Capturing Console Footage

There are a couple of ways to record your gameplay footage from video game consoles. The easiest way is to connect the game console to the PC, but you'll need a video card with video inputs, a dedicated capture card, or a Firewire/USB converter.

You can buy PC capture cards that will accept composite, S-Video, or component video signals. They can cost several hundred dollars, though, and aren't significantly different from a device that converts video into Firewire or USB. So unless you want to use your PC monitor as a TV, you should go with a more affordable analog-to-digital video converter that converts your console's video signals into a Firewire or USB connection that can be read by your PC. Firewire converters can be somewhat pricey, but they work well. If you're on a tight budget, a USB converter would be the best choice. Assuming your computer already has a USB 2.0 port, all you would need is the converter. You can find basic kits that include a converter and video-editing software, like the Dazzle Video Creator 85, for around $50.

You can also hook up your console to a recording deck first before capturing to a computer. You would do this if you wanted to save a physical tape of your footage or if your console isn't close to your computer. You can use a variety of equipment for this method.

VCR
You can record footage on a standard VHS tape using a VCR. Just pass the game console's AV output through the VCR The footage will have mediocre quality, but it's a cheap method for those on a tight budget.

DVD Recorder
Not too many people own one, but you can use a DVD recorder (not to be confused with a DVD-R drive in a computer) to record audio and video from a console system. The quality will be high, and transferring footage is easy. Connect your console to the DVD recorder, record your footage, and then plop the DVD into your computer and rip the video to the hard disk for editing. DVD recorders can cost a few hundred dollars, though, so you may want to seek a less-expensive option.

Camcorder
Some camcorders have AV inputs that can connect to a game console system for simple recording. If your camcorder has this option, you can record your footage onto a tape and transfer it to your computer. Note that most cameras have one set of AV connectors that function as inputs or outputs. If they're being used as inputs, you won't be able to use them to output at the same time. In this situation, you'll have to use the little screen on the camera as your playing monitor. If your camcorder doesn't have video input, you can just point the camera at your television and record the game being played. You can get fairly decent video this way with the right lighting conditions and camera angle.

Other Recording Devices
If you have access to other types of recording decks (such as mini-DV or Beta SP), then use them by all means. These types of decks can costs thousands of dollars, but the image-capture quality is excellent.