So what do folks out there do to capture screenshots and vids of their console games? I've got an Xbox 360 and would like to capture some pics and video, hopefully 1080p, without spending an arm and a leg (I'm still saving those for a Warthog HOTAS ).

Any suggestions?

HDMI splitter, video capture card in pc.
The splitter is cheap, but the card is another matter. I still want a Blackmagic card to replace mine. Watch the file formats the card supports to be sure your editing software supports it. Sony has a nice range of editing software to match what you want to do and spend.
There are also set top capture devices you can use, but that's probably even more pricey.

If you are ok with 480P and switching your 360 to SDTV and have a standard video cable instead of HDMI, you can use one of those cheap USB capture devices for about $40. Quality isn't so good though and it can be frustrating gaming in SD in order to capture the video this way.

You'll want a capture card that does component 720p, as Xbox will soon be enabling 5c protection on its HDMI, and no HDMI tuning adapter uses 5c (least not one under $4599.99).

There are 2 Black Magic Intensity Products to choose from:

The Intensity Pro (PCI-Express)
The Intensity Shuttle (USB 3.0)

Both Devices have HDMI IN/OUT, YPrPb In/Out,

The Shuttle supports more formats (1080p, where as the intesity pro only goes up to 1080i), but its a pain to setup if you dont have the exact system specs they support (which is VERY limited). I Myself have been running an Intensity pro since They launched.

Thanks for the tips, guys.

Thanks, boss. <sheepish grin>

HD Capable card on NewEgg (that I know work with X360).

Hauppage colosus $140 +Shipping, Use Component Inputs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116065


Seems the Blackmagic Products i listed above are deleted from NewEgg.

Thanks, Skate!

in case anyone is interested in this:

The Black Magic Intensity Pro (PCI-e 1x) and Intensity Shuttle (USB 3.0) are still on amazon, but they require decent Video Editing Know How to setup and get working. The PCI-e Version is more stable than the Shuttle.

Both are $189-$199.


Also, A newer device thats been getting TONS of positive reviews from both Pro and Amatuer Console gamers.

Hauppauge 1445 HD-PVR Gaming Edition High Definition Personal Video Recorder for Use with PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii:
http://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-1445-Def...8139&sr=8-3


It uses the same chipset as the Colosus minus the HDMI inputs, but easier to setup and use.

Isn't there a screen capture in game uploaded to a website and able to view on your computer?

$350 kinda steep just to take pictures. (my son got an XBox 360 for Christmas so i purchased Forza 4)

AFAIK, most replay uploaders that are included inside the games are limited in both quality and length, most being limited to 30 seconds and/or 480p.

there are "cheaper" devices, but features are limited to lower resolutions/color depth/framerate and compression.

Raxio Game Cap is only $99. but was limited to 480p, maybe 720, and compression.

most of the devices like the Intensity Pro, Colossus, and the 1445 DVR are geared more towards professional reviewers or studio editors w/ the editing platform(s)/suites

i use my Intensity for more than recording Xbox 360, the Intensity also has a Processor on it that works with pro editing platforms to render previews in realtime.

I should maybe gather a larger list w/ links to most of the capture cards myself and friends use to record.


On Another note, they've updated some things in the Black Magic Intensity Software/Firmware.

as the guide linked above, there's changes they've made that affects the setup procedure.

The Main one being Hardware Overlay in Windows 7 and Vista. as you now have to turn Aero OFF, to allow the GFX Card/Intensity to work or else the realtime preview lags behind and freezes up, turning off aero releases hardware overlay from the Windows GUI and allows the Intensity Drivers to use it to render the Video Feed at a Solid 60 Fr/PS. This took me a MONTH to figure out, prior to that i just rebooted to WinXP to record.
Will also check this with my new system when its completed, to make sure its not just my outdated hardware. There's also a "Field Swap" issue on some system's, where the video looks interlaced even when recorded as 720p. I think running the video through V Dub and Processing the video using the "Field Swap" filter fixes this, My raw videos look this way during playback in certain programs, but wheni use Expression 4 to encode to WMV-VC1, the WMV file looks perfect.

also, as of i think 2 driver updates ago, (October'11 Firmware), You can now Hook the Xbox 360 Via Component, and Hook a TV or Computer Screen to the HDMI port and it will send the Realtime Original Feed to the screen (so you can have the desktop on 1 screen, and the output back to your HDTV. or 2nd Screen) You have to have either BM's Program open, or Virtual Dub open and minimized for it to output, Prior to Oct.11 firmware it was not possible to mix the I/O connections. So you could only use HDMI Output on the Card if you used the HDMI input, that's not the case anymore, as I hooked up a 16:9 HannsG screen via HDMI and it output the raw input stream directly to that screen, as well as the capture program. I use Component Cables for Xbox 360. But you no longer have to open Virtual Dub and Fullscreen it while you play/record. You can Open VDub, and Minimize, Minimizing or clicking outside of BM's Software disables the output to the preview screen. I havent tested wether or not the HDMI output maintains Aspect Ratio on 16:10 screens. But never the less, this change makes it easier to play on your normal screen, while only having to press a Button to record on you PC. BM's Software was updated and is more stable, but does not allow you to select a different audio source, (ie optical SPDIF on a Sound Card.) which is why i use VDub.

Also, the last Xbox update, HDMI HDCP was disabled for Dashboard and Games on the Xbox 360, however, HDCP is still enabled for Movie Playback and Certain Apps.

So You can now once again use HDMI to record Dashboard and games. (just not DVDs, HD-DVDs, Streaming Movies/Video Files, Zune App, HBO-Go and anything else they enabled copy protection on.).