Best capture card to record retro console gameplay?

[fastbilly1]

Thats odd Unleaded Logic. My HD PVR doesnt have trouble with composite sources. It had some audio sync issues initially but that was fixed via driver. Which one do you have?

I'm using the model 01212 model, blue led. Prior to them releasing the gaming edition with the green LED. Are you using total media extreme to capture that footage? I believe I'm on the 1.7.1 driver.

I too have a 1212, I honestly cannot remember the capture program or driver right now. But now that I think about it, it might have been on XP. Ill look into it tonight.

[Unleaded Logic]

Thats odd Unleaded Logic. My HD PVR doesnt have trouble with composite sources. It had some audio sync issues initially but that was fixed via driver. Which one do you have?

I'm using the model 01212 model, blue led. Prior to them releasing the gaming edition with the green LED. Are you using total media extreme to capture that footage? I believe I'm on the 1.7.1 driver.

I too have a 1212, I honestly cannot remember the capture program or driver right now. But now that I think about it, it might have been on XP. Ill look into it tonight.

Thanks much!

[RetrolutionGaming]

The recorder I use a Sony RDR-HXD870. That one's an older model so you probably won't find it in stores anymore, but I imagine the later models will do the trick just as well.

I use rewriteable DVDs yes, in fact I've used the same single one for over five years now I record the footage on the highest quality setting and burn it on the highest setting as well, that way one DVD holds about 60 minutes which is quite enough for the games I play (shmups, action-platformers, racing games...). Of course I could just burn it at lower quality and could easily fit more, with NES games you wouldn't even notice. Or split a high-quality recording into several parts and burn them separately.

I went to my local pawnshop today to buy a DVD recorder. Brought it home and plugged it in but I ended up only getting sound with no images. I tried different setups, still the same result.

I went back there and we tried other DVD recorder from other manufacturers with the same result every time!! No video but audio was going through.

Any idea what the issue might be?

Thanks!!!

[Ghegs]

Can you access the recorders' UI? They usually have plenty of settings relating to the video input so check those, maybe you have to set it to a certain signal type. Did you use the same cables for all DVD recorders? If so, change those, maybe they're busted. And are you sure you put the cables right?

Were you splitting the signal from the console between the DVD recorder and the TV? What kind of splitter did you use? Test without the splitter if you did.

[BlackDS]

This may be slightly off topic, but what microphones do you guys use for audio commentary?

[RetrolutionGaming]

Can you access the recorders' UI? They usually have plenty of settings relating to the video input so check those, maybe you have to set it to a certain signal type. Did you use the same cables for all DVD recorders? If so, change those, maybe they're busted. And are you sure you put the cables right?

Were you splitting the signal from the console between the DVD recorder and the TV? What kind of splitter did you use? Test without the splitter if you did.

I went back to the pawnshop, we tried all their DVD recorder and none worked lol We tried different cables, different settings, different medias... Nothing!

Luckily, I found a Samsung R-130 DVD recorder for 20$ on Kijiji. It finally works but there are a few issues.

First, I tried recording with DVD-RW... It seemed to work fine, I could record and playback on the DVD no problem but when I tried putting it on my computer, it acted as if it was a blank DVD!! Tried different setups on the recorder (DVD-V or DVD-VR, etc.) but nothing seemed to work. I then tried a regular DVD-R and it worked! Now I can record and transfer the videos on my computer... I just wish I could re-use DVDs with DVD-RW!!!

Second issue is that the DVD records my Dreamcast and Gamecube fine... but it doesn't seems to work with my N64!!! I have no idea why. I actually use the same cables for my Gamecube and N64. This might be related to the signal but I tried different settings on the recorder with no luck. I have sound but no image, or the image shows up one second and then freezes. Of course I tried my N64 directly on the TV and it works fine. Any idea why this is happening?

Thanks!

[RetrolutionGaming]

This may be slightly off topic, but what microphones do you guys use for audio commentary?

I personally use a Cascade V57. A very affordable professional mic... but you can end up paying around $250-$300 for it. Quality wise, it's comparable to many $500-$600 mics. I use it to record music too, I wouldn't have bought it just for video commentaries but if you're serious about making videos, it's a good choice.

If not, you can pick up any microphone for under $100, as long as you have good sound editing skills. You MUST use Soundbooth or a similar program to get rid of the background noise in any case!!

[Ghegs]

Now I can record and transfer the videos on my computer... I just wish I could re-use DVDs with DVD-RW!!!

I'm assuming your computer's DVD drive can read DVD-RWs? On my recorder I always format the disc to "Video Format" before transferring the footage. Did you also finalize the disc? Do you know if the recorder (and your computer) support DVD+RW discs, you could try those.

Second issue is that the DVD records my Dreamcast and Gamecube fine... but it doesn't seems to work with my N64!!! I have no idea why. I actually use the same cables for my Gamecube and N64. This might be related to the signal but I tried different settings on the recorder with no luck. I have sound but no image, or the image shows up one second and then freezes. Of course I tried my N64 directly on the TV and it works fine. Any idea why this is happening?

That does sound really odd. I don't have a N64 myself so I don't know if its signal has some quirks to it. Is it of the same region (ie. NTSC or PAL) as your DC and GC? Is it an official Nintendo cable you're using or a third-party one?

But hey, you're getting there!

[RetrolutionGaming]

I'm assuming your computer's DVD drive can read DVD-RWs? On my recorder I always format the disc to "Video Format" before transferring the footage. Did you also finalize the disc? Do you know if the recorder (and your computer) support DVD+RW discs, you could try those.

I tried reading the disc on 3 different computers. My MacBook Pro (Late 2011), my older PC and another PC... No luck on either of them. I tried both Video and VR format, no luck either. I'll try DVD+RW and will let you know!!

That does sound really odd. I don't have a N64 myself so I don't know if its signal has some quirks to it. Is it of the same region (ie. NTSC or PAL) as your DC and GC? Is it an official Nintendo cable you're using or a third-party one?

But hey, you're getting there!

It is odd, I can't wrap my head around this one. All my consoles are NTSC, I tried Official Nintendo Composite cables and Third-Party S-Video cables but none seem to work! But they do work when I plug them into the TV directly. I actually just tried my Sega Genesis and I have the same problem!! The image shows up for a second and freezes but the sound works. I may have to purchase a Dazzle or a similar product to capture gameplay from those two consoles. I haven't tried my NES but I'm sure it'll also be problematic.

Maybe I can find some kind of adapter?

I'm getting there slowly but surely... At least I can record some Dreamcast and Gamecube footage with the DVD recorder!!

UPDATE: I tried the Genesis RF adapter, same result. So this is definitely a signal problem. Any solutions?

[BlackDS]

This may be slightly off topic, but what microphones do you guys use for audio commentary?

I personally use a Cascade V57. A very affordable professional mic... but you can end up paying around $250-$300 for it. Quality wise, it's comparable to many $500-$600 mics. I use it to record music too, I wouldn't have bought it just for video commentaries but if you're serious about making videos, it's a good choice.

If not, you can pick up any microphone for under $100, as long as you have good sound editing skills. You MUST use Soundbooth or a similar program to get rid of the background noise in any case!!

I'm into music as well so this is very helpful. Thanks!