How to capture game footage?

[Misfire]

This is an area entirely new to me, the world of tuners and capture cards. I am thinking of possibly doing some game reviews or walkthroughs in the near future but I need some help finding the best/affordable hardware to do this.

Yes I know I can use FRAPS to capture video however it takes a big hit out of frame rate and I am looking for a hardware solution so I don't have to do with performance hits while recording HD video

Now my question is? How do I capture video game footage coming from a computer? What is the hardware needed? What is a typical setup? (for instance, a computer and a laptop?)

If anyone has any expertise in this area please let me know, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[mpilchfamily]

Mostly its a software solution not a hardware one. A capture card would require the video from the video card to be pumped into the capture card. Generally they are used to capture video from an external source. Any hardware solution like you want thats part of your PC will use up recources and slow the game. Your best bet may be a DVR connected to your video card.

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp

 

[Sekkai]

I use Camtasia all the time and it works wonderfully

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp

How does it compare to Fraps?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: JackMDS
http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp

How does it compare to Fraps?

$262 difference.
The OP is serious about doing these game reviews, so there won't be any problem purchasing a quality tool like Camtasia Studio. :thumbsup:

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Blain
$262 difference.

:laugh:

Thanks, that's all I needed to know.

 

[Misfire]

while Camtasia is definitely great software, it still has the disadvantage of other software solutions, it will cause a hit in frame rate for newer more next gen games. I am looking for a hardware solution that will directly capture output from my video card so that there will be no performance hit. I searched around for capture cards and I believe to have found some decent products.

One of which is this http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html , looks rather good!

there is also the http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/ which I have heard does really great HD capturing in great quality.