For some time now I’ve been using AVerMedia’s latest product: Game Capture HD II, which adds a lot of cool features. Since this is the second in the series, I was excited to see what has changed since the first unit. The Game Capture HD had a lot of cool ideas and provided an interesting way to capture footage via component cables. To see one of my videos uploaded for the first unit you can click here. I was granted the chance to review the original Game Capture HD before becoming staff here at Marooners’ Rock.
Now fast forward to present day, and AVerMedia has released the Game Capture HD II. There are lots of devices hitting the market, so deciding which unit to pick out can be tough. Let’s find out if it will beat out the competition of other recording devices!
You can see in the pictures (above and below) that the Game Capture HD II is rather slim. It is in actually a bit slimmer than the device before it. You can clearly see from the front view that it includes a USB port and an area for a microphone and headset. The USB input is convenient for updating the device firmware and for recording to an external hard drive or thumb drive. A 320GB external hard drive lasted me quite a while, but now I have a 750GB hard drive installed in the base of the device. Having this port in front is nice, and was a feature on the previous model. However, you can also install a 2.5″ SATA hard drive in the base of the device as I’ve done.
As I mentioned before, the Game Capture HD II includes inputs for a microphone and headset, which is a great addition to the new model so you won’t only hear your friends in-game or in party chat. With no simple way to record myself while recording games with the Game Capture HD, I kept to only uploading videos of myself playing games like Dance Central. It just wasn’t worth jumping through extra hoops to add my own audio recording over the game play. On the Game Capture HD II, recording your own audio/voice over the game is as simple as attaching your microphone and/or headset to the device. It’s your choice on whether to have one or both, but each has its pros and cons. Having just the Microphone hooked up via the 3.5mm port will let you record your audio over the game without the game cutting out. When you have both the mic and headset connected you’ll have the in-game audio cut out while you are speaking. Having microphone and headset ports offers a new way of recording audio as you play. This feature was overlooked on the first model, which was rather annoying when it came to recording game play.
Other obvious updates to this unit include the HDMI ports, component cables along with a LAN port. Information on what can be connected to the device will be below. The Game Capture HD only had the component cables and nothing more, which allowed only a limited variety of devices to be hooked to the device. The resolution the device can provide goes up to 1080p, which you can see in my recent game upload at the best settings here. As you can see from the information below about the device you’ll be able to use it on nearly any type of console you may have around your house.
Input
- HDMI[1]:
- Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4[2]
Component Video & Audio L/R:
- Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3
- 3.5mm Audio:
- Microphone (Working Voltage: 3V)
Note:
[1] HDCP content cannot be recorded
[2] PS4’s game recording over HDMI is available only when Sony releases an update that allows unencrypted HDMI output for games.Output
- HDMI (Pass-thru)
- 3.5mm Audio: Microphone
Storage
- USB Port: USB 2.0/ 3.0 Hard Drive*
- SATA Slot: 2.5″ SATA Hard Drive* (9.5mm/7mm height)
* Not included. NTFS format is required
Network
- Ethernet LAN (10Base-T/ 100Base-T) Standards
Resolution Input/ Pass-through:
- 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (max: 1080p@60fps)
Record:
- 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (max: 1080p@30fps*)
* 1080p@30 videos may be displayed as 1080i@60 on your TV.
-
Recording Format MP4 (Codec: H.264, AAC)
After going through the appropriate steps you’ll be able to link the device to your YouTube account for immediate video uploading via the device’s Ethernet port. Pretty cool, right? It’s not often you see a device that isn’t portable grant the access to upload as soon as you’re done recording your work. With the help of the “GameMate” mobile app available for iOS (6/7) and Android 4.0+, you can control device functions such as: capture screenshots as you play or from your recorded video, record your gameplay and edit your footage.
Overall, I can say that the Game Capture HD II blows the Game Capture HD out of the water. As for the minor UI problems with the Game Capture HD II, experience with the device will make its use simpler. If you’re looking for a device to do commentary, how-to’s or to goof off this is a device worth checking out. You can find out how to get this product by clicking here. This device will definitely be used by yours truly, for videos such as the ones used on this page. AVerMedia has made sure to keep an eye on what people are looking for in a recording device! The AVerMedia Game Capture HD II special in its own way, but with the price tag of $170 you may back away. Honestly to me for that price tag you’ll be using the device to record almost anything and it’s well worth it. There are some devices that have a higher price tag that offer the same features, but this is your best bet is this device if you’re looking to save some money for recording your next in-game adventure.
(Disclaimers: This review may be updated as new firmware for the device is released. The Game Capture HD II was provided for review purposes by AverMedia.)
