MP 1,1-5,1 Game capture and Tape digitisation

[mattspace]

Just wondering if anyone has set their cMP up for game capture over HDMI, and video capture from old VHS/Betamax decks.

Looking at options, ElGato support USB capture devices, but that would require a USB3 card, Blackmagic have their Fusion 4k card.

Anyone have any recommendations as to what direction to go in?

 

[Chrisl33]

I have just started converting old video tapes and I am using a Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K. It works quite well with the included Media Express software and also you can use DaVinci Resolve enhance your captures.

 

[mattspace]

I have just started converting old video tapes and I am using a Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K. It works quite well with the included Media Express software and also you can use DaVinci Resolve enhance your captures.

Yeah, I was speaking to someone at Blackmagic today, and that's one of the devices I was interested in. Technically its current driver / support is 10.15 and later. What system version are you using it with?

 

[Chrisl33]

I am using it with Mojave 10.14.6 and no problems at all.

 

[mattspace]

I am using it with Mojave 10.14.6 and no problems at all.

how's the noise profile for it, given the fan?

While the Blackmagic is a neater solution, I'm leaning towards the Sonnet Allegro Pro and ElGato 60s for its "lagless" HDMI passthrough, on the basis I can also pick up the ElGato USB Video Capture device later on.

 

[Chrisl33]

Fan noise is not a problem, do not notice it given the average noise from a cMP. I am running it through a HDMI to composite converter from the video player. I do not capture gaming so do not know about that side.

 

[fuchsdh]

I've got an old Blackmagic Intensity shuttle I use for my VHS tapes; it's Thunderbolt, which meant I couldn't use it natively with my Mac Pro when I had it (ran it into my MBP at the time) but the advantage was that it had component inputs in and out versus needing to convert it before the source. (I believe they sell breakout cables for the PCIe intensity models.)

For gaming, I'd argue something like the El Gato 60S is best (I have mine set up connected to my Xbox so under normal circumstances it's running a passthrough and it's easy to turn on and off.) However with a Mac Pro I'd be careful; when I tried it with my 5,1 I'd run into errors because it wasn't a modern-enough i5 or i7 for the software. The USB3 card wasn't the sticking point after all.

 

[mattspace]

For gaming, I'd argue something like the El Gato 60S is best (I have mine set up connected to my Xbox so under normal circumstances it's running a passthrough and it's easy to turn on and off.) However with a Mac Pro I'd be careful; when I tried it with my 5,1 I'd run into errors because it wasn't a modern-enough i5 or i7 for the software. The USB3 card wasn't the sticking point after all.

ahh damn, that does become a sticking point then :/

 

[mattspace]

However with a Mac Pro I'd be careful; when I tried it with my 5,1 I'd run into errors because it wasn't a modern-enough i5 or i7 for the software.

out of interest, how serious were those errors - a dialogue box you dismiss and go about the task, or "it doesn't work"?

 

[bsbeamer]

Some standalone recorders work better for things like this. Just plug in an external hard drive then hit record. Helps if the hard drive has an activity light since you're basically flying blind. Then just transfer the files to whatever computer you want to use to view/edit.

AGPTEK HD Game Capture Video Capture 1080P HDMI/AV Recorder Xbox 360&One/ PS3 PS4,Support Mic in with Both HDMI and AV Input

Notice before purchasing not work with USB 3. 0 device standards: 1. Storage media: note: The exact format is not supported. Record format: video: H. 264 mpeg4 audio: A AC Stereo 3. Record quality: Max 18mbps@1080p 30Fps 4. Record file: Max 2GB/per file 5. Record place: Max 140MB/min, 8GB/ hour 6...

www.amazon.com

 

[fuchsdh]

out of interest, how serious were those errors - a dialogue box you dismiss and go about the task, or "it doesn't work"?

It wouldn't work, but I didn't go digging—for all I know there might be a way to trick it or override it and shut it up, because I'm pretty sure the system could handle it, it was just a case of "we check for these processors and we didn't bother with Xeons".

