The mid-2011 Mac mini introduced HDMI output. Plus, it's nice to be able to record and edit in a single app.Īlso, the HDMI source is not limited to game boxes and iOS/Apple TV. That's something other solutions do not provide. You might ask questions: why does an OS X user need this when Reflection provides direct video mirroring and recording already for far less money with no lags and why are you hooking up Apple TV or the iOS device to your computer, why not just watch the same stuff directly on OS X or the device?Īs a tech writer, my ability to capture Apple TV screens - not just mirrored iOS - is, in itself, valuable. The application focuses strictly on capture/edit/share and its interface is much cleaner and more modern than their better known EyeTV tuner system/software. Basically, Elgato has streamlined this product into everything you need to show off battles, walk-throughs, and so forth.Īs a parent of children who endlessly record and share their game progress, I think Elgato has hit the mark in terms of their feature set and interface. What you're buying into is a good set of tools including an editing suite, levels controls, integrated social sharing and more. The unit runs off USB power, limiting the number of cables you have to deal with. If you need that direct mirroring, use the unit's HDMI output port, to play through to a TV rather than focusing attention on the software display. That's because this product's focus is on recording action, not on mirroring it for direct interaction. Like connections made through Elgato's flagship product EyeTV, you'll find that the video you're watching is a second or two behind the real world. You can also connect an iPad up directly, using the digital AV adapter with HDMI or mirror an iPhone 4S through Apple TV for the same effect. Plus, the video quality is astonishing: really crisp and clear.

This is, roughly speaking, a billion times easier than earlier solutions we wrote about on the blog. With Game Capture HD, you can plug in a second-generation-or-later Apple TV unit and, boom, you can watch and record anything you'd normally view on a TV.

For me, I wanted to see how well it worked with Apple TV and iPad. Retailing for US$200, the box lets you hook up an HDMI video source to record your interactions with your favorite gaming system.

These are the normal devices associated with Elgato's Game Capture HD box. Talk about off-label use: I own neither an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3.

Hdmi video capture box for mac