With the ever-growing rise of streaming, capturing gameplay footage has never been more popular. For many, this was an unattainable feat, due to the exorbitant pricing of many mainstream capture cards and high-end PCs. While some contemporary consoles include the ability to record gameplay footage internally, the experience still has its limitations. Fortunately, the folks at Narvitech have released an incredibly affordable option for those looking to record their own gameplay; The Narvitech NJ300.
Little Witch Nobeta Edition
Narvitech offers two flavors of the NJ300. The standard edition, and the Little Witch Nobeta Limited Edition. The Little Witch Nobeta edition features the game’s titular character engraved, in full color, on the bottom side of the device, along with the game’s title. While surprising to see a collaboration of this kind, it is fully welcomed. While this design is not necessarily for me, I can see it resonating with many anime and manga fans. It would be cool to see future collaborations of a similar nature!
Little Witch Nobeta Limited Edition
What’s In the Box
In addition to the special edition NJ300, Narvitech includes an HDMI cable, a USB 3.0 Type-C data cable, 3.5mm audio cable, instructions, and some additional software. The software includes a free month of XSplit Premium, Cyberlink Screen Recorder 4, and Power Director. Narvitech really included just about everything one would need to start streaming gameplay, right out of the box.
Contents of Little Witch Nobeta Special Edition
Function Over Fashion
The device itself is comprised of metal and features a simplified design. One side of the NJ300 houses two HDMI ports: One for HDMI-In and one for HDMI-Out. The opposite side has a female USB-C for power and data transfer, an LED power indicator, and two 3.5mm jacks. The NJ300’s audio ports allow for the recording of in-game party chat. This is a notable feature for those planning to use the device for live-streaming gameplay.
Simplistic Set-Up
Setting up the device for capture is incredibly easy. Simply plug one side of the provided HDMI cable into the HDMI-in port of the NJ300, and the other directly into your console of choice. Next, plug your TV’s HDMI cable into the NJ300’s HDMI-out. Lastly, insert the USB Type-C cable into both the device and a PC. The NJ300 does not require any additional drivers and is immediately recognized by the computer.
Zero Latency, Zero Problem
Using the Narvitech NJ300 is about as simple as setting up the device. Narvitech provided additional software to get players going, however, the device itself is compatible with various other software. The primary capture software used, for the purpose of this review, was OBS. Narvitech advertises zero latency, and my testing proved their claims to be true. Compared side by side with the gameplay output on the TV, the game capture is 1 to 1. Having no latency also means this device can function as the sole input for the console, negating the need for a television. The NJ300 can achieve zero latency thanks to its use of USB 3.0.
Consistent and Versatile
The Narvitech NJ300 allows for 4K input passthrough, however, video out is limited to 1080p HD. Thankfully recorded footage is still rock solid, with framerates consistently being recorded at 60FPS. While the three consoles this device is intended for have some form of internal gameplay recording, they are all not without their limitations. Footage recorded through the NJ300 will be output directly through your choice of software and can be exported directly to your PC. This is a huge time saver for content creators, as well as simplifying the process of setting up a stream.
1080p Capped
The NJ300’s 1080p limitation is fine for 1080p native consoles like the Nintendo Switch, however, footage recorded from the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X takes a step down. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series’ native support for video recording allows players to record their footage in 4K resolutions with HDR support. From a content creator’s perspective, I would prefer my footage to be as high quality as possible, so downscaling 4K to 1080p is less than ideal. With that said, the NJ300 is targeted primarily at streamers who regularly broadcast live gameplay on YouTube, Twitch, or Discord. Those individuals would appreciate the 1080p recordings, due to bandwidth and upload speed limitations.
Closing Thoughts
Narvitech’s latest capture device is quite impressive for what it can accomplish. The ability to output video with zero latency adds to the overall value of the NJ300. The device is primarily for capturing footage, aiming it more toward content creators and streamers. That said someone looking for a way to output their game consoles in an open window on their PC, would find incredible value in this little device. While outputting video at only 1080p is quite disappointing, it can be overlooked when factoring in the cost of admission.
The Standard Edition of the Narvitech NJ300 is $109 USD on Amazon, whereas the Little Witch Nobeta Limited Edition will set you back $114 USD. For more information on the NJ300, check out Narvitech’s website. Also, be sure to stay locked to Marooners’ Rock for all things gaming!
The Little Witch Nobeta Special Edition was provided for the purpose of this review.
