Recording Game Footage

[rob_simple]

Evening all, I'm looking for some advice on the best hard/software to record gameplay footage for the PS3 and 360. I'd like to start doing co-op LP's with my idiot flatmate (because Youtube needs more of them, amirite?) but I have absolutely no idea where to start.

I've heard good things about something called Dazzle? But if there are any other (moderately priced) options I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SnowyGamester]

I clicked on this topic expecting to simply have to type "fraps" and be done with it, though evidently that isn't the case. It really depends on how you want to go about it. If you're willing to sacrifice video quality (which I assume is an option since you'll probably be posting it on youtube which generally doesn't end up looking great regardless) then you can get a cheap capture card for your PC for just a few bucks (e.g. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/EASYCAP-USB-2-0-AUDIO-VIDEO-CAPTURE-CARD-w-AUDIO-RCA-S-VIDEO-AV-INPUT-DC60-/360479534783?pt=AU_Components&hash=item53ee412ebf ). I've got one of them myself that I've used to transfer old camera footage to PC and it works well enough.

If you're willing to pay for a bit more to get proper HD footage then this is the cheapest I've been able to find: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HDMI-HD-Video-Capture-Cap-PCIE-PCI-Express-Card-1920x1080i-HDTV-Digital-PC-/200815194376?pt=AU_Components&hash=item2ec184b108 Though that one you'll have to install into your computer proper (chances are you have a space pci-e x1 slot).

I wouldn't recommend a standalone unit as it'll end up costing more and will probably be buggy and unintuitive if you get a cheap model (as cheap electronics often is). Plus just more steps getting the video onto the PC. Only use as a last resort if you can't manage to plug into your computer.

I was about to post a topic to ask people what they think of the let's plays I've started putting up on youtube over the last few days though I might as well plug it here while I'm at it: http://www.youtube.com/user/xXSnowyXx
I need an outside opinion on whether these are crap or not and if I'm just wasting my time.

 

[rob_simple]

Hey thanks for the reply, I think I'll go with the first one you suggested; seems silly to spend anymore before I've even seen if the videos will be popular or not.

I watched some of your Minecraft LP, I certainly found it entertaining and I'm sure other people would if you could get it out there, so I wish you luck.

One other question, which might sound a bit dumb: how do I record the voiceover at the same time? Will the video capture program let me record commentary at the same time?

 

[SnowyGamester]

Hey thanks for the reply, I think I'll go with the first one you suggested; seems silly to spend anymore before I've even seen if the videos will be popular or not.

I watched some of your Minecraft LP, I certainly found it entertaining and I'm sure other people would if you could get it out there, so I wish you luck.

One other question, which might sound a bit dumb: how do I record the voiceover at the same time? Will the video capture program let me record commentary at the same time?

In future I suggest quoting people if you make a reply since it's only by chance I happened across this topic again to answer your question.
The simple answer is probably not. There may be an option to do so (I've not got mine installed ATM so I can't really say) though I don't recall the packaged software being too fully featured (or very good at all to be honest). However if I remember correctly the video input shows up as an imaging device similarly to a webcam so I'm sure there is probably an alternate recording program that could capture bother the video and audio from the capture card as well as a microphone input (I've not used virtualdub for a while but it may be able to handle it, plus it's free and has some basic video and audio editing capabilities so it could probably do most of the work if you're happy just doing a few cuts and then rendering; it doesn't do transitions or anything). Worst case scenario is you record it separately but at the same time using another program and sync it later in whatever video editor you choose - audacity is a pretty good (and free) way to record audio, plus it has plenty of options for cleaning it up in post (I get a pretty awful hiss for whatever reason but I don't have any trouble removing it).