Recording gameplays: Blackmagic Intensity Pro vs. Avertv HD DVR

[any ANONYMOUS forum user]

I've found 2 HDMI capture cards: AverTV HD DVR and Blackmagic Intensity Pro. They both have HDMI and component video inputs, they both support 1080i videos. Aver HD DVR is much cheaper, so I wonder why many people recommend to use Intensity PRO, which, by the way, requires very expensive software to be used.

Blackmagic Intensity Pro has HDMI in and out, so you don't need an HDMI splitter and there is no reduction of quality. And you can capture video from Intensity Pro using Blackmagic Media Express or freeware VirtualDub, so you don't have to buy any expensive software.

AverTV HD DVR and Blackmagic Intensity Pro use CPU to compress video (unless you want to save uncompressed video with the Intensity Pro).

If you want to spend as little as possible, get AverTV HD DVR. I suggest you to compare video recordings from both capture cards.

[lodzor]

Hey, i have a thread going on another forum but nobody has replied yet. Basically im trying to decide between the BlackmagicDesign Intensity Pro and the AverTV HD DVR They both look good but the aver is cheaper. One of the main things i wanted to make sure of is that the loop through on the intensity pro does not cause any lag. If it can operate without any lag on the loop then it saves me buying an hdmi splitter and the possibility of losing picture quality. What i also want to know is how easy it is to record the xbox360 with both of the above devices. I have a rough idea of how it works with the aver but with intensity pro i am not sure. If i use the intensity pro will i be able to record via hdmi or not because of the content protection?

The other thing i wanted to ask about was the system specs for running one of these cards. MY GPU and CPU should be plenty strong enough, GTS 450 and Phenom II Quad respectively. Im on 64bit and carrying 6gb ram which should be plenty. The one thing that i am worried about is my hard drive not being able to keep up with the card. Some people i have spoken to say you cant run one of these without installing a raid array. Is this true?

Thanks in advance
Jack

Originally Posted by lodzor

Hey, i have a thread going on another forum but nobody has replied yet. Basically im trying to decide between the BlackmagicDesign Intensity Pro and the AverTV HD DVR They both look good but the aver is cheaper. One of the main things i wanted to make sure of is that the loop through on the intensity pro does not cause any lag. If it can operate without any lag on the loop then it saves me buying an hdmi splitter and the possibility of losing picture quality.

I've seen controversial feedback about BlackmagicDesign Intensity Pro. Some users say there is a lag, others say they don't have any lag. But the delay seems to be related to DirectShow apps, not the passthrough.

Originally Posted by lodzor

What i also want to know is how easy it is to record the xbox360 with both of the above devices. I have a rough idea of how it works with the aver but with intensity pro i am not sure. If i use the intensity pro will i be able to record via hdmi or not because of the content protection?

xbox360 games can be recorded via HDMI. If you want to record Blu-Ray Video discs, then you won't be able to use HDMI, since there will be HDCP protection.

Originally Posted by lodzor

The other thing i wanted to ask about was the system specs for running one of these cards. MY GPU and CPU should be plenty strong enough, GTS 450 and Phenom II Quad respectively. Im on 64bit and carrying 6gb ram which should be plenty. The one thing that i am worried about is my hard drive not being able to keep up with the card. Some people i have spoken to say you cant run one of these without installing a raid array. Is this true?

Raid array is definitely needed for uncompressed video. You may also try to use Motion Jpeg video compression without a raid array.


Another alternative is Hauppage HD PVR. It doesn't have HDMI support, it uses component video instead. But it compresses your video using its own hardware, not your computer, so you don't need a raid array or a very powerful computer. It has a passthrough as well.

[lodzor]

Originally Posted by Stream Recorder

I've seen controversial feedback about BlackmagicDesign Intensity Pro. Some users say there is a lag, others say they don't have any lag. But the delay seems to be related to DirectShow apps, not the passthrough.


xbox360 games can be recorded via HDMI. If you want to record Blu-Ray Video discs, then you won't be able to use HDMI, since there will be HDCP protection.


Raid array is definitely needed for uncompressed video. You may also try to use Motion Jpeg video compression without a raid array.


Another alternative is Hauppage HD PVR. It doesn't have HDMI support, it uses component video instead. But it compresses your video using its own hardware, not your computer, so you don't need a raid array or a very powerful computer. It has a passthrough as well.

Thanks for the info. Do you know if both cards have the ability to record in a compressed format? And is there a way to view the intensity card on screen without recording? (Lag wouldn't matter in this case). Also what is the quality like of motion JPEG?

Originally Posted by lodzor

Do you know if both cards have the ability to record in a compressed format?

When using 3rd party software, you may use any video codec that the software supports. For example, see the following post:
http://stream-recorder.com/forum/sho...9&postcount=16

Originally Posted by lodzor

And is there a way to view the intensity card on screen without recording? (Lag wouldn't matter in this case).

The preview doesn't seem to work when you use the HDMI passthrough.

Originally Posted by lodzor

Also what is the quality like of motion JPEG?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_JPEG

Originally Posted by wikipedia

As a purely intraframe compression scheme, the image-quality of M-JPEG is directly a function of each video frame's static (spatial) complexity. Frames with large smooth-transitions or monotone surfaces compress well, and are more likely to hold their original detail with few visible compression artifacts. Frames exhibiting complex textures, fine curves and lines (such as writing on a newspaper) are prone to exhibit DCT-artifacts such as ringing, smudging, and macroblocking. M-JPEG compressed-video is also insensitive to motion-complexity, i.e. variation over time. It is neither hindered by highly random motion (such as the surface-water turbulence in a large waterfall), nor helped by the absence of motion (such as static landscape shot by tripod), which are two opposite extremes commonly used to test interframe video-formats

[lodzor]

Well i bought the intensity, it arrives tomorrow it was ?15 cheaper with all things considered so i'll let you know how it goes.

Looking forward to see your feedback.