Introduction!

Hello all! I am "The Decode" and I want to tell you guys a little something about capture cards and my recommendation for the simple capturing device.
I get a lot of questions asking me what parts do I need or something is not working right...and most importantly " I want to record me skills" lol. I'm going to show you guys a device I use and it is very simple and easy to use. It is called  the "Dazzle"

There are two versions to this device. There is the default and there is the platinum. The platinum will not really make a difference if your main goal is game session recording.

Model 1(cheaper)..This can go between $40-$50 dollars( U.S. Currency)

Model 2(More expensive)...Expect to pay between $90-$100 dollars

Dazzle is one of the cheapest you can buy on the market and is very simple. No installing anything except the actual software on your PC. You can use this like a TIVO for TV if you want lol.


What You Need To Do!


A lot of people get frustrated with capture cards because they can be a mess. Most of the time it's that people are missing some key parts to the whole set-up. Here is a list of items you need, prices and where to buy!

1. TV with output for Audio/Video ( I assume you all have this or else you can't play Xbox 360.

2. Dazzle capturing device, Software and USB connector

a. ($40 -$50) or ($90-$100)

b. You can buy this at BestBuy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics.

3. 3 Audio/Video splitters... Here is an example.

a. ($4)

b. You can buy this at BestBuy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, Radio Shack and Wal-mart.

4. Composite Cable...Here is an example.

*Please note that a Composite cable is the picture above but DOUBLE SIDED. I can't stress that enough.

a.($12-$25) Depending on how long the cable is. They come in 3ft, 6ft and 12ft.

b. You can buy this at BestBuy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, Radio Shack, Wal-mart, Target, Cosco...almost any electronic store.


How To Set-up!

Here is a video showing how to set up your Dazzle!

1. Install your software Cds.

2. Connect device via USB.

3. Connect splitters

4. Connect corresponding colors to their same splitter

5. You are done.

*THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
The files you save will come in MPEG-2 depending on software. You are want to go  HERE and get an awesome free video converter.

How To Use!

1. After recording your video give it 3 seconds to go by for the video lag.

2. Give the file a name and save it some where on your PC.

3. Open up your "Any Video Converter" software and add the file.

4. You are going to go to the top right of the screen where it says "Profile" and choose the "Customized WMV" option.

5. Under "Video Options" this is what you want to change...

Change "Video Codec" to "WMV V9"
Change "Video Size" to 480x320( Youtube preffered )
Change "Video Bitrate" to "768"

6. Encode then it should begin the converting process. when finished there should be a pop up for an upgrade, click no.

Your video is ready for editing. I recommend Final cut for MAC and Windows Movie Maker for PC.

I hope this solves the questions the community has. Hope this helped. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Thanks to Psycho Exodus for some tips.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

Great work Decode, I'll make sure to show this to one of my friends, he just bought Dazzle and this will surely help him out.

---

I'm Zombie McJesus.

Tag.

Also, Pinnacle has their own movie editor, called Moviespin, for editing MPEG4 formats, which WMM can't handle.

---

Duct tape - unbreakable bond.
WD40 - unstoppable force.

Duct tape + WD40 = CHUCK NORRIS!!!!

 howtowakeakar wrote:

Tag.

Also, Pinnacle has their own movie editor, called Moviespin, for editing MPEG4 formats, which WMM can't handle.

Pinnacle's editor is great.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

The links for the Splitters and the Composite cable don't work anymore

Composite Example

Splitters

EDIT: They work sometimes(Original pics)

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

monoprice.com has great prices on all the cables youll need

---

Tact Nukes are too Easy

Ends.

Do you need to download the video converter if you buy the platinum that comes with software? Can you save in mp4 also?

---

Come to this forum! No Vladimirs there. Great mods and no abuse.

http://tinyurl.com/7sa3gx

You can save it to MP4 and many other formats.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

Great guide, but I prefer capturing in HD.

---

Ask me for help!
The NEW Xbox Cheater Watch!

 GamerEricDC wrote:

Great guide, but I prefer capturing in HD.

What is the average cost of a HD capturing device? Just curious.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkjmUjQ02rY

OUT OF STOCK ONLY 100 DOLLARS??? I call BS, i heards about this yesterday but never went to site till now. blitzbox.com

check this one too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdlmbT3Pf1I

---

MyVideos
COD4 disc RIP 11/05/07-8/3/09. IF You have it on PS3 PM Me

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

Great guide, but I prefer capturing in HD.

What is the average cost of a HD capturing device? Just curious.

If you want a decent one with good features, it's about $200-300.  i think it's worth it though.  I've seen some nice ones on ebay for $150.

---

Ask me for help!
The NEW Xbox Cheater Watch!

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

Great guide, but I prefer capturing in HD.

What is the average cost of a HD capturing device? Just curious.

If you want a decent one with good features, it's about $200-300.  i think it's worth it though.  I've seen some nice ones on ebay for $150.

When I get my HDTV I will get one.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

Great guide, but I prefer capturing in HD.

What is the average cost of a HD capturing device? Just curious.

If you want a decent one with good features, it's about $200-300.  i think it's worth it though.  I've seen some nice ones on ebay for $150.

When I get my HDTV I will get one.

Here is a nice, HD, cheap one.

---

Ask me for help!
The NEW Xbox Cheater Watch!

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

Great guide, but I prefer capturing in HD.

What is the average cost of a HD capturing device? Just curious.

If you want a decent one with good features, it's about $200-300.  i think it's worth it though.  I've seen some nice ones on ebay for $150.

When I get my HDTV I will get one.

Here is a nice, HD, cheap one.

