OBS certified, so you won't have any issues using the software.
Aside from this, devices recognize the capture card as a webcam, so any webcam-compatible
program will work with the EVGA XR1 Pro.
As for quality, you can capture and record up to 1440p quality at 60 frames per second,
or 4K quality at 30 frames per second.
Another great thing about this EVGA capture card is that it doesn't require any additional
software or drivers, allowing for a true plug-and-play experience.
Here's something you should know before buying the EVGA XR1 Pro:
The cables that come in the box are subpar quality.
If you're looking for a flashy yet functional capture card, the EVGA XR1 Pro is an excellent
choice.
The first product on our list is the Elgato HD60 X.
The HD60 X is the newest capture card from Elgato, only launching in April of 2022.
This capture card is especially appealing to adventurous gamers as it is streamlined
toward your favorite consoles.
It boasts a compact body with the classic Elgato design that keeps your ports on the
rear of the device to help keep your wires organized.
You'll find an HDMI input for your console, an HDMI output for your monitor or TV, and
a USB-C port that you can connect to your computer.
You'll love that the HD60 X comes with an HDMI and USB-A to USB-C cable in the box.
The front houses a 3.5-millimeter audio jack for your headset or microphone.
Keeping up with the times, the Elgato HD60 X has recording capabilities of 1080p at 60
frames per second and 4K video at 30 frames per second.
This means you have an option of optimising for quality or frame rate, either way, it
works well.
This Elgato capture card features a powerful 4K60 HDR10 passthrough.
It also has variable refresh rate technology, ensuring that your screen won't lag while
streaming.
The HD60 X works with popular streaming apps, including OBS and Twitch.
Here's something you should know before buying the Elgato HD60 X.
It has dedicated software that you might want to steer away from as there have been some
problems with audio.
If you're looking for a new and improved capture card that will work with most of your devices,
the Elgato HD60 X is an excellent choice.
And there you have it folks - the five Capture Cards that got us excited this year.
If this video helped you in any way, let us know by giving it a Like and, if you’re
new here, hitting the Subscribe button.
If you would like to see some more reviews from our team here at Gear Music Tech, check
out this one on USB Mics on the left, or this one on Gaming Headsets on the right.
We look forward to seeing you back here on Gear Music Tech soon.
Bye for now.