 

[JMVB]

My main business is live video.
My cMP is one of my video switch (the other one is a broadcast grade Blackmagic ATEM)

In my very first cMP version (5.1 single X5679, 32gb ram, GTX980, High Sierra), it was my prime and only video switch, it had:
1 BM decklink DUO (2 SDI channels)
1 BM decklink DUO 2 (4 SDI channels)
1 BM decklink mini recorder (1 SDI or HDMI channel)

The mac was capable to live switching between this 7 inputs, plus 3 monitor outputs, plus PRORES 442 recording, plus youtube streaming, all at the same time flawlessly.

My currently cMP (see my signature), is my small jobs video switch and editing machine, and it have:
1 BM decklink DUO 2 (4 SDI channels)
1 Inatek KT4006 USB 3.0 PCI card with 2 very cheap Chinese USB capture cards

1080P 4K HDMI to USB 2.0 3.0 Video Capture Card Game Audio Video Live Streaming | eBay

Support maximum input resolution up to 4K;. HDMI Resolution: Max input can support 3840×2160@30Hz / 4K. But other software may not support it. Support maximum output resolution up to 1080P;. HDMI to USB 2.0 Video Capture Card.

www.ebay.com

The mac is capable to live switching between this 6 inputs, 2 monitor outputs, plus PRORES 442 recording, plus youtube and facebook streaming, plus output to zoom via virtual camera, all at the same time flawlessly.

I know this is not the best usb capture device in the market.
It have some color difference problems, but for computers capture, works very good OBB.

I would recommend you BM decklink mini recorder (1 SDI or HDMI channel), but you have to know the device have a strong DHCP protection (can be bypassed with a cheap HDMI splitter).

A single capture input and recording is absolutely no problem at all for a cMP.
Maybe @fuchsdh don't have powerfull enough GPU

 

[fuchsdh]

My main business is live video.
My cMP is one of my video switch (the other one is a broadcast grade Blackmagic ATEM)

In my very first cMP version (5.1 single X5679, 32gb ram, GTX980, High Sierra), it was my prime and only video switch, it had:
1 BM decklink DUO (2 SDI channels)
1 BM decklink DUO 2 (4 SDI channels)
1 BM decklink mini recorder (1 SDI or HDMI channel)

The mac was capable to live switching between this 7 inputs, plus 3 monitor outputs, plus PRORES 442 recording, plus youtube streaming, all at the same time flawlessly.

My currently cMP (see my signature), is my small jobs video switch and editing machine, and it have:
1 BM decklink DUO 2 (4 SDI channels)
1 Inatek KT4006 USB 3.0 PCI card with 2 very cheap Chinese USB capture cards

1080P 4K HDMI to USB 2.0 3.0 Video Capture Card Game Audio Video Live Streaming | eBay

Support maximum input resolution up to 4K;. HDMI Resolution: Max input can support 3840×2160@30Hz / 4K. But other software may not support it. Support maximum output resolution up to 1080P;. HDMI to USB 2.0 Video Capture Card.

www.ebay.com

The mac is capable to live switching between this 6 inputs, 2 monitor outputs, plus PRORES 442 recording, plus youtube and facebook streaming, plus output to zoom via virtual camera, all at the same time flawlessly.

I know this is not the best usb capture device in the market.
It have some color difference problems, but for computers capture, works very good OBB.

I would recommend you BM decklink mini recorder (1 SDI or HDMI channel), but you have to know the device have a strong DHCP protection (can be bypassed with a cheap HDMI splitter).

A single capture input and recording is absolutely no problem at all for a cMP.
Maybe @fuchsdh don't have powerfull enough GPU

I had a 580 in it. The issue wasn't hardware, it was software.

Pretty sure the guy's not trying to run a studio switch from his computer, he just wants something simple.

 

[JMVB]

I had a 580 in it. The issue wasn't hardware, it was software.

Pretty sure the guy's not trying to run a studio switch from his computer, he just wants something simple.

I know, but again my point is
A single capture input and recording is absolutely no problem at all for a cMP

 

[mattspace]

Thanks folks, yeah, really at the moment I’m looking at capturing some footage of my old GTAOnline character before the Xbox360 version’s servers are retired in December (and maybe have fun capturing new stuff on the Series X), as well as digitise a bunch of old Betamax tapes. But factoring in a timecode sync device on top of restoring a working Betamax deck out of the two identical non-functioning ones I have, and dealing with tape fungus... I might just be better off finding someone to do that part for me, given it’s just a hobby project to do the one set of tapes.