I PUT A VIDEO ABOUT THE HAVA IN MY SIG FOR THE TIME BEING.

Really good "How to" type, informative as $hit, i still think my Pinnacle Video Transfer gets BETTER youtube quality videos. Only downside is I play at 480i and the HAVA lets you go in HD.

---

MyVideos
COD4 disc RIP 11/05/07-8/3/09. IF You have it on PS3 PM Me

 IVIike H0nch0 wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

Great guide, but I prefer capturing in HD.

What is the average cost of a HD capturing device? Just curious.

If you want a decent one with good features, it's about $200-300.  i think it's worth it though.  I've seen some nice ones on ebay for $150.

When I get my HDTV I will get one.

Here is a nice, HD, cheap one.

I PUT A VIDEO ABOUT THE HAVA IN MY SIG FOR THE TIME BEING.

Really good "How to" type, informative as $hit, i still think my Pinnacle Video Transfer gets BETTER youtube quality videos. Only downside is I play at 480i and the HAVA lets you go in HD.

Yea but it's not FULL HD though.

---

Ask me for help!
The NEW Xbox Cheater Watch!

720p supported yes? That would be enough for me.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

Wait....so if I have the one that comes with its own editing software I have to download video converter?

---

Come to this forum! No Vladimirs there. Great mods and no abuse.

http://tinyurl.com/7sa3gx

 MachoSaturn wrote:

Wait....so if I have the one that comes with its own editing software I have to download video converter?

I don't know if it comes with one, but if it doesn't then a converter would be nice if you want different file types.

---

Ask me for help!
The NEW Xbox Cheater Watch!

I was wondering when someone was going to make a Capture Card Thread.

It's about time!

---

Need HDTV help?
Twitter
MW2: GOTY 2009!

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 MachoSaturn wrote:

Wait....so if I have the one that comes with its own editing software I have to download video converter?

I don't know if it comes with one, but if it doesn't then a converter would be nice if you want different file types.

"Any Video Converter" is an awesome converter and it's FREE
You can change the size of the video, bitrate, format and a bunch of cool stuff. Very easy to use.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 MachoSaturn wrote:

Wait....so if I have the one that comes with its own editing software I have to download video converter?

I don't know if it comes with one, but if it doesn't then a converter would be nice if you want different file types.

"Any Video Converter" is an awesome converter and it's FREE
You can change the size of the video, bitrate, format and a bunch of cool stuff. Very easy to use.

Is there a good reason for needing that stuff? All I want to do is record me playing cod4 and upload to youtube.

---

Come to this forum! No Vladimirs there. Great mods and no abuse.

http://tinyurl.com/7sa3gx

 MachoSaturn wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 MachoSaturn wrote:

Wait....so if I have the one that comes with its own editing software I have to download video converter?

I don't know if it comes with one, but if it doesn't then a converter would be nice if you want different file types.

"Any Video Converter" is an awesome converter and it's FREE
You can change the size of the video, bitrate, format and a bunch of cool stuff. Very easy to use.

Is there a good reason for needing that stuff? All I want to do is record me playing cod4 and upload to youtube.

I don't know if youtube allows MPEG1/2 to be an uploaded format.

---

Goth/Electrohead!

[I Hate Mainstream]

The Intervention King

 The Decode wrote:

 MachoSaturn wrote:

 The Decode wrote:

 GamerEricDC wrote:

 MachoSaturn wrote:

Wait....so if I have the one that comes with its own editing software I have to download video converter?

I don't know if it comes with one, but if it doesn't then a converter would be nice if you want different file types.

"Any Video Converter" is an awesome converter and it's FREE
You can change the size of the video, bitrate, format and a bunch of cool stuff. Very easy to use.

Is there a good reason for needing that stuff? All I want to do is record me playing cod4 and upload to youtube.

I don't know if youtube allows MPEG1/2 to be an uploaded format.

it doesnt, thats what i used for the epic fail of "madden test dazzle" in my youtube page where you should all subscribe

---

Tact Nukes are too Easy

Ends.

Seems like it does.

---

Post your setups: Flickr | Photobucket

thnx a ton Decode!

Ive been wanting to get one for a while, and im finaly goin today but this helped me figure out what i need, but if my TV is old and doesnt have Video output i can use my DVD player right?

 

But how does that work and what extra stuff do i need?

EDIT: nvm the video shows how, so then the splitters are for if u dont have video output

 

---

"But if revenge is called justice, then that justice breeds yet more revenge... And becomes a chain of hatred"

If you are using the component inputs on your TV, you do not need the splitter for the yellow cable since it is not going into the tv. Just plug it right into the dazzle. You still have to keep the 360 cable switch set on SD, however.

Similarly, if you are using the optical cable for your sound, either to the TV or to a receiver/HTIB, then you can run the R/W from the 360 directly into the Dazzle, no splitter needed in this case either.

Also, if you can edit in a program that will handle MPEG, don't transcode to WMV. The more times you transcode, the worse the video will look so if you can edit in the captured format, your end-result will look better. Final Cut won't edit WMV anyway, unless you buy the Flip4Mac quicktime plugin.

---

Post your setups: Flickr | Photobucket

i dont have video out, is there any way to do this without the splitters

---

"But if revenge is called justice, then that justice breeds yet more revenge... And becomes a chain of hatred"

you dont need to have video out but you need spliters. here a crap slideshow i made but theyres a bunch of guys n youtube that show you how to do it

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/xScreamAimFiree

---

Tact Nukes are too Easy

Ends.

If you aren't using the component and optical audio, you need the splitters.

---

Post your setups: Flickr | Photobucket