For ease, we’ll refer to OBS Studio/Streamlabs OBS as your streaming software of choice. This can be an issue if you want to capture crisp, super-detailed gameplay.Įven though a video capture card is an external piece of kit, it’s not very fiddly. This is mostly due to the first point: if you’re using a budget capture card on a high-end setup, you’ll likely experience lag. If you set it up incorrectly, it could cause you headaches not only initially, but later on if you run into any snags while recording. Depending on what device you’re using, capture cards can be tricky to install and customize. If you’ve chosen a budget capture card that can’t handle both devices, you’ll have just wasted your money! We’ll list some affordable options further down, but basically, the capture card needs to keep up with your machinery. Here are a few of the downsides you should consider before making the plunge. Video capture cards are great, but you can still run into trouble when using them. However, if you want to stream from a dedicated gaming console like PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll need a physical capture card. People used to grumble about software impacting the overall performance of your stream, but nowadays, it’s sophisticated enough to make no real impact. We’ve put together a guide on the best streaming software here, and if you’re only streaming games from your computer, the linked recommendations should do just fine. If you’re starting as a streamer and are strapped for cash, you can get started with some basic streaming software. It’s the broker between your gaming console and video player, allowing you to broadcast gaming on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Discord.

It capturesthe on-screen action and encodes it for playback on your stream, or a high-quality video file for you to meddle with and post later.

The video capture card does what it says on the tin. Its job is simple: to convert in-game footage of you pwning n00bs into digital data that your computer recognizes. What is a video capture card, and how does it work?Ī video capture device, which is often just called a video capture card, is a piece of hardware that’s essential for any game streamer. Find out what a video capture card is, why you need it for streaming, and how you can use it for your Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch-streaming shenanigans. If you want to start streaming your own gaming content, you’ll need to know about video capture cards.

How to connect streamlabs to xbox