Questions about capture cards and whether you need one for your video podcast? You’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at capture cards, what their benefits are, and whether you need one for your production.
A capture card is a unique device that transmits the image from your recording to your PC. Not every capture card is treated equally and there is no one size that fits all scenarios. There are a few capture cards made just for your camera, others for capturing gameplay from a gaming console, and very few currently that enable folks to do both. Even if a capture card has enough ports for multiple devices, it is rare for the device to handle everything thrown at it. So, before you even head out and buy one, you have to think about what you are using it for in the first place.
If you are producing a video podcast with cohosts over the internet, chances are that you have a decent webcam and it does the trick, so you wouldn’t need a capture card device. But if you happen to be using any sort of external camera that is more robust than what streamers typically use, well then you would need one. If you wish to livestream your video games to an audience, then you definitely need one.
Now, when using a camera that’s more powerful than a typical webcam, you may find that a few capture cards are nothing more than a robust adapter, going from the host device’s HDMI-enabled port to your computer’s input. These are great for single-camera setups. If you have more cameras, then you need to make sure you have enough inputs as well as a powerful machine that can easily encode the video without bogging down the rest of your system’s resources.
When working with multiple higher-end cameras, you are better off using studio-grade docking stations. These types of docking stations are designed to handle multiple inputs and outputs. While they tend to have HDMI ports, they also leverage SDI connectors which is an advanced technology that goes far beyond what the traditional streamer and online podcaster would normally need. If you are looking to record a video podcast and make it available online with scalable visual qualities, then yes, maybe one of these would be worth it—given you have the rest of the equipment to properly handle it.
The goal is to streamline your production in the easiest way possible without losing video fidelity. When it comes to livestreaming, you are going to be subject to whatever the hosting site offers. For example, capturing 4K image is useless on Twitch because they currently max out at 1080p—with higher resolutions only in the closed beta phases as of this writing. On the other hand, if you’re looking to create some visually stunning videos and podcasts where the image quality matters the most, then maybe a higher end capture card is worth investing in.
So, there you have it. Purchasing a capture card relies entirely on your production and what you are looking to do. If you are making gaming content, you will eventually need one. If you’re looking to use higher-end cameras for your YouTube channel, then I would definitely suggest grabbing one